Great news for Oregon fans as a pair of star receivers choose return

It could become the most explosive, tough-to-cover group of receivers in college football.

With all the carnage the Transfer Portal wrought at defensive back and defensive line, 30 players leaving the Ducks in all, the receiver room got a huge break this weekend as Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore have both re-signed with Oregon for 2026.

Stewart made it official Thursday; Moore announced his recommitment Saturday afternoon. Both would have garnered lucrative NIL deals in the portal, and Stewart could have declared for the NFL draft.

Stewart missed all of 2025 while rehabbing a torn patellar tendon injured in June. Moore showed his awesome potential as a true freshman, grabbing 34 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns, plus a 25-yard rushing touchdown against Oklahoma State.

The 5-11, 195 speedster from Duncanville, Texas caught a 65-yard touchdown pass against the Cowboys, a 23-yard TD pass against Oregon State, and had a 34-yard scoring grab at Rutgers. He missed four games with a leg injury in November, prompting speculation he might be frustrated about his role.

Moore, Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan, plus transfer Iverson Hooks, give Ducks firepower

In the playoffs against James Madison, Texas Tech and Indiana, he was limited to spot duty, six catches for 54 yards.

Stewart was Oregon's third-leading receiver and a big-play guy in 2024. The former Texas state high school 5A long jump champion caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, including a spectacular day in the regular season win over Ohio State when he pulled down seven balls for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Having both of these outstanding talents back, plus newcomer Iverson Hooks from UAB and tough-catch specialist Jeremiah McClellan gives Dante Moore a potent receiver room, even more dangerous as position coach Ross Douglas adds 10.15 sprinter Gatlin Bair, Messiah Hampton and another Texas roadrunner, Jalen Lott, one of the outstanding performers at the Polynesian Bowl.

Dillon Gresham returns from injury after a two-touchdown performance in last year's spring game. Add in running backs Dierre Hill and Jordon Davison, an athletic group of tight ends including Jamari Johnson, Kendre Harrison, Andrew Olesh and new portal acquisition Markus Dixon from Clemson, and Oregon's Heisman Trophy candidate has an imposing array of weapons, provided the Ducks get the pass protection sorted out.