The Oregon Ducks ' 2026 recruiting class was historic, as they reeled in the third-ranked class in the nation, per 247Sports Composite. There are a number of big names among the group, such as five-star safety Jett Washington, five-star edge rusher Anthony "Tank" Jones, and four-star offensive lineman Tommy Tofi.
And coming off a 2025 season for the Ducks in which a number of true freshman were trusted and contributed heavily as the season programed, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a handful of youngsters find their way on the field early and often — potentially none quicker than blue-chip tight end Kendre Harrison .
Harrison was the No. 4 tight end and No. 50 player in the class coming out of Reidsville, NC, where he won the Gatorade State Player of the Year. Standing 6-foot-7 and 243 pounds, he's an imposing figure with elite athleticism that also spans to the basketball court, to the point where he may also compete for Oregon's men's basketball squad.
But first, he'll compete this fall for the Ducks on the gridiron, where his path to play time isn't as muddied as other talented freshman. As such, CBS Sports touted Harrison among several other freshman to watch in the Big Ten.
"There are at least a half-dozen first-year freshmen expected to play for the Ducks this season, but few hold a loftier recruiting grade than Harrison, last year's Gatorade State Player of the Year in North Carolina ," CBS Sports' Brad Crawford wrote. "Oregon lacks experience at the position behind expected starter Jamari Johnson following Kenyon Sadiq 's NFL entry, and Harrison, a former two-sport star, brings impressive ability. As part of Oregon's offensive transition following Will Stein's departure to Kentucky as head coach, Harrison, along with others, learned what changes were being made schematically. With Dante Moore in charge, this passing game will still look like Oregon with subtle differences. Harrison is a plug-and-play athlete as long as he brings physicality as a multi-dimensional threat."
As the No. 2 tight end behind Sadiq in 2025, Johnson finished in the top 10 in the nation among tight ends with 510 receiving yards on 32 receptions. He scored three touchdowns, a number that should rise in 2026. But as we know, the Ducks don't just single in on one receiving target. Instead, Harrison should receive a healthy snap count, so long as he beats out other tight ends on the roster for that spot.
If he does, Harrison will join a growing list of successful tight ends for the Ducks, following in the footsteps of Terrance Ferguson , Sadiq and Johnson.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: CBS Sports tabs Ducks' Kendre Harrison as freshman to watch in Big Ten
