8 players who can step up for Oregon Ducks in wake of Evan Stewart injury

Oregon Duck fans got the news that no fanbase wants to get heading into the weekend — a star player suffered an off-season injury.

In Oregon’s case, that star player is wide receiver Evan Stewart, who suffered a knee injury this past week that is likely to hold him out for most of, if not all, the 2025 college football season. This is a devastating blow for the Ducks, who are already replacing Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden from the 2024 team and looking to a number of young and unproven players to step into significant roles.

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Stewart was projected to be the No. 1 receiving option for the Ducks this year, having caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Without his production and veteran experience on the field, Oregon’s WR room got even younger.

That doesn’t mean this room isn’t capable of answering the call, though. After recruiting at a high level over the past several classes, Dan Lanning’s team is talented and ready to step into the spotlight. At the moment, it’s difficult to project who some of the big names might be to announce themselves, but by the end of the year, it’s not hard to imagine that there are some new household names in Eugene.

Here’s who I project will step up in the wake of Stewart’s injury.

Dakorien Moore

With Stewart healthy, true freshman Dakorien Moore was already projected to be a major piece in this offense and one of the leading pass-catchers. So without Stewart in the lineup, don’t be surprised if Moore flourishes in his first year and takes over as the No. 1 WR. He was a highly-rated 5-star who was rated as the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class and has been drawing rave reviews early on in Eugene. The Stewart injury is unfortunate, but it does give Moore a bigger runway in his first season at Oregon.

Jeremiah McClellan

One of the young players in Oregon’s WR room who has been garnering a lot of positive attention this offseason is Jeremiah McClellan, a redshirt freshman who has great size and has put up some solid numbers when on the field. At 6-foot, 190 pounds, McClellan brings a big frame to the table and is ready for a bigger role, but he needs the opportunity to show what he can do.

Kenyon Sadiq

Kenyon Sadiq is everyone’s pick for a major breakout player in 2025, and with Stewart out, he might have a few more targets coming his way. While he’s labeled a tight end, Sadiq’s insane athletic abilities allow him to split out wide and act as an oversized receiver, creating mismatches with smaller defensive backs trying to cover him in space. Sadiq was already going to have a major role in this offense, but without Stewart in the mix, I think he could step up even more than expected.

Justius Lowe

Justius Lowe has flown under the radar a bit during his Oregon career, but when asked to step up, he has met the call. Last year, with Tez Johnson injured, Lowe came in and played a big role in the offense. We saw that again this year in the spring game, where Lowe had a significant role in the offense. I already expected him to be a solid contributor with Stewart in the lineup, but I think his role only increases now.

Kyler Kasper

Back from an injury, Kyler Kasper can be a huge piece of Oregon’s offense if he reaches his ceiling. Standing a 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Kasper offers size that nobody else in the Ducks’ WR room brings and can be an elite redzone target. The skill is there, and now there is more of an opportunity for Kasper to step into a more prominent role.

Jurrion Dickey

Will this be the year that the 5-star receiver finally breaks out? The opportunity is certainly there, now more than ever, with Stewart no longer in the mix for this season. Dickey has all of the tools to be an elite player, but he needs to put it together on the field. This is the guy who many will be looking to for a larger role in 2025.

Malik Benson

Oregon’s lone incoming transfer at the WR position now has an opportunity to step into the mix and be a meaningful part of the offense. Duck fans may have a sour taste after he had a couple of drops in the spring game, but his production speaks for itself so far in his college career, and he has the skill set to be a meaningful addition to the offense.

Gary Bryant Jr.

Gary Bryant Jr. remains the veteran-most receiver in Oregon’s offense, and he will need to step up once again this year and lead by example on and off the field. While he may not be as explosive as Stewart, he can be a reliable piece for the Ducks this season.

Honorable Mentions

If you are looking for names like Dillon Greshman, Cooper Perry, and Jack Ressler on this list, I don’t blame you. The young players have garnered a good amount of buzz going into this season, but I don’t have them on the list of players who can step into significant roles simply because they are all still very young — either redshirt or true freshmen — and we’ve rarely seen Lanning call on first-year players to play a meaningful role. That will change with Dakorien Moore, but I don’t think we see many other freshmen get the nod this year.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks need young players to step up after Evan Stewart injury