Dan Lanning assesses Oregon's depth at wide receiver

After a week off, courtesy of spring break, the Oregon Ducks are back on the practice field preparing for the upcoming 2023 season. Head coach Dan Lanning was eager to see his team back out there as they continued their spring practice.

However, there is one concern for Oregon’s offense that some have taken notice of. And that is the lack of depth at the white receiver position.

Following their first practice back from spring break, Lanning assessed the overall strength and depth of the Ducks at wide receivers during their spring practices.

“I don’t think that’s as big of a piece,” said Lanning. “There was times we were operating with less last year. So, it’s more about quality than it is necessarily quantity. We have good ones there, and we have more coming in as well this summer. So it’ll be different once we get to the season.”

Oregon is stacked at wide out

The Ducks have some serious talent at wide receiver that has or will be entering the program soon. Out of the transfer portal Oregon picked up former four-star recruit of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Traeshon Holden and Tez Johnson, formerly of Troy.

They also have some quality wide receiver recruits from their 2023 class. Four-star recruit Ashton Cozart enrolled early and is already participating in spring practices. Meanwhile, their top recruit, the number two overall receiver in the 2023 class, five-star wideout Jurrion Dickey, should be joining the team in the summer.

Currently, Oregon has 10 receivers listed on their spring practice roster. However, of those 10 names listed, only two were consistent contributors for the Ducks last season: junior wide receivers Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson.

Hutson finished the previous year with the second-most receptions on the team (44) and the third-most receiving yards (472). Unfortunately, the Compton, CA, native did not record a single touchdown reception in 2022. Franklin, on the other hand, was hands down star quarterback Bo Nix’s favorite target last season. He led Oregon in the three main receiving statistical categories: receptions (61), yards (891), and touchdowns (9).

Despite missing two of their top three receiving threats from last season, Chase Cota, whose off to the NFL, and Dont’e Thornton, who transferred to Tennessee; Oregon should still have a pretty formidable group of receivers.

Still, for Lanning, it’s not how many receivers Oregon has at their disposal; it’s their quality and how they are going to be used.