Oregon tight end Spencer Webb dies in 'tragic accident'

Spencer Webb, a tight end at Oregon, died Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Oregon Live’s Aaron Fentress said Webb passed away in a “tragic accident.” That report was later confirmed by the Sacramento Bee, stating that Webb died during a cliff diving accident.

Webb was getting ready for his redshirt junior season with the Ducks after starting three games last year. He had 13 receptions for 87 yards and a lone touchdown which came against Arizona. He joined the Ducks in 2018, but redshirted that season and then only played one game due to injury during the COVID-19-impacted 2020 campaign. Last season was his first full year since 2019 when he played in 12 games, totaling 18 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

Reactions poured in on social media after the news broke. One of them came in from Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland, who played at Oregon alongside Webb from 2018-20 before opting out of the 2020 season and entering the 2021 NFL Draft.

“RIP brotha,” Holland tweeted Wednesday night. “You will be missed.”

Alex Forsyth, a current Oregon offensive lineman, also paid tribute to Webb on Twitter by retweeting a video of a big touchdown against Auburn in 2019.

RIP brother. Fly high 🕊 https://t.co/2a28k1BnS2

— Alex Forsyth (@alexforsyth75) July 14, 2022

“RIP brother,” he wrote. “Fly high.”

More on Spencer Webb

Webb, a Sacramento, California native, was gearing up to compete for a big role on a new-look Oregon team. Former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning took over for Mario Cristobal as head coach after he left for Miami, and Kenny Dillingham came in as offensive coordinator from Florida State.

In June, Webb compared Dillingham’s system to the one he saw growing up — back when Marcus Mariota was under center.

“I grew up an Oregon fan, and seeing this offense now reminds me of when I was a kid,” Webb said, via ScoopDuck’s Jarrid Denney. “Watching Marcus Mariota and those guys run down the field and make plays. … That’s what’s got me most excited.”

Webb arrived in Eugene as a four-star recruit and the No. 11 tight end prospect in the country from the class of 2018, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.