Few things in recent memory were as protractedly loathsome across the board as 2020. And while the residuals of the past year linger to this day with COVID protocols remaining in place for most areas of the country, this spring offers a level of hope and optimism that simply did not exist at this time one year ago.

As it relates to the Oregon football program, the spring of 2021 represents an opportunity to build upon what was accomplished in 2020, as well as a chance to right some of what went wrong during a condensed season. Yes, head coach Mario Cristobal and the Ducks celebrated (however controversially) their second straight Pac-12 Conference title, though they finished with a 4-3 record that was punctuated with a dud Fiesta Bowl performance against 10th-ranked Iowa State.

Similarly, the offseason offered its own mixed bag of emotions. The Ducks bid farewell to accomplished defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, who left Eugene after two seasons to take the head coaching job at his alma mater Boise State, before welcoming former Cal defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter as his replacement. Weeks later, Ducks starting quarterback Tyler Shough entered the transfer portal after an up and down 2020 season, providing even more uncertainty and intrigue around the quarterback position heading into the spring.

With spring practices now officially underway at Oregon, WFOD is taking the time to examine the prevailing storylines at each position group, while exploring how these questions could impact the Ducks entering the fall.

Today, our Spring Storylines series continues with a look at wide receiver.

What impact will Oregon’s highly-touted newcomers have at wide receiver?

For as potent as Oregon’s offenses have been over the last few decades, seldom have the points and production come courtesy of an all-star cast of elite pass catchers that have truly paced the offense. Specifically, since 2017, the wide receiver position at Oregon has been in a particular state of flux, as Cristobal and the Oregon coaching staff have slowly but surely worked to overhaul that position group with more instant impact level talent over the past few recruiting cycles.

Of course, that’s not to say that the Ducks have been completely devoid of talent and production. In 2018, Dillon Mitchell posted the most productive single-season ever for an Oregon wide out, setting a school-record for receiving yards with 1,184. Meanwhile, entering the 2021 season, senior receiver Johnny Johnson is roughly 60 receptions and 1,000 yards away from ranking as one of the most productive receivers in the history of the program.

Though it seems rather unlikely that Johnson will reach those heights given the mystery at quarterback and the number of hungry mouths to feed on offense, it goes to show that the Ducks do indeed have reliable talent at the position, just nothing of the truly transcendent type from their veteran group.

Jaylon Redd, Mycah Pittman, and Devon Williams combine with Johnson to give the Ducks as talented a starting group as they’ve had in quite some time, however their next opportunity to take the field together at same time will be one of their first. A steady senior leader, Redd provides supreme quickness and versatility operating out of the slot, but has never been a go-to receiver in this offense. Pittman and Williams have go-to receiver attributes, but a combination of injuries and inconsistency has prevented both players from fully assuming that mantle to this point.

Up and comers like Kris Hutson and Josh Delgado have flashed enormous potential in the limited opportunities they’ve received to this point, and appear to be two players who are primed and ready to assume more responsibility over the next couple of seasons, but is either player truly capable of shouldering the bulk of the work in the passing game?

Fortunately for Oregon, the answers to some of these broad questions may reside with one of the most talented groups of receivers to ever sign with a Pac-12 program. In Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thornton, the Ducks signed a pair of four-star recruits in the 2021 class who rank as two of the four highest-rated wide receiver recruits in school history, according to 247Sports.

On campus since the winter, this pair has already made their presence known in the early onset of spring practices, appearing relatively unfazed for true freshmen as they angle for playing time later this fall.  Though Thornton has the distinct height advantage compared to Franklin (6’5″ to 6’2″), both are similarly built while also possessing comparable athletic traits when it comes to speed, catching ability, and home run potential. The pair will be joined by fellow four-star recruit Isaiah Brevard later this summer to give the Ducks even more of a shot in the arm as it relates to the receiver talent they’ve accumulated.

But even with all these young, potential stars in the fold, how likely is it to see these signees pay serious dividends in 2021?

In all likelihood, and despite their lofty billing, fans should expect players such as Franklin and Thornton to initially be operating on the fringes of the receiver rotation, as Johnson, Redd, Pittman, Williams, Delgado, and Hutson have at least a year of experience in the program and have proven an ability to serve as contributors, at the very least, in Oregon’s passing attack. Still, the intrigue and attention paid to this newcomer group is justified and could easily command more of the spotlight should injury or other factors impact the depth at wide receiver.

Spring Storylines: Who gains the inside track at starting quarterback for Oregon?
Spring Storylines: How concerning is Oregon’s lack of health at running back?

Top Photo: Oregon WR Johnny Johnson (Oregon Athletics)