Oregon receiver Tez Johnson will return for senior season with Ducks

Oregon’s second-leading receiver is set to return to Eugene for the 2024 season.

Standout slot receiver, Tez Johnson, announced on Thursday that he will play his senior year with the Ducks, rather than enter the NFL Draft.

One last time #scoducks @CoachDanLanning pic.twitter.com/X0RxB3JCge

— tez (@tezMania15) January 4, 2024

In 14 games this season, Johnson caught 86 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns and earned honorable mention all-conference honors. He and Troy Franklin became the first pair of Oregon pass-catchers to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in the same season since Damon Griffin (and Tony Hartley did so in 1998.

Johnson, the younger brother of Ducks’ star quarterback Bo Nix, began his career at Troy before transferring to Oregon last offseason. A former 3-star signee, he was the No. 1,186 overall prospect in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

In his final game playing with Nix, Johnson led the Ducks with 11 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown during their Fiesta Bowl win over Liberty.

More on Oregon’s offseason outlook

Few programs in all of college football experienced a greater amount of transfer portal activity than Oregon did during the 2023 cycle.

A total of 30 Oregon scholarship players entered the portal during the previous two transfer windows — 21 in the winter and nine in the spring. Meanwhile, the Ducks added 14 scholarship players during that same period.

Many of their portal additions — including receiver Tez Johnson, cornerback Khyree Jackson, safety Evan Williams, and right tackle Ajani Cornelius — locked down starting jobs and played key roles during the 2023 season.

This offseason, Oregon will once again look for opportunities to improve its roster by way of the portal.

While speaking with reporters during a Fiesta Bowl media availability on Dec. 3, Oregon coach Dan Lanning was asked which players he expects to enter the portal during the offseason.

“There will certainly be some announcements. I think that’s going to exist on every single team,” Lanning said. “I’ve talked to those guys individually. On the same note, that’s their opportunity to be able to announce that. So I think you’ll see some guys that aren’t with us anymore. And they’ve been phenomenal here for the Ducks, and wishing them nothing but the best. But out of respect for them, I’m going to give them the opportunity to make that announcement.”

Track transfer portal activity

While the NCAA transfer portal database is private, the On3 Network has streamlined the reporting process tracking player movement.

If you find yourself asking, ‘How can I track transfer portal activity?’ our well-established network of reporters and contacts across college athletics keeps you up to speed in several ways, from articles written about players as they enter and exit the transfer portal or find their new destination, to our social media channels, to the On3 Transfer Portal.

The transfer portal wire provides a real-time feed of player activity, including basic player profile information, transfer portal ranking and original On3 Industry recruiting ranking, as well as NIL valuation (name, image and likeness).

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up