Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 23 — Tez Johnson
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century.
Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They’ve been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They’ve seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft.
It’s safe to say that when looking at the nation’s best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That’s a different question entirely.
To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we’re going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way.
But who is the best of the best?
That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success.
Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks.
If you want to catch up, let’s take a look at how we’ve gotten to where we’re at in the rankings:
Today, let's continue with No. 23 — the speedy Tez Johnson .
Player Overview
Although Tez Johnson was a member of the Oregon Ducks for just two seasons, having spent his first three at Troy, he quickly became a beloved player from both fans' and teammates' perspectives. The 5'10", 165-pound jitterbug slot receiver joined his adopted brother, quarterback Bo Nix , at Oregon ahead of the 2022-23 season and burst onto the scene, establishing himself as one of the top pass-catchers in the country.
During his two seasons, Johnson consistently found the open spots in the defense. Combined with his slippery run-after-catch capabilities, he made life easy for both Nix and Dillon Gabriel , his passer in 2024-25. Though he battled a shoulder injury late in the season, Johnson was the team's leading receiver and had a significant hand in Oregon securing the 2025 Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Tez Johnson Career Stats
26 Games — 169 catches, 2,080 yards, 20 TDs
Single Best Season
2023: 14 games — 86 catches, 1,182 yards, 10 TDs
A key part of the fourth-highest FBS scoring offense in 2023, Johnson was second on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns behind fellow WR Troy Franklin . With its dynamic duo out wide and Nix throwing passes, the Ducks went 11-1 in the regular season and capped their campaign off with a dominant 39-point Fiesta Bowl victory.
Tez Johnson NFL Draft
Concerns over his lack of size resulted in Johnson falling in the draft, where he was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft, at pick No. 235 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Tez Johnson's Lasting Legacy
Johnson wasn't the biggest, nor was he necessarily the fastest in terms of straight line speed -- but Johnson's will, determination and competitiveness stood out on every single snap that he played for the Ducks. Though he spent just two seasons in Eugene, Johnson will forever be entrenched among the best and most beloved receivers in Oregon football history.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks football's top 25 players since 2000: No. 23 Tez Johnson
