Season In Review: Receiver/Tight End
01/05/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Dillon Mitchell and Jacob Breeland stepped up as sophomores, particularly in the eight games started by quarterback Justin Herbert, while newcomers made their presence felt as well.
Reviewing Oregon's 2017 season and looking ahead to spring drills
DEPTH CHART
WR: Dillon Mitchell, So.; Malik Lovette, So.; Daewood Davis, Fr.; Alfonso Cobb, RFr.; Noah Holmes, Fr.
WR: Charles Nelson, Sr.; Taj Griffin, Jr.; Jaylon Redd, Fr.; Darrian McNeal, Fr.; Casey Eugenio, Sr.
WR: Johnny Johnson III, Fr.; Brenden Schooler, So.; Alex Ofodile, So.; Kyle Buckner, So.; Chayce Maday, Sr.
TE: Jacob Breeland, So.; Cam McCormick, RFr.; Ryan Bay, So.; Taylor Stinson, Sr.; Matt Mariota, So.
Starter: Dillon Mitchell announced himself as a star-in-the-making with two touchdowns in the 2016 spring game, and after a freshman season marred by knee trouble, he took a big step as a sophomore – while Justin Herbert was playing, at least. Mitchell led the Ducks with 42 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns, and all but two catches for 10 yards came in the eight games started by Herbert. Mitchell capped the year with nine receptions for 143 yards in the Las Vegas Bowl; project the Herbert-to-Mitchell tandem's 2017 production over a full season, and some UO receiving records could be threatened in 2018.
Herbert's top target to open the 2017 season was senior Charles Nelson, who caught 14 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown over the first two games of the season. Nelson injured his ankle at Wyoming and missed the next two games; in particular he was missed at Arizona State, as Oregon relied on the run game and deep passes but missed Nelson's ability to threaten a defense with intermediate passes. Johnny Johnson III won a starting job as a true freshman and demonstrated a flair for the spectacular, and Brenden Schooler rounded out the regular rotation in a successful transition from safety. At tight end, Jacob Breeland demonstrated his ability to stretch the field by leading the Ducks with 17.8 yards per reception, and also five touchdown receptions.
Reserves: Receivers coach Michael Johnson leaned heavily on his regular rotation, with the rest of the receiving corps combining for 22 receptions. Taj Griffin accounted for half of those, and was featured as a threat on fly sweep shovel passes. Injuries hampered his season, and the converted running back also worked to get more consistent catching the ball. Darrian McNeal also battled some inconsistency catching the ball; in their stead, freshman Jaylon Redd emerged as a big-play threat late in the season. In the final three games of the season, Redd averaged 12 yards per touch and scored twice.
Like Schooler, Malik Lovette also made the transition from defensive back, and he spent the season working to get more consistent with his hands. At tight end, Breeland got the lion's share of time, with Ryan Bay contributing as the best blocker of the group, and Cam McCormick playing his way into some reps as a redshirt freshman. Veterans Casey Eugenio, Chayce Maday, Kyle Buckner, Alfonso Cobb and Taylor Stinson spent the season helping the defense as scout-team players; Eugenio suffered an unfortunate injury in the first bowl practice in Las Vegas, and the Ducks wore a helmet sticker bearing his No. 82 for the game.
Redshirts: With Johnson, Redd and McNeal all pressed into action, the only newcomer held out as a redshirt was Daewood Davis. Fast and lanky, Davis provides the ability to threaten a defense vertically that the Ducks could certainly use. Early in the fall he profiled as the classic track guy who needed to hone his receiving skills, but by November he had become a regular thorn in the defense's side, making all the necessary catches with the occasional spectacular play thrown in as well. Late in the year, Davis was regularly the last guy off the practice field, staying late to work on technique with a staff member.
SPRING PROJECTION
WR: Dillon Mitchell, Jr.; Daewood Davis, RFr.; Malik Lovette, Jr.; Alfonso Cobb, So.
WR: Taj Griffin, Sr.; Jaylon Redd, So.; Darrian McNeal, So.
WR: Johnny Johnson III, So.; Brenden Schooler, Jr.; Kyle Buckner, Jr.; Noah Holmes, RFr.
TE: Jacob Breeland, Jr.; Cam McCormick, So.; Ryan Bay, Jr.; Matt Mariota, Jr.
What to watch: With Nelson moving on, there's a lot of dynamic talent back at the slot position, but not a lot of proven production. McNeal looked like an up-and-comer in training camp last fall, Griffin started to show some comfort at his new position at midseason and Redd came on strong at the end, so each has shown flashes of being a playmaker. At the outside position, the return of Mitchell, Johnson and Schooler plus the addition of Davis would make a fine two-deep. But that leaves little margin in the event of an injury; there's no doubt this is a position that will be the focus of recruiting efforts prior to the February signing period. At tight end, Breeland – like Mitchell – would have put up even more impressive numbers had Herbert remained healthy. But overall it's the same story: a nice collection of returning talent, but certainly a group that could use another playmaker or two.
