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With T-Ferg, Kendre Harrison and Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon emerges as the new "tight end university"

ByDale Bliss|
Drafted in the second round by the Rams, Terrance Ferguson is part of a new breed of tight ends that the Ducks seem to specialize in. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Drafted in the second round by the Rams, Terrance Ferguson is part of a new breed of tight ends that the Ducks seem to specialize in. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Oregon has a great tradition at tight end, including a number of them who have had long careers in the NFL. Justin Peelle played 10 years in the league and then won a Super Bowl as an assistant coach.

George Wrighster played six seasons with Jacksonville Jaguars, Ed Dickson 10 with Baltimore, Carolina and Seattle, earning a Super Bowl ring in 2012. Russ Francis spent 13 seasons in pro ball, a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers who made three trips to the Pro Bowl.

Johnny Mundt is still working in the NFL, a Super Bowl champion with the Rams. Injuries limited Jake Breeland to one season.

At the NFL combine in March Terrance Ferguson wowed scouts with eye-popping athleticism, turning in a 4.63 40 and a 39-inch vertical jump. He's Oregon's all-time leading receiver among tight ends with 134 catches for 1537 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The amazing thing is, the Ducks have a starting tight end this season in Kenyon Sadiq who may be even faster and more athletic.

At Big Ten Media Days last July Ferguson said Sadiq had the tools to be "better than anybody" at the tight end position at Oregon.

Ferguson told Erik Skopil of Duck Territory,
"He's like the most elite athlete I've ever seen pound for pound. I've seen him jump over someone pretty much standing up in a scrimmage like it was nothing in spring ball."

"He's 6-foot-4. He's up to 240 now. He just hit a new high speed of like 22 miles per hour. He's benching 300 something pounds, power cleaning over 300 pounds. He's a freak."

A year later, and Sadiq has crafted his body to a sleek, powerful 250. At the Oregon Spring Game he grabbed seven passes for 102 yards.

The even more amazing thing is, the Ducks have a 2026 recruit in Kendre Harrison who may be a better athlete than these two freaks. Harrison stands 6-6, 250, a 20-point/15-rebound guy in basketball with two state championships at Reidsville High School in North Carolina and an all-state tight end.

Harrison is the No. 38 prospect in the country and the No. 3 tight end according to Rivals, ranked even higher elsewhere. A fluid, powerful two-sport marvel, he's shut down his recruitment.

In a few years these three could be hosting a concert of their own.

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