Will Stein vows to give Kenyon Sadiq more touches in 2025
College football season has been in hibernation for almost two months now, but as spring football season begins across the country, the sport is starting to stir from its slumber. The Oregon Ducks are once again projected to be one of the best teams in college football next fall, but the long road to realizing that potential starts with the Ducks' 15 spring practices.
Oregon lost a lot of talent to the NFL this offseason, and although the Ducks have no shortage of talent in their program, finding success with an inexperienced roster will have its challenges. On Saturday, after the Ducks' second practice of the spring season, Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein spoke about those challenges, highlighting a handful of returners, including Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who will provide the Ducks with precious experience.
"Kenyon Sadiq is one of the best players in the country," Stein said. "I'm glad we've got him back."
That's high praise, but in his young career, Sadiq has shown that there aren't many things he can't do on a football field. Anyone questioning Sadiq's ability can direct their attention to this touchdown from Oregon's opening drive of the 2024 Big Ten Championship:
AN UNREAL HURDLE FROM OREGON'S KENYON SADIQ TO GIVE THEM THE LEAD ON THE OPENING DRIVE OF THE GAME 😱 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oC5rtFIUmV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 8, 2024
Sadiq is entering his third season at Oregon, and despite never playing as the Ducks' No. 1 tight end, Sadiq wasted no time letting the world know how good he is. In 90 snaps as a freshman, Sadiq caught five passes for 24 yards and a TD. In 2024, he was much more productive, catching 24 balls for 308 yards and two TDs. And as the Ducks' top TE next fall, expect those numbers to fly up.
"It's my job to make sure he's getting as many touches as he can every single game," Stein said. "He's put on 15 pounds of muscle. He's nearing 250 and still looks the same speed. He has great hands. I think he's a better point of attack, on-the-ball tight end than people believe, just because he's so dang strong. And now he's got a great understanding of what we're doing offensively."
In 2024, Oregon threw to its tight ends far more than in the first two years of Dan Lanning's tenure, and it was a shift that paid dividends for Oregon. Not only did the Ducks' tight ends ramp up their receiving production, but Terrance Ferguson, Oregon's top TE last season, was often Dillon Gabriel's first look in crunch-time, gotta-have-it situations. Ferguson and Sadiq are very different players, but expect the Oregon offense to rely on Sadiq in the big moments the way it relied on Ferguson last year.
"Now he's really in the limelight," Stein said. "He's the upperclassman in that room, he's kind of the old head. Talk about leadership, Kenyon's somebody that I'm expecting to be one of those leaders on our team. He's a very special player. I mean, I think, I really do believe he's one of the best players in college football. So it's our job to make sure that he shows that ability this season."
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks OC Will Stein calls TE Kenyon Sadiq one of nation's best
Topics
-
Dan Lanning looking for young leaders to emerge during spring practice
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning says young players need to step up into leadership roles during 2025 spring football.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Indiana vs. Oregon prediction, odds, start time: 2025 Big Ten Tournament picks, best bets by proven model
SportsLine's model simulated the No. 23 Oregon Ducks vs. Indiana Hoosiers in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament second round on Thursday 10,000 timesCBS Sports - 3d -
WATCH: Oregon State Spring Football Interviews Day 6
PROMO: Join BeaversEdge.com and get 30 DAYS FREE!Hear from Oregon State head coach Trent Bray, offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson, and inside linebacker Dexter Foster as they talk spring football ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Michigan State vs. Oregon odds, prediction, time: 2025 Big Ten Tournament picks, best bets from proven model
SportsLine's model just revealed its college basketball picks for the Oregon Ducks vs. Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoonCBS Sports - 2d -
Where Oregon basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions
Where Oregon Ducks March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.Yahoo Sports - 22h -
Oregon's March Madness opponent is Liberty to open 2025 NCAA Tournament
It's Oregon vs Liberty in March Madness to open 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Five best 2025 NFL free agency moves: These teams and players shine
Here are the five best moves after the first wave of free agency. One calculated risk. An offensive line fortified. A star goes West.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
WATCH: Video from Arkansas' 4th spring practice
Watch 11 minutes of video from Arkansas football's fourth spring practice of 2025 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.Visit our homepage for more coverage of the Hogs' spring ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Oregon Ducks looking to move forward and learn from Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State
After a brutal loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, Dan Lanning says the Oregon Ducks are learning from it, and moving on to a new season.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1's season-opener
Without the rain and the safety car, the Australian Grand Prix might not have been much of a contest. The two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly built a lead of more than 15 seconds to ...Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Colin Cowherd: Aaron Rodgers should pick New York Giants over Pittsburgh Steelers
FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd believes QB Aaron Rodgers would be better off signing with the New York Giants instead of the Pittsburgh Steelers.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
No Offseason: The Athletic relaunches its women’s basketball podcast
There is no rest in the world of women’s hoops. Through the NCAA season into the melee of March Madness straight to the WNBA Draft and tip-off, plus a little Unrivaled 3×3 action and overseas play ...Yahoo Sports - 24m -
Future Hall of Famer Terry Francona 'born again' as Cincinnati Reds manager
Cincinnati hired a two-time World Series winner to lead a promising young team.Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell is 'Mr. Can Do It All,' and maybe a fit for Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions don't need a linebacker in the 2025 NFL draft, but that shouldn't stop Brad Holmes from taking Alabama's Jihaad Campbell at No. 28.Yahoo Sports - 30m
More in Sports
-
McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1's season-opener
Without the rain and the safety car, the Australian Grand Prix might not have been much of a contest. The two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly built a lead of more than 15 seconds to ...Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Colin Cowherd: Aaron Rodgers should pick New York Giants over Pittsburgh Steelers
FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd believes QB Aaron Rodgers would be better off signing with the New York Giants instead of the Pittsburgh Steelers.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
No Offseason: The Athletic relaunches its women’s basketball podcast
There is no rest in the world of women’s hoops. Through the NCAA season into the melee of March Madness straight to the WNBA Draft and tip-off, plus a little Unrivaled 3×3 action and overseas play ...Yahoo Sports - 24m -
Future Hall of Famer Terry Francona 'born again' as Cincinnati Reds manager
Cincinnati hired a two-time World Series winner to lead a promising young team.Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell is 'Mr. Can Do It All,' and maybe a fit for Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions don't need a linebacker in the 2025 NFL draft, but that shouldn't stop Brad Holmes from taking Alabama's Jihaad Campbell at No. 28.Yahoo Sports - 30m