Did Oregon Finally Land a “Freakish” Wide Receiver?

For all the high-flying, high-scoring offenses the Ducks have put together over the past three decades, they have never had a dominating wide receiver. Nobody who went on to have a decorated NFL career. Meanwhile, LSU, Alabama and Ohio State seem to have receivers drafted in the first round of every NFL Draft.

But, all that in the past might be changing as 5-Star and No. 1 2025 class wide receiver recruit Dakorien Moore has arrived in Eugene and is living up to the hype. While his 6-foot, 190-pound frame does not jump off his bio page, his build is in the same category as NFL stars Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Davante Adams and Justin Jefferson. At only 18, he is bound to get a little bigger. His combination of size, speed and play-making ability has the Oregon offensive coaching staff salivating at the options he presents.

The Ducks have had some good college wide receivers over the years.  Jeff Maehl (who my friend Meg still has a crush on), Samie Parker and Josh Huff come to mind. But, none went on to make a name for himself in the NFL. Troy Franklin getting drafted in the fourth round last year was a big step in the right direction for Oregon receivers, and we will see where Tez Johnson lands later this month.

With Moore, Oregon finally has a receiver with the tools and potential to be a first-round pick. Which, I am assuming (off the top of my head) has not happened since Moore’s namesake, Bobby Moore (Ahmad Rashad), was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 1972 draft, and he was more of a running back in college.

Many Oregon fans are still dealing with nightmares and PTSD from the Rose Bowl. It is nice to potentially have the type of pass catcher who puts fear into defensive coordinators the way Ohio State’s superstar freshman Jeremiah Smith did last season.

Oregon has been putting quarterbacks and running backs on NFL rosters for a while. Now, it is time for the wide receivers to do the same.

Did I miss anybody? Outside of Rashad, are there any Oregon receivers who went on to have measurable success in the pros?

Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: X, Oregon Updates, @oregon__updates

Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in technology in SLC, Utah

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Darren Perkins

Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.