McLaughlin: What’s Next For Oregon Ducks After Losing Evan Stewart To Injury?
By SPENCER McLAUGHLIN
Contributor, 750 The Game
I didn’t expect to be writing about injury news in the middle of June. We aren’t quite sure how Evan Stewart reportedly suffered an injury that’s likely to keep him out for the 2025 season. The only thing to do is figure out where Oregon goes from here.
Stewart was Oregon’s 3rd-leading receiver last year in total yardage, trailing Traeshon Holden and Tez Johnson. He totaled 48 receptions (2nd on the team) for 613 yards and 5 touchdowns. I was expecting him to be the Ducks’ leading receiver this year. The former 5-star recruit and future NFL Draft pick has not totaled a 1,000-yard season in his career at Texas A&M and Oregon.
That definitely won’t happen now, even if Stewart plays at some point this season.
When you include Terrance Ferguson, Oregon’s top 4 leaders in receiving yards from last year are no longer on the roster. I’ve written a lot of articles on recruiting in recent months. Oregon’s efforts on the trail over years should pay off for a new QB (likely Dante Moore).
The biggest name that comes to mind for many Duck fans is 2025 5-star #1 WR Dakorien Moore. Can he be expected to be Oregon’s leading receiver in his first season of college football? Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith did so for the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes last year. Cam Coleman down at Auburn was 2nd behind veteran Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith with just under 600 yards receiving in a poor passing offense.
Is it possible? Moore certainly has the talent. Some have compared him to the Bengals’ Ja’Maar Chase, who tore up college football more in his 2nd season with LSU before becoming an All-Pro in the NFL. Moore’s role is certainly going to be larger than it was before with Stewart not on the field. But his name isn’t the only one that should come to mind.
Justius Lowe is going into his 4th season as a Duck, and his body type on the perimeter is the most similar to Evan Stewart’s. Gary Bryant Jr. was a borderline 5-star recruit coming out of high school, and is entering his 6th year of college football. Neither player has ever had a singular season as good as Evan Stewart’s was last year with the Ducks, but the experience mixed with the potential is more than a little interesting.
A couple of other names that might be in the background of all this are Jurrion Dickey and Malik Benson. Dickey was a 5-star recruit in the class of 2023, and has yet to play meaningful football during his time in Eugene (partially due to injury). Benson was a JUCO all-american before spending the last two seasons at Alabama and Florida State. He has totaled less than 500 yards and just two touchdowns in his time playing P4 football.
Dillon Gresham was the standout receiver at Oregon’s Spring Game back on April 26th, totaling 96 yards and a touchdown on just 3 catches. Jeremiah McClellan considered Ohio State out of high school, but now goes into his 2nd season at Oregon with an opening on the depth chart. Could one of them, or Kyler Kasper, grasp the opportunity?
The options are myriad for whoever Oregon ends up starting at QB this year. The talent of former 4 and 5-star players is clear, the only thing missing is experience.
It’s moments like these where Oregon’s non-conference schedule of Montana State, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State could prove beneficial. Those are not gimme games, but they’re not exactly Ohio State or LSU, either.
With Stewart out, the youth movement in Eugene for Dan Lanning will continue to surge this season.
Spencer McLaughlin is an Oregon Ducks football contributor to 750 The Game. He also hosts the “Locked On Oregon Ducks” and “Locked On College Football” podcasts and has work featured throughout the season here.