Wednesday War Room: 2026 Tight End Preview

 

Over the last two seasons, the Ducks have seen plenty of success at the tight end position. While there are some fans who wonder why Kenyon Sadiq did not get more touches last season, he still had a solid season, especially given he was dinged up for a good portion of the year and defenses were clearly focused on stopping him. He became something of a safety valve for quarterback Dante Moore, and opponents knew it.

What will be interesting to see this season is how new offensive coordinator and former tight ends coach Drew Mehringer chooses to utilize the weapons at tight end. There is turnover in the room with the departure of Sadiq to the NFL and the transfer of Roger Saleapaga and Vander Ploog, but Oregon has also infused the group with high end talent like elite freshman Kendre Harrison and Penn State transfer Andrew Olesh. Another new factor for the position will be the voice leading the room day to day, as Jack Smith takes over coaching the tight ends after working with several other offensive positions since arriving in Eugene in 2023.

Even with that turnover, the tight end room remains one of the more intriguing groups on Oregon’s roster heading into the 2026 season.

The starting point for any conversation about the position is the production the Ducks must replace.

Sadiq delivered a season that was better than some remember for the Ducks in 2025. The junior caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns while appearing in 14 games. His 51 receptions set a program single season record for the position and his eight touchdown catches tied for the second most ever by a Duck tight end in a season. The production earned him the Big Ten Kwalick Clark Tight End of the Year award, first team All Big Ten honors, and second team All-America recognition from multiple outlets. He also became the first Oregon player to be named a finalist for the John Mackey Award.

Beyond the accolades, Sadiq’s impact was felt throughout the offense. He recorded at least one reception in every game he played and produced 12 multi catch performances. Whether it was a third down conversion over the middle or a red zone target against a linebacker, Moore frequently looked in Sadiq’s direction when Oregon needed a reliable play.

His departure leaves a sizable hole in both production and experience.

Fortunately for the Ducks, the offense already began preparing for that transition last season with the emergence of Jamari Johnson.

Johnson finished the 2025 season as Oregon’s fourth leading receiver with 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns while playing in all 15 games. His 15.9 yards per reception ranked second on the team and reflected how often the Ducks used him to attack vertically down the field.

At 6-5 and 257 pounds, Johnson presents a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. He has the frame of a traditional tight end but the movement skills of a wide receiver. That versatility allows Oregon to line him up in multiple spots across the formation, whether attached to the line, in the slot, or split wider to isolate a defender in coverage.

Johnson’s background also makes his development a little more intriguing. Earlier in his career he played multiple offensive positions and even contributed as a return specialist. That athleticism has translated well to Oregon’s offense, where tight ends are often asked to function as hybrid players who can both block in the run game and stretch the field as receivers.

Smith’s background could be helpful here as well. Since arriving at Oregon in 2023, he has worked across multiple areas of the offense. He first assisted with the quarterbacks during Will Stein’s first season calling plays, when Bo Nix produced one of the most efficient seasons in program history before becoming a first round NFL Draft selection. Smith was later promoted to graduate assistant and expanded his responsibilities to the offensive skill positions, spending significant time around the running backs and wide receivers. That broad exposure gives him familiarity with how the position fits into the structure of the entire offense rather than viewing it in isolation.

With Sadiq now preparing for the NFL, Johnson enters the 2026 season as the most experienced and proven option in the room.

Behind him, Oregon has added one of the most highly regarded tight end prospects in the country.

Freshman Kendre Harrison arrived in Eugene with a national reputation. The 6-foot-7 athlete from Reidsville, North Carolina was widely viewed as the top tight end in the 2025 recruiting class and a consensus top 20 overall prospect. His high school career showcased a rare blend of size, athleticism and production.

As a senior, Harrison caught 64 passes for 1,104 yards and 22 touchdowns while helping Reidsville capture the North Carolina state championship. His impact extended beyond offense as well. Harrison also contributed on defense, finishing the season with 88 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Physically, Harrison already resembles a prototype Big Ten tight end. His length creates a massive catch radius and his ability to move in space gives Oregon another potential mismatch against linebackers and safeties. The primary adjustment will come with the physical demands of blocking at the college level, which is often the steepest part of the learning curve for freshmen at the position.

Still, Harrison’s combination of size and athleticism suggests he could carve out a role early in his career. Smith’s experience working with different offensive position groups may also help accelerate that transition, particularly when it comes to understanding how tight ends function within the broader passing structure of the offense.

Oregon also added depth through the transfer portal with the arrival of Andrew Olesh from Penn State.

Olesh did not appear in a game during his time with the Nittany Lions after redshirting, but he still has significant potential that made him one of the top tight end prospects in his 2025 class. At Southern Lehigh High School in Pennsylvania, Olesh produced back to back standout seasons. As a senior he recorded 75 receptions for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns while also adding 166 rushing yards. The year before he finished with 53 catches for 973 yards and another 10 scores.

Those numbers helped establish him as a consensus four star prospect and one of the top tight ends in the 2024 recruiting cycle. For Oregon, Olesh provides both depth and developmental upside as he adjusts to a new program and offense.

The structure of the tight end room also reflects Mehringer’s influence.

Before becoming Oregon’s offensive coordinator, Mehringer spent time working directly with the tight ends and helped oversee the development that led to Sadiq’s record setting season. His philosophy has consistently emphasized versatility at the position. Rather than limiting tight ends to traditional roles, Oregon frequently uses them as movable pieces designed to stress defensive matchups.

That approach should continue to shape the position in 2026, now with Smith handling the position group while Mehringer directs the offense as a whole. Smith’s path through several areas of the offense since arriving in Eugene provides a perspective that fits well with that philosophy.

Johnson’s ability to stretch the field, Harrison’s rare athletic profile and Olesh’s receiving background all fit within an offense that values flexibility. While replacing a player like Sadiq will not happen through a single individual, the Ducks appear to have assembled a group capable of distributing that production across multiple players.

Over the past two seasons, the tight end position has quietly become one of the most important elements of Oregon’s offense. If the next group develops as expected, it may remain that way in 2026.

Projected 2026 Oregon Tight End Depth Chart

1. Jamari Johnson, 6-5, 257, Junior
2. Kendre Harrison, 6-7, 243, Freshman
3. Andrew Olesh, 6-5, 250, Redshirt Freshman