Oregon football may have most underrated receiving corps for 2021

Only one Oregon receiver finished the 2020 season with more than 20 receptions and only three broke the 250-yard mark but those numbers may be slightly deceiving.

No one who looked at the Ducks’ receiving stats from the 2020 season would have said anything more than, “Not bad but not great.”

They wouldn’t be wrong, but with just a seven-game season and quarterback uncertainty, those numbers look much more impressive. Add that to the fact that the ball was spread around rather evenly and you see one of the more underrated receivers in the entire Pac-12.

Just look at the receiving corps and you’ll realize how underrated they are.

Oregon football receiving corps is quietly loaded

Devon Williams led the team in receiving last season as a former highly-regarded four-star prospect and USC transfer with 15 catches for 286 yards and two touchdowns on 19.1 yards per reception. He may become one of the best wide outs in the entire conference this season with a more steady hand at quarterback.

Jaylon Redd is also a former blue-chip prospect and he had a team-high 25 receptions with 281 yards and a touchdown. He’s the perfect slot receiver and he hasn’t even touched his ceiling yet.

Johnny Johnson III had a career year in 2019 before taking a step back in 2020 mostly due to the COVID-19-shortened season. He had 19 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll be a key contributor and veteran in the 2021 receiving corps.

Mycah Pittman comes from an athletic family and he, too, was one of the best receivers in his recruiting class. He had eight catches for 123 yards last season and he’s in for a huge jump in 2021. Don’t be shocked if he becomes a go-to receiver in the Ducks’ offense.

Kris Hutson was a top-250 recruit and had a quiet first season with the Ducks, but the best is yet to come with a full offseason in 2021.

Josh Delgado had a nice freshman year before a quiet 2020 campaign but the former top-250 receiver could be the perfect slot replacement for Redd.

Add in top-60 recruits Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thornton and you have a receiving corps that is legitimately eight players deep and all of them could be a go-to target on most teams around the Pac-12.

How are more people not talking about the receiver talent on this roster?