Lanning went on the Pat McAfee Show in the midst of Big Ten Media Days and made sure fans knew what to look out for.
Amidst all the success that the Oregon Ducks had achieved last season, there was just one key component missing.
Wide receiver Evan Stewart.
During Big Ten Media Days, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning made the rounds, and went on the Pat McAfee Show to gush over his red shirt senior receiver.
Darius Butler, a former NFL defensive back and consistent contributor of the Show asked Lanning who he believes would take a step forward as a leader, both on and off the field.
Even though Lanning made it clear, he doesn’t enjoy answering questions like that, he couldn’t hold back on Stewart.
“I’m gonna actually give you a name this time. Normally I’d side-step it,” he said. “Evan Stewart’s had a really good offseason. He was out for us last year, he was injured during the year. But I’m really excited about what Evan can bring to our team this year. We have a lot of great players, it’s unfair for me to pick one, but he’s had a great offseason. I’m excited to see what he can create this year.”
Those comments from Lanning shouldn’t be a surprise. After spring camp, he was effusive in his praise.
"This has been Evan's best spring since I've been here. I'm really excited about the growth. I think when you have something that's not there for a while and you don't get the opportunity to do it, you're really hungry when you come back. And I've seen the maturity from him. I've seen him really level up in execution, be a guy that we can count on this spring."
Stewart was poised to have a breakout season last year, before he tore his patellar tendon on the first day of summer workouts.
The injury cost Stewart the entire 2025 season and delayed his path to the NFL by another year.
After spending a year on the sidelines, Stewart appears determined to make the most of his final collegiate season.
“I still have a ways to go,” Stewart said after the Spring Game. “It’s my last one, but I’ve been waiting to get to the spring game just so I could keep toning in on my leg. It’s just little things in my game earlier that I had that I still need to be there and I like in my game. So this time we’ll be able to double down on that. Other than that, I’ve been good.”
With Stewart back in the fold and quarterback Dante Moore entering the season as one of the nation's premier quarterbacks, expectations remain high in Eugene.
Oregon will hope the veteran receiver can provide the spark that was missing last season as the Ducks chase a national championship.
