2012 Football Depth Chart: Tight Ends

One area the Oregon Ducks do not have much depth is at the tight end position going into 2012.  The Ducks will be looking to replace last year’s starter, David Paulson, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Paulson caught 38 passes with six touchdowns last season.

The Oregon Ducks currently list five players at tight end with only one of them having caught a pass on the collegiate level.  Sophomore Colt Lyerla was the backup to Paulson and should now move into the starting position.  Lyerla appeared in 12 games last season catching seven balls for 147 yards and five touchdowns.  He has shown big play potential in that he’s averaged 21 yards per catch.

The only junior in the group is #86 Brian Teague.  Teague is also the largest tight end on the roster at 6’3”, 267 lbs.  He played in seven games last season and three games in 2010.  He has no official stats as he’s been solely used as a blocker.

Dallen Voeller appeared in one game last season.  Voeller is a 6’3”, 217 lb. sophomore from West Linn, Oregon.  He wears number 98.  Voeller was a wide receiver at West Linn High School.

Redshirt freshman Christian French should see game action this upcoming season.  French is a 6’5”, 23l lbs. from Cedar Rapids, Iowa who participated on the scout team last year.  Rivals.com listed French as the top prospect in Iowa.  Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports.com all had him as a four-star recruit coming out of high school.  French appears in line to be the backup to Lyerla.

Freshman Evan Baylis is a 2012 recruit who enrolled early at Oregon.  Baylis wears #32 and is 6’6”, 232 lbs. from Centennial, Colorado.  He chose the Ducks over Arizona, Boise State, Colorado and Colorado State.  274Sports.com ranked him as the ninth best tight end recruit in the country and the third overall recruit in the state of Colorado.

Check out Raymond Mencke’s blog at www.sportissue.com. Also follow him on Twitter @RaymondMenckeJr,

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