Dan Lanning lets out his excitement for one Oregon Duck breakout star in particular, and that only got amplified by a video game

While playing behind Los Angeles Rams second round selection Terrance Ferguson, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq was still able to showcase high upside during the 2024 college football season. The rising junior managed to haul in 24 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns. While opportunities were limited, Sadiq constantly jumped off the screen, both […]

Ryan Roberts National College Football Writer
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Coach Dan Lanning celebrates amid a crowd of fans on the field as No. 3 Oregon knocked off No. 2 Ohio State 32-31 on Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While playing behind Los Angeles Rams second round selection Terrance Ferguson, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq was still able to showcase high upside during the 2024 college football season. The rising junior managed to haul in 24 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns. While opportunities were limited, Sadiq constantly jumped off the screen, both at the catch point, after the catch, and even hurdling defenders. 

With his limited production heading into 2025, there isn't a ton of national attention for Sadiq. Make no mistake about it, however, head coach Dan Lanning knows exactly what he has in the talented pass catcher. He was reminded of the talents of Sadiq recently while playing a game EA Sports College Football 26. 

“Yesterday was the first time I played it, but I played with my youngest son Titan. We played the NCAA College Football, and Sadiq went off. He balled out so I need to make sure and bring that up to our quarterbacks, throw it to Kenyon. He’s been unbelievable this offseason. If you just see him work, it’s not a secret. I feel like he would tell you those are some of the traits you learn from those who were ahead of him, whether that was Terrance Ferguson or Pat Herbert. There is a chemistry being developed, and that’s a part of what fall camp is about, our quarterbacks getting on the same page with our tight ends, our wideouts, our running backs, creating that rhythm. Our guys have worked really hard this summer. Kenyon is going to be hard for people to deal with. He’s a special player. I think he could be the best tight end in the nation. When you have a good rhythm with your quarterbacks, and you are able to get the ball to him, that’s a special weapon.”

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It was a funny moment of the presser, but there is reason to believe that Sadiq is going to be a breakout star for the Ducks. With a new starting quarterback in Dante Moore taking over, you are going to want to get him a safety blanket in the passing game. A versatile 6-3, 245-pound mismatch nightmare at tight end feels like an interesting proposition to fill that role. 

With the preseason injury to star wide receiver Evan Stewart, Oregon also needs as many pass catchers to step up as possible. Sadiq becoming a dominant player, and potentially one of the best in the country, would greatly soften that blow.