Wide receiver is unquestionably the position group with the most question marks for the Ducks heading into 2019, though it appears that some much needed proven production is on the way.

After visiting Eugene and the campus of the University of Oregon the weekend before the start of the February signing period roughly two weeks ago, Juwan Johnson announced Thursday that he will be transferring to the school for the upcoming season.

Eugene, see you this fall #GoDucks 🦆 pic.twitter.com/NwLKQrK1nj

— Juwan Johnson (@Ju_heard_) February 14, 2019

As a graduate transfer from Penn State, Johnson will be immediately eligible to compete for the Ducks in his final season as a collegian.

Formerly a four-star recruit from Glassboro, N.J., Johnson comes to Oregon after compiling 81 receptions for 1,123 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons with the Nittany Lions. Prior to his commitment to Penn State in 2015, Johnson was heavily recruited by Alabama, where Mario Cristobal served as his primary recruiter during his four-year stint as a Tide assistant.

Below we take a closer look at Johnson’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

• Inconsistent hands: This is likely the last thing Duck fans want to hear coming off a season in which Oregon receivers consistently let down Justin Herbert and the passing game, but such is the knock on Johnson as he arrives in Eugene. Given his experience and skill level, he’ll need to emerge as a reliable pass catcher if the Ducks are to take the next step in 2019.
• Lacks elite top end speed: There’s no doubting that Johnson certainly looks the part of a top flight receiver, but even with all his physical gifts, the one area where Johnson noticeably lacks is in the speed department. Though by no means slow, he’s not necessarily the kind of player who will take the top off a defense with regularity.

Notable strengths:

• Physical possession receiver with playmaking ability after the catch: Listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Johnson is a physical specimen who has no equals in terms of shear size and strength at the receiver position on the Oregon roster. His physicality in battling with opposing defensive backs is what makes him a quality possession receiver, but he also has enough speed and elusiveness to make something happen after the catch.
• Large catch radius: Thanks to his large frame, impressive leaping ability, and remarkable body control, Johnson is a player capable of coming up with the catch despite an imperfect throw from the quarterback. In jump ball situations, he can be a nightmare matchup for defenders.
• Shows knack for making contested catches: In some ways, Johnson’s penchant for making incredible plays is what frustrates fans the most about his game. A crazy one-handed catch with a defender draped all over him can just as easily be followed by an inexplicable drop despite being uncovered. In fact, it almost seems as if Johnson is at his very best when forced to make a play in traffic. His size and strength certainly plays a role, but Johnson has an uncanny ability to make plays that come with a high degree of difficulty.

Overall outlook:

For a second straight season, the Ducks have dipped into the grad transfer market to address their shortcomings at wide receiver. Last year’s grad transfer, Tabari Hines (formerly of Wake Forest), was expected to immediately compete for playing time but a preseason injury and an inability to crack the rotation when healthy led to his eventual transfer out of the program. Like Hines, Johnson also figures to have a prominent role in his first and only season in Eugene – minus the rocky transition. In fact, Johnson’s path to the field may be even more unobstructed than Hines’ when you take a look at the Ducks’ current depth chart. It’s true that the Ducks return a handful of players who saw significant reps last season (notably Brenden Schooler and Johnny Johnson), though none of these players (with perhaps the exception of Jaylon Redd) has proven that they can produce at a high level with any measure of consistency. Johnson has, and while his own collegiate career has been defined by ups and downs, he is far and away the most known quantity of the receivers on Oregon’s roster. With that, expect Johnson to be a mainstay in the Ducks’ rotation at receiver – if not secure a starting role – once he arrives on campus.