Oregon Ducks 'Have A Lot of Faith' in Wide Receiver Justius Lowe

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Justius Lowe caught his first-career touchdown pass in the win over the Illinois Fighting Illini. Over the past few games, his role on the Ducks offense has increased.

Oregon wide receiver Justius Lowe celebrates a touchdown as the No. 1 Oregon Ducks host the No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel has a slew of weapons at his disposal on offense during his first season in Eugene, a major reason why he's led his team to the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll headed into November.

With receivers Evan Stewart, Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden along with tight end Terrance Ferguson being the top pass-catchers in Oregon's offense, defenses have plenty to account for. Add in runnings backs Jordan James and Noah Whittington, and it's clear that the Ducks have put together a nightmarish offensive personnel on their quest to a College Football Playoff National Championship.

Jan 1, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Justius Lowe (14) against the Liberty Flames during the 2024 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

However, on a talented depth chart, other notable faces have gotten lost in the mix, Oregon coach Dan Lanning is making sure that no one goes unrecognized. While speaking to the media Monday, he had some extensive praise for wide receiver Justius Lowe, who caught his first-career touchdown in Saturday's win over the Illinois Fighting Illini.

"I'm just really proud of, more than anything, Justius, when he first got here, he's dinged up with some injuries, and it kind of limited his ability to be on the field," Lanning said. "We always felt like if he was a guy that was available, he was going to be a guy that can make an impact. And I think he's probably had a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, because you realize, 'Hey, I haven't been available,' and he's playing tough, right? More than anything, I tell you that Justius Lowe's playing tough football."

Oct 18, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Justius Lowe (14) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Yanni Karlaftis (14) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

"He's become one of our best blockers in that room, but he also runs really precise routes. He's a guy you can line up at any position and trust that he's going to do his job. So again, I think he's stepped up and grown every single year, every single week, and become one of the guys that we all have a lot of faith in when he's out there on the field," Lanning continued.

Lowe has dealt with injuries during his time in Eugene after arriving as a member of the 2022 recruiting class, but his patience is paying off. He finished with two catches for 51 yards and a 34-yard score in what was by far the best game of his collegiate career. So far this season, he's tallied eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Though Johnson has established himself as Oregon's No. 1 receiver, Lowe will look to play a key role for the Ducks down the final stretch of the regular season, including in Saturday's matchup in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines.

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