Spring game (Apr 25, 2026): Caught the first touchdown of the day from Dante Moore in the back of the end zone, putting Combat ahead 7-0 in Q1. Full recap →
Jamari Johnson is the 2026 TE1 after Kenyon Sadiq went R1/16 to the Jets. The Louisville transfer (13/158/1 as a redshirt freshman in 2024) put up 32 catches, 510 yards, and 3 TDs in his first Oregon season, ranking sixth in single-season Oregon TE history for receiving yards and earning All-Big Ten honorable mention from coaches. He averaged 15.9 yards per catch, fourth on the team in receiving yards and fifth in receptions. He turned down the 2026 NFL Draft to come back. The opening drive of the spring game tells you what Mehringer is doing with him: Moore looking his way on the back-shoulder fade in the red zone. The Sadiq successor question has an answer.
32/510/3
2025 (Oregon)
15.9 ypc, 6th in single-season TE history
HM
All-Big Ten 2025
Coaches honorable mention
13/158/1
2024 (Louisville)
R-Freshman, 5 games
6-5, 257
Frame
Same height as Sadiq, slightly heavier
510
Receiving yards in 2025, 6th in Oregon single-season TE history
Johnson did not need to leave for the draft. He came back as the TE1 of a Heisman favorite.
thequackreport.com
The Sadiq Successor
Kenyon Sadiq was the highest-drafted Oregon tight end since Russ Francis in 1975 (R1/16 to the Jets, April 2026). The natural follow-up question: who replaces a 51-catch, 8-TD season? Johnson does not have to be Sadiq. He has to be himself, on a team where Dante Moore reads the field, Mehringer designs the route, and Stewart and DK Moore pull coverage to the perimeter. The middle of the field will be open. Johnson plays a different game than Sadiq: less of a vertical seam threat, more of a security blanket who wins the back-shoulder throws and red-zone fades. The spring game opener was that exact concept.
Why He Came Back
Johnson had the option to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft and explored it. The decision to return was about completing the developmental arc on a championship-level roster. Sadiq's R1 selection sets the program standard. The TE room loses Sadiq but adds five-star freshman Kendre Harrison (6-7, 243). The depth chart is: Johnson at TE1, Harrison developing, Markus Dixon as TE3, with the position room arguably deeper than 2025. Johnson is the connective tissue.
What to Watch in 2026
The biggest question is target volume. Sadiq saw 51 catches in 2025. Johnson had 32. With Dakorien Moore and Stewart commanding outside coverage, Johnson should see more single coverage and more red-zone targets. The 15.9 ypc average tells you he can stretch the seam when needed. The Mehringer offense is built on rhythm and trust between Moore and his readable targets. Johnson is one of the four most-targeted players on this team. The spring game showed exactly how the connection looks.
What to Watch at the Spring Game
1
Red-zone targets: Sadiq led FBS TEs in TDs in 2025 (8). How does Johnson compare?
2
Snap share with Kendre Harrison: how much do the freshman five-star's reps eat into Johnson's?
3
Block grade: TE1 in this offense has to be at least average in the run game.
4
Big-game production: Penn State (Sept 27) and Ohio State (Nov 7) will tell you who Moore trusts in the moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Johnson had 32 receptions for 510 yards and 3 TDs in his first Oregon season (2025), averaging 15.9 yards per catch. His 510 yards rank 6th in Oregon single-season TE history. He was named coaches' All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Johnson explored the draft but chose to return to Oregon. With Kenyon Sadiq off to the Jets, Johnson takes over as TE1 on a Heisman-favorite roster.
Johnson redshirted his true freshman season at Louisville in 2023, played as a redshirt freshman in 2024 (13 catches, 158 yards, 1 TD), then transferred to Oregon for 2025.
Sources: goducks.com, ESPN, SI Oregon, 247Sports, Yahoo Sports (verified Apr 27, 2026). This page covers on-field performance and publicly available recruiting data only.