Josh Pate Doubts Oregon Wide Receivers Can Reach Elite Feat

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore threw for 3,565 yards last season, and he could be set up to throw for over 4,000 yards in the upcoming year when throwing to a healthy Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore. 

Malik Benson was the Ducks’ leading receiver in 2025 with 719 yards and six touchdowns on 43 receptions. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq was the second-leading receiver with 560 yards and eight touchdowns on 51 receptions.

Of course, Oregon had a robust running game last season, rushing for 2,979 yards and 35 touchdowns. The Ducks plan to have a strong running game again this fall, and that could keep Moore from hitting 4,000 yards. 

A caller wrote into "Josh Pate's College Football Show" with the bold prediction of Dakorien and Stewart each earning 1,000 yards receiving this fall. Pate put the prediction at a 9.5 out of 10 boldness scale, believing the Ducks are too complementary to have two receivers reach 1,000 yards.

"That's a 9.5," Pate said. "But both are capable. But remember, Evan Stewart's coming off injury. The reports are positive. Dakorien Moore last year, around 500 receiving yards. He should blow up this year. But Oregon did not have anybody over 700 total receiving yards last year. 

"However, I do think with Dante Moore back, someone has to get there this year. But to someone's getting there, I find very difficult to envision, although not impossible, because they're also going to run the ball very effectively. So because of that, I put a 9.5 on it."

In addition to Dakorien and Stewart, the Ducks have two other targets that will need catches this season. Tight end Jamari Johnson recorded 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns last season. He should see more action with Kenyon Saqdiq playing football for the New York Jets this season.

Jeremiah McClellan was the third-leading receiver at Oregon last year with 38 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns. Dante Moore had good chemistry with McClellan, and he could take targets away from Stewart and Dakorien.

It could be a good thing for Oregon not to have a 1,000-yard receiver, because that means the offense is keeping the defense guessing as Dante finds the open man.