'Uncommon' depth has Oregon tight end group in rare company
You could make the argument for other teams around college football having better top-line guys in the tight end room. But it’s hard to argue that many other teams have more quality depth in the tight end room than what Oregon has.
The Ducks have four different tight ends who have scored a touchdown this season. The group has 10 total touchdowns through the first eight games. Oregon is one of only two teams in the country that can say either.
This group can do it all 🔥
One of two FBS teams with touchdowns from four different tight ends this season, and No. 2 in the nation with 10 total TDs from the TE room.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/SQWOaTDWPp
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 3, 2022
Terrance Ferguson has five receiving scores this season, tied for the third-most of any Pac-12 player. He has 20 receptions for 194 yards. Cam McCormick has nine catches for 64 yards and three scores. Patrick Herbert, the brother of former Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert, caught his first career touchdown last week against Cal. Moliki Matavao also has seven catches this season for 101 yards. He ran for a 3-yard touchdown in the Ducks’ win over Arizona.
The depth in the group has certainly made life easier on quarterback Bo Nix, who said this week the Oregon tight end room is unique among those he’s been around.
“It’s uncommon because you never really have teams that have four tight ends like we do,” Nix said. “Teams may have one or two, but we have four tight ends that can play honestly at anywhere in the country. It just speaks to their talent. Because of that we just want to get them on the field. The more tight ends you put out there, it just puts a defense in a hard situation because you can get big and stop the run or we can also spread you out and throw it and you’re stuck. It’s hard for a defense when you use tight ends like that.”
The Ducks face Colorado at 12:30 p.m. PT on ESPN Saturday.