Occupying a very small corner within one of the wildest years in modern human history has been a college football offseason and now season that has appropriately reflected our current day and age. The twists and turns have been numerous and well documented over the past several months, as COVID-19 continues to hang like an anvil over the viability of a 2020 college football season. In addition to that, college football’s player empowerment movement and the multiple opt-outs from high profile players across the country (including a handful who were on the Oregon roster) has also contributed in shaking the foundation of a decades-old American institution.
The extent to which these factors will change the previously accepted landscape of college football is unknown. What is known, however, is that after previously postponing the 2020 football season, the Pac-12 has decided to change course and proceed with an abbreviated conference schedule, joining the vast majority of the FBS on the gridiron this fall.
With October 9 set as the official start date of fall camp for the Ducks, WFOD is here to help preview and bring you up to speed on the upcoming season by providing its position-by-position breakdown of the Oregon roster. The series continues Saturday, as we take an in-depth look at the tight ends.
As always, you can find the most up-to-date look at the Oregon depth chart by visiting our Living Depth Chart page.
The Headliner
To call redshirt senior Hunter Kampmoyer the “headliner” of the Ducks’ tight end group is a bit of a misnomer. In truth, Kampmoyer’s consideration as the “marquee” name at this position is somewhat by default in the absence of the graduated Jacob Breeland, who saw a brilliant senior season in the making derailed by a season-ending knee injury last October vs. Colorado. Following Breeland’s injury, Kampmoyer was thrust into the role as the full-time starter, though his production never really saw an uptick over the final half of the season. Used primarily as an additional blocker, the former defensive end finished 2019 with just five catches for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Entering the 2020 season, it stands to reason that Kampmoyer’s role will largely remain the same. His effectiveness as an in-line blocker is certainly worth noting, as is his experience when it comes to shepherding a group that is chock full of young talent. However, that’s about as far as Kampmoyer’s impact on the offense extends and it will interesting to see how his playing time might shift given the progress of some of the up and coming players currently beneath him on the depth chart.
The Supporting Ensemble
Though Hunter Kampmoyer may be the defacto name atop the tight end depth chart, it’s the talent behind him that makes Duck fans hopeful that the baton will be smoothly passed from Jacob Breeland to the next great Oregon tight end. The primary contenders pushing Kampmoyer for regular reps on offense in 2020 figure to be Cam McCormick and Spencer Webb.
McCormick’s story has been well documented, but harrowing and worth revisiting nonetheless. Despite being a member of the Ducks’ 2016 recruiting class, gross injury misfortune has unequivocally haunted the Bend (Ore.) native since his arrival in Eugene. A knee injury suffered as a senior in high school forced McCormick to redshirt is first year on campus. In 2017, McCormick was in line to have a considerable role on offense, but was slowed in the offseason after being one of a handful of Oregon players who was hospitalized due to rhabdomyolysis, a syndrome brought on by excessive physical exertion, which ultimately led to the suspension of Oregon’s strength and conditioning coach at the time. Still, McCormick caught six passes for 89 yards and a touchdown that season, exhibiting skills that showed he could be a contributor on offense in the years to come.
The 2018 season was set up to be a breakout campaign for McCormick, who beat out Jacob Breeland for the starting job in fall camp, but a broken leg suffered in the first half of the season opener vs. Bowling Green ended McCormick’s season before it really started. With eyes on another rebound year in 2019, McCormick was once again befell by injury, this time an ankle ailment that required season-ending surgery which prevented him from seeing the field at all last season. Fortunately, McCormick was granted additional years of eligibility by the NCAA, effectively making him a redshirt sophomore with essentially four more years to play, as the 2020 season won’t count against any player who takes the field this season. If anyone deserves that time back it’s McCormick, who arguably brings the most well-rounded skill-set to the tight end position of any player on the roster.
Webb, meanwhile, looks to build upon an encouraging 2019 season that was highlighted by his impressive touchdown grab over an Auburn defender in the Ducks’ season opener. The Sacramento area native would go on to notch 18 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns, revealing himself to be a potentially dynamic pass catching threat in this offense. Though he still has strides to make as a blocker, Webb enters his redshirt sophomore season as perhaps this group’s rising star.
Redshirt freshman Patrick Herbert rounds out this group and will be one of the more intriguing players to keep tabs on as fall camp unfolds. Like Webb, the 6-foot-5, 251-pound Herbert is a terrific athlete who has the ability to help stretch the field. Filling out his frame and getting stronger at the point of attack was Herbert’s biggest hurdle to clear entering the program as a true freshman a year ago, but with a full season with the program under his belt, he could be in line for a sizable role, particularly in the event of injury.
The Intriguing New Cast Member
There was no shortage of excitement surround DJ Johnson’s decision to transfer from Miami (Fla.) to Oregon in 2018, as Duck fans believed that the former four-star recruit and no. 6-ranked weakside defensive end in the 2017 recruiting class represented a changing tide in terms of the quality of athlete they would see on the defensive side of the ball under Mario Cristobal. And though Johnson certainly flashed tremendous potential at times during the 2019 season, highlighted by his seven-tackle (including three for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble) performance in Week 2’s drubbing of Nevada, the Sacramento native never really seemed to find a steady place in the defensive line rotation for defensive coordinator Andy Avalos and defensive line coach Joe Salave’a. With that, Johnson made the transition to the offensive side of the ball this past spring before the COVID-19 shutdown.
As a high school star, Johnson dabbled on offense, showcasing the unfair strength and athleticism he possesses in the passing game. And while his path to playing time doesn’t exactly open up with his move to tight end, there’s no question that the position group gets more athletic and more physical with the 6-foot-5, 258-pounder serving within its ranks.
The Stirring Subplot
What kind of production will the Ducks get from the tight end position in 2020?
For the better part of the past three seasons, Jacob Breeland has been the man leading the charge for the Ducks at tight end. A favorite target of Justin Herbert prior to Breeland’s unfortunate season-ending injury last season, the reliable pass catcher was well on his way to having a career year that would have likely led all Oregon pass catchers in 2019. With Breeland now gone to graduation, the Ducks must now find an answer at a position that doesn’t offer any obvious solutions.
Kampmoyer and Webb seem to be the best equipped at the moment, but Kampmoyer’s limitations as a receiving weapon and Webb’s shortcomings as a blocker make it difficult to rely on either player to immediately assume Breeland’s mantle. McCormick may be the player who is best suited for that title over the long haul, but his checkered injury history leaves you wanting to see it before you believe it. Herbert and Johnson are intriguing options as well, though neither has the experience to make you certain they’re ready to step into that role. Fortunately for the Ducks, what they lack in proven ability at tight end, they make up for with good depth, making it feel more so a matter of who will step up, not if.
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Top Photo: Oregon TE Spencer Webb (Oregon Athletics)