TE Andrew Olesh to Penn State

[lmduck]

Yeesh. If there is one coach who isn't pulling his weight on the recruiting trail, it's Drew Mehringer. That's not a shot at Ploog, Pugliano, or Saleapaga, but I'd be pretty surprised if any of them ends up in the NFL (Ploog has a shot) and I think you could've made a GA the main recruiter and Oregon still would've landed all three of them.

Not trying to diss Mehringer but there has to be some analysis done at some point.

[OregonFan4Life]

Yeesh. If there is one coach who isn't pulling his weight on the recruiting trail, it's Drew Mehringer. That's not a shot at Ploog, Pugliano, or Saleapaga, but I'd be pretty surprised if any of them ends up in the NFL (Ploog has a shot) and I think you could've made a GA the main recruiter and Oregon still would've landed all three of them.

I’m not sure what to make of Mehringer cause it’s not like the TE’s we have always play amazing. I have seen them underperform many times this season particularly with blocking. I don’t think he’s a bad coach but I wonder if he isn’t up to par yet compared to the rest of the Oregon coaching staff.

[droop10]

Seems we're leaving out Sadiq, who I believe will be an elite TE next season. In the end, they were down to the wire for 2 elite TEs that decided to stay home. Not sweating it much. Plus, they already have a commitment from the top ranked TE in next year's class, and many believe they are leading for the 3rd ranked TE in the class. Sadiq will start next year, so I'm not sweating next year. The other guys are fine depth, given that TE isn't a focal point of the offense anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if they added a little depth through the portal, but I don't think it has to be a huge priority.

[Everythingsducky]

Yeah, the portal hopefully cures future warts.

[StevensTechU]

Seems we're leaving out Sadiq, who I believe will be an elite TE next season. In the end, they were down to the wire for 2 elite TEs that decided to stay home. Not sweating it much. Plus, they already have a commitment from the top ranked TE in next year's class, and many believe they are leading for the 3rd ranked TE in the class. Sadiq will start next year, so I'm not sweating next year. The other guys are fine depth, given that TE isn't a focal point of the offense anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if they added a little depth through the portal, but I don't think it has to be a huge priority.

Tight end isn't quarterback, but I think you're underselling its importance in the offense. How often does a running play blow up and it's because a tight end missed a block? How often do we move the sticks because of a great job of getting open by the tight end? While the yards aren't that of a wide receiver, tight ends are pretty darn important in Oregon's offense.

The 2026 kid is great (if he sticks) but he's raw, so you're talking about a depth issue next season, then if Sadiq goes to the NFL a talent and depth issue in 2026, and then hopefully things resolving in 2027.

In recent memory, we've had times where our DB recruiting and LB recruiting has been in the same place, and it's okay to call out that John Neal wasn't getting it done anymore or that Don Pellum wasn't getting it done anymore. What makes the Oregon team so good this year is it's lack of weaknesses, and that's something you have to aim for each year.

Lastly, I want to say that being runner-up for an elite recruit counts for absolutely nothing. You would much rather finish first for a kid who's a future 6th round pick than runner-up for a future 2nd rounder. Misidentifying who you can get only leaves holes on your roster, and while that coach was hyper invested in somebody they won't land, someone else is busy identifying talent that the recruiting services missed on.

[Phalanx]

Like others here, I don't follow high school recruiting super closely. After reading the comments here, I thought maybe the Ducks didn't get a TE this cycle, so I was happy to see that they did and he is pretty highly rated, and they stole him from their bitterest rival who had to settle for a kid from West Linn that the Ducks apparently didn't want. It also seems that, having secured the former UW commit, they also tried to get some of the even higher-rated guys, but missed, mostly because they wanted to stay close to home. On the surface, I don't see an issue with any of this. Do we not like the kid with the funny name? 247 ranks him as the 14th best TE prospect. Are they wrong?

The good news is Santa can still bring us a present from the transfer portal. To me, Oregon is the perfect transfer portal school. Okay, you did what Mom and Dad wanted and signed with the local state school and now you know what college is about, and the fam got to see your games. Now, you'd like be more adventurous and go to a top program across the country with cool facilities, a unique relationship with the world's biggest shoe company, and a great motivational coach. It also helps that a number of transfers have gone there already and successfully launched from there into the NFL draft. Plus, they look like they are having a lot of fun with the Shout thing and getting to pick uniforms every week, etc.

Signing day seems like a great success, and fortunately, it is far from the end of the story. Seems like we should enjoy the position we are currently in, taking the best from both worlds.

[droop10]

Seems we're leaving out Sadiq, who I believe will be an elite TE next season. In the end, they were down to the wire for 2 elite TEs that decided to stay home. Not sweating it much. Plus, they already have a commitment from the top ranked TE in next year's class, and many believe they are leading for the 3rd ranked TE in the class. Sadiq will start next year, so I'm not sweating next year. The other guys are fine depth, given that TE isn't a focal point of the offense anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if they added a little depth through the portal, but I don't think it has to be a huge priority.

Tight end isn't quarterback, but I think you're underselling its importance in the offense. How often does a running play blow up and it's because a tight end missed a block? How often do we move the sticks because of a great job of getting open by the tight end? While the yards aren't that of a wide receiver, tight ends are pretty darn important in Oregon's offense.

The 2026 kid is great (if he sticks) but he's raw, so you're talking about a depth issue next season, then if Sadiq goes to the NFL a talent and depth issue in 2026, and then hopefully things resolving in 2027.

In recent memory, we've had times where our DB recruiting and LB recruiting has been in the same place, and it's okay to call out that John Neal wasn't getting it done anymore or that Don Pellum wasn't getting it done anymore. What makes the Oregon team so good this year is it's lack of weaknesses, and that's something you have to aim for each year.

Lastly, I want to say that being runner-up for an elite recruit counts for absolutely nothing. You would much rather finish first for a kid who's a future 6th round pick than runner-up for a future 2nd rounder. Misidentifying who you can get only leaves holes on your roster, and while that coach was hyper invested in somebody they won't land, someone else is busy identifying talent that the recruiting services missed on.

Sure, it’s important. I just don’t think they’re in dire straights there if they have a solid college TE that isn’t a future NFL guy. That said, I don’t have any reason to believe the TE room is in shambles with multiple guys that were top 10 in the nation at that position for their recruiting class. I also have no reason to believe Pugliano and Saleapaga can’t provide some depth behind them, even if they don’t end up being TE1 in the future. The coaches didn’t just settle for going after those elite guys, as they got Ploog. The year prior they clearly didn’t settle for elite prospects.

I get that coming in second for prospects doesn’t count for much, but in this case, they were so close that Cure had a graphic ready to go on signing day. It’s not like they took a shot in the dark at a guy they had 0 chance with. Sometimes you lose out on tough battles, and having another top 10 guy committed in the class at a position that has very few roster spots is a pretty good consolation prize. There’s a decent chance they supplement the position with a portal guy this offseason. I just don’t see it as a dire need, and they can easily do the same the following season if Sadiq decides to go pro. With the transfer portal, I just don’t sweat recruiting misses. They know where they need more depth, and they’ll address it accordingly.

[Duck07]

The thing I like about Ploog is that while he's essentially a glorified WR right now, his frame looks like he could add 25+# over 2 years and truly develop into a balanced Y - BUT - that is all going to come down to his ability to become a quality inline blocker. Otherwise he's going to be a slower H who should at minimum help us be better in the RZ because of his height.

Y1 - Portal
Y2 - Roger Saleapaga
H1 - Kenyon Sadiq
H2 - Ploog/Pugliano

I'll also throw in Zach Grace a walk-on TE who I think has simply been the FB in any I-Formation looks but it could portend a possible look for the team to find an established FB type in the Portal who could also line up at TE because there are some formation adjustments you could make pre-snap with a player in that role.

The team will absolutely use Sadiq at times in the Y and he certainly made strides from last season to this year as a blocker, but as STU pointed out, you need someone in the Run game who you can rely on to drive guys off their spot and right now that player isn't on the roster.

[Phalanx]

The thing I like about Ploog is that while he's essentially a glorified WR right now, his frame looks like he could add 25+# over 2 years and truly develop into a balanced Y - BUT - that is all going to come down to his ability to become a quality inline blocker. Otherwise he's going to be a slower H who should at minimum help us be better in the RZ because of his height.

Y1 - Portal
Y2 - Roger Saleapaga
H1 - Kenyon Sadiq
H2 - Ploog/Pugliano

I'll also throw in Zach Grace a walk-on TE who I think has simply been the FB in any I-Formation looks but it could portend a possible look for the team to find an established FB type in the Portal who could also line up at TE because there are some formation adjustments you could make pre-snap with a player in that role.

The team will absolutely use Sadiq at times in the Y and he certainly made strides from last season to this year as a blocker, but as STU pointed out, you need someone in the Run game who you can rely on to drive guys off their spot and right now that player isn't on the roster.

Thanks for the explanation. It seems like the portal is the perfect place to get the kind of player you are describing anyway - someone whose frame has already filled out over their first year or two in college. If 247 is right about Olesh's size (6'4.5'' 215), he wasn't going to fit that bill either, at least not immediately.

[webfoots2001]

The team will absolutely use Sadiq at times in the Y and he certainly made strides from last season to this year as a blocker, but as STU pointed out, you need someone in the Run game who you can rely on to drive guys off their spot and right now that player isn't on the roster.

They have and he’s been the best blocking tight end at every place they’ve put him all season. Sadiq has the speed to move outside but has been the most willing to maul people in the run game.

[Bigwaved]

Yeesh. If there is one coach who isn't pulling his weight on the recruiting trail, it's Drew Mehringer. That's not a shot at Ploog, Pugliano, or Saleapaga, but I'd be pretty surprised if any of them ends up in the NFL (Ploog has a shot) and I think you could've made a GA the main recruiter and Oregon still would've landed all three of them.

Does the 5-star next cycle not count in the big picture?

[StevensTechU]

Yeesh. If there is one coach who isn't pulling his weight on the recruiting trail, it's Drew Mehringer. That's not a shot at Ploog, Pugliano, or Saleapaga, but I'd be pretty surprised if any of them ends up in the NFL (Ploog has a shot) and I think you could've made a GA the main recruiter and Oregon still would've landed all three of them.

Does the 5-star next cycle not count in the big picture?

Not until he signs and is on campus. The issue is the hole in the depth chart that's been created for next season and the following season.