Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson Earn 2024 Big Ten Preseason Honors

In the inaugural season for the Oregon Ducks in the Big Ten, the 1-2 quarterback to wide receiver punch are expected to make a major splash. Dillon Gabriel and Tez Johnson were named to the 12-player preseason list by a media panel.

Arden Cravalho

Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson catches a pass during practice with the Oregon Ducks Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson catches a pass during practice with the Oregon Ducks Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA
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All of the Big Ten schools made the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the football media days and the Oregon Ducks were a major talking point.

Besides the fact a massive inflatable duck was floating in the White River, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and wide receiver Tez Johnson were named to the Big Ten 12-player preseason list by a media panel. Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan are the only programs with multiple representatives on the list.

Gabriel enters the 2024 season as a Heisman Trophy favorite. He ranks fourth in NCAA history in career total touchdowns with 152, seventh in total yards with 15,925, eighth in passing yards with 14,865, and eighth in passing touchdowns with 25.

He isn't just a one-trick pony as he can do it on the ground as well, running for 1,030 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during practice
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during practice with the Oregon Ducks Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

Johnson is coming off a stellar senior season with Oregon after playing the first three years of his career with Troy. He had 1,182 receiving yards on 86 catches and 10 touchdowns and is looking to build off that in his final season with the Ducks. 

He's going to be one of the favorites for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding wide receiver in college football.

Dan Lanning's Oregon was also predicted to finish second in the Big Ten standings behind Ryan Day's Ohio State according to Cleveland.com. The Ducks and Buckeyes are set to play each other in Eugene on October 12th.

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Arden Cravalho
ARDEN CRAVALHO

Arden Cravalho has been covering Oregon football and basketball for Sports Illustrated's Oregon site since June 2024. Arden has been writing extensively about college athletics beginning in 2018. His other work can be seen on "The Slipper Still Fits" at SB Nation. Arden is a graduate of Gonzaga University and brings a deep understanding of college sports to his writing. Residing in San Francisco, CA, Arden continues to follow his passion for college sports with a focus on the Ducks. His experience and dedication to covering Oregon's athletic programs are evident in his insightful articles and analysis

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