Breakout Candidates: No. 13 - Kris Hutson

College football is a funny game. One day, one class, one philosophy change – any of those can alter the trajectory of a program. Either for good or for ill.

Take, for example, the wide receivers’ room for Oregon in 2018. Led by position coach Michael Johnson, who came to Oregon under Willie Taggart, the Ducks’ receivers more closely resembled those of a Mountain West school than a dominant Power 5 program.

The Ducks had Dillon Mitchell, a former 4-star talent out of Tennessee, but he had yet to put together much of a rèsumè. And after him, not so much.

There was former safety Brenden Schooler. True sophomores Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd. Oregon’s third- and fourth-leading receivers? Tight end Jacob Breeland and running back CJ Verdell.

Now, fast forward to 2021. Bryan McLendon has transformed the position almost overnight, both in performance and talent. Reliable regulars like Johnson and Redd remain, but the skill around them has exploded with the additions of Troy Franklin, Dont’e Thornton and Isaiah Brevard.

However, lost a bit in experience-versus-youth paradigm is a spark plug from the 2020 class. He showed glimpses during his abbreviated freshman year, and he now looks primed for a more significant role in 2021.

Kris Hutson is ready. The question now is: Will he get his shot?

***

Under Mario Cristobal, Oregon has understandably looked to get bigger and longer at the receiver position. Yet there remains the need for a guy like Hutson, a slot nightmare for defenses: shifty, quick and dangerously fast.

The former 4-star out of SoCal powerhouse St. John Bosco Prep is built like Redd. He moves a lot like Johnson. And he has more straight-line speed than either.

At 5-11 and 171 pounds, Hutson was the favorite target of Oregon’s quarterbacks during the spring game. He routinely found pockets of open space, caught touchdowns and returned kickoffs.

From a measurables perspective, the undersized Hutson seems like a throwback to Oregon’s receivers of the past. But there’s a difference; whereas before Hutson would have been the norm, he now stands among giants.

With the length and size of guys like Thornton, Brevard and Devon Williams – not to mention hulking tight ends like Spencer Webb, DJ Johnson, Moliki Matavao and Terrance Ferguson — a role player like Hutson can thrive.

What that role is, we don’t yet know. That’s for McLendon and offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead to figure out.

But one thing is for sure: It’s much more effective to mix and match sizes and skill sets like Oregon can do in 2021, rather than sending out a group of same-size, same-speed players, as it did in 2018.

Franklin, for one, sees the value of the past two recruiting classes. And with four verbal commits from receivers in Oregon’s 2022 class, he likes what the future holds as well.

“The receiver class we have now,” Franklin said recently, “with the receivers that were already here and with the class coming behind us (in 2022) — we’re trying to make a big name for the receiver group at Oregon.”

Hutson is a part of that equation. Depending on what the coaches decide is the formula for success, he could play a significant part.

The competition for the slot receiver is growing. And with injury-plagued guys like Mycah Pittman and Redd in and out of the lineup, Hutson must capitalize on his opportunities.

Oregon receiving corps is ready for its long-awaited breakout. Franklin knows it, and he seems prepared to do his part.

If given a chance, expect the same from Hutson, too.