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This pass catcher stood out above everyone else in Oregon's spring game

Oregon has recruited and developed an embarassment of riches between the wide receiver and tight end positions. In the spring game on April 26, many flashed their abilities to help out whichever quarterback takes the reins of Will Stein's offense.
ByLiam Donnan|
New Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein leads a drill on the first practice of spring for Oregon football as the Ducks prepare for the 2023 season. Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 15
New Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein leads a drill on the first practice of spring for Oregon football as the Ducks prepare for the 2023 season. Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 15 | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

On the same day that Oregon's leading receivers from the 2024 season entered the NFL (Tez Johnson, round seven, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Traeshon Holden, UDFA, Dallas Cowboys) Oregon's pass catchers showed out during the spring game at Autzen Stadium.

Although true freshman and highest rated Oregon receiver ever, Dakorien Moore flashed some brilliant ability, and redshirt freshman Dillon Gresham, who seemed buried down the depth chart exploded for three catches and over ninety yards, someone still shined the brightest.

Kenyon Sadiq put all of his athleticism on display for the Ducks in their spring game
Combat Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq hurdles Fighting Ducks inside linebacker Dylan Williams as the Fighting Ducks face off against Mighty Oregon in the Oregon Ducks spring game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The heir apparent to Terrance Ferguson, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, was the most impressive pass catcher for the Ducks during the spring game. He had seven catches for 102 yards.

Sadiq, who played on the "Combat Ducks" team, was featured with presumed starting quarterback Dante Moore, as well as four-star true freshman Akili Smith Jr, and walk-on Brock Thomas.

The junior from the state of Idaho put it ALL on display in the full-contact, four quarter spring game. He was reliable in the quick-game, open over the middle, more than exciting after the catch, and displayed some impressive work downfield as well.

It is clear that there is a solid connection between Dante Moore and Kenyon Sadiq. While fans were likely looking for that pair to hit a big time play that went for an explosive gain, the quick game looks for Sadiq should be most promising for Duck fans when evaluating just his connection with Moore. Here's why:

It shows that the pair have a connection, as Sadiq was sitting down his routes in between zones with Moore releasing the ball before, or right as the tight end came out of his break. These "long hand-offs" keep the sticks moving, keep the defense honest, and are important to get the quarterback in rhythm.

The first completion between the pair was a major gain. Moore hit Sadiq towards the sideline on a corner route, that went for nearly thirty yards.

We knew Sadiq was a great athlete coming into the program, and we saw flashes of it early on in his career at Oregon. It started to really come into fruition as a sophomore in 2024, with even more flashes of that natural ability, and a bump in production to match.

247Sports Duck Territory's Erik Skopil described Sadiq's spring game performance as an "affirmation of what we expected." The buzz around the Ducks new "TE1" is as loud as it is for anyone on Oregon's roster, and it looks to be very warranted.

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