Analyzing Oregon's Chances With USC WR Transfer Gary Bryant Jr.

Bryant is one of the top names the Ducks are still pursuing in the transfer portal.

The Oregon Ducks are no strangers to the transfer portal. 

Whether it's players joining the Ducks or leaving the program, head coach Dan Lanning is well aware of the role the portal plays in overhauling or retooling your roster.

Oregon hasn't been as active as other schools in leveraging the portal, but the Ducks have signed 10 players this offseason, including a pair of wide receivers in Traeshon Holden (Alabama) and Tez Johnson (Troy).

Might they add another?

That certainly looks like the plan as the staff brought in USC wide receiver transfer Gary Bryant Jr. for an official visit just a few weeks ago. 

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He took his final official visit to Texas A&M over the weekend and now appears to be in decision mode. The former Corona (Calif.) Centennial star will choose from Oregon, Texas A&M, Miami and Arizona.

After speaking with a source close to the recruitment it sounds like playing time is a main factor driving this decision.

Gary Bryant Jr. USC

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Bryant Jr. USC

© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Bryant Jr. USC

© Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

So what would that look like at Oregon?

If you asked me this last month, I'd say there were snaps to be had. It looked like Oregon was going to need to dip back into the portal for another veteran option after Traeshon Holden was dismissed, but now that he's been reinstated I'm not so sure there are plentiful snaps to go around.

Troy Franklin should lead the team in all major receiving categories, but the production behind him isn't as proven after losing Chase Cota to graduation. Kris Hutson returns as the No. 3 wideout from a year ago after hauling in 44 passes.

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After him, all the wide receivers are pretty new.

Tez Johnson comes in from Troy and hopes he can rekindle his chemistry with quarterback Bo Nix after the two starred together playing high school football in Alabama. I'm told that Johnson is moving "differently" than anyone in that room, which creates some early buzz and excitement after his commitment kind of flew under the radar.

Kyler Kasper is another player I'm super excited about. He's 6'6", 200 pounds and a freak athlete. Who wouldn't get excited about that? Even so, that doesn't guarantee that he'll see the field after redshirting as a true freshman in 2022.

Then you have Justius Lowe, another redshirt freshman. Lowe was a late flip from Utah for Junior Adams, but people around the program are confident he can take a leap from year one to year two and we saw some of that in spring ball last year.

Josh Delgado has been in Eugene since 2019 but has struggled to carve out a role and make an impact. 

Aside from them the team welcomes 2023 signee Ashton Cozart as an early enrollee following a high school career that earned him status as an Under Armour All-American. And there's just no way we can go without mentioning Jurrion Dickey.

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He's the highest-rated wide receiver the Ducks have signed since Cameron Colvin in 2004 and he should see the field plenty as a true freshman despite arriving "late" in the summer. 

Dickey is recovering from an injury that cut his senior season to just four games, but he's got all the physical and technical tools to be a top player for the offense in 2023.

So knowing all that, including all the great things Bryant had to say after his trip to Oregon, what are the chances looking like?

He really likes Junior Adams after he was recruited by the Huskies coming out of high school, but it doesn't look like the snaps are there--at least not without some serious competition.

Transfers don't often choose a school unless there's a clear path to playing time and it's looking murky at best. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't be shocked if the Ducks land him, but what that room is crowded and I get the sense Bryant doesn't want to be buried on the depth chart for a second time after Lincoln Riley brought in Mario Williams and Jordan Addison, essentially forcing his hand with a redshirt. 

Bryant said he might not go public with a decision until May when the next transfer portal window reopens, so we'll have to keep tabs here.

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