You could say Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq feels right at home in Eugene. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and sees several similarities between the two cities. One of the main parallelsinvolves the many outdoor activities both places have to offer.
“I really like exploring the outdoors of Oregon,” Sadiq says, smiling. “I was an outdoor guy growing up in Idaho, so I really love doing the same stuff here, like hiking and fishing. They’re both very laid-back areas, and the people are great.”
In the past couple of years, Sadiq’s potential has always been evident on the UO football team. His undeniable combination of size and speed makes him someone opposing defenses must pay attention to every down. But in the past two seasons, he was somewhat overshadowed by his fellow tight ends Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert (who are now in the NFL).
“It was a great opportunity for me to play with Pat and Terrance,” he says. “I was able to learn from them, and now it’s up for me to do the same.”
That said, he began coming into his own during the Big Ten Championship game last year. He caught two critical touchdown passes as the Ducks outlasted Penn State 45-37. Now, he’s considered one of the best active tight ends in college football.
That recognition is “great,” Sadiq says. “It shows the amount of work you’ve put in and it’s nice to have the exposure.”
But it isn’t just his ability to deliver a powerful block or make a brilliant catch that’s garnering Sadiq praisethese days. He’s also being noticed by his coach for what he’s doing in the locker room, the training room, and the practice field.
“I believe Kenyon is one of the most dynamic players in college football,” says UO head football coach Dan Lanning. “Some things I’ve seen that haven’t shown up before are the leadership traits that are starting to develop. I’m now saying the same things that I used to say about Terrance Ferguson or Patrick Herbert. The way he takes the field, how he works in practice, the efforts looking at film. He’s always been an unbelievable player, and this season will be a great time for him to have a coming out party.
Sadiq agrees that it is time for him to lead with his voice and by example. “It’s definitely been a point of improvement for me,” he says. “I’m just trying to be a more vocal leader among the younger players. I’m getting out of my comfort zone and sharing the experiences I have with others in the tight end room as well as the whole team.”
There’s no question that Sadiq also wants to improve upon last year’s results. After all, the Ducks had an outstanding 2024 campaign with only one defeat. But that lone loss came in the form of a 41-21 bruising by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, costing the Ducks a chance at the national championship.
“There’s definitely a frustration of what could have been,” Sadiq says. “But we can use that as the fuel to the fire for this year. I think it’s important for guys coming into the program to understand how we felt not getting the result we wanted from that game. But we must take it week to week. We have the expectation to do what we did last year, for sure. There’s a standard for us and we’re going to go out and attack that goal every day.”
And while he knows that Oregon is always going to be a program with a target on its back, he’s confident that another successful run is in the works with a very talented offense.
“We’re really fast and we have a lot of playmakers in about every area,” Sadiq explains. “That’s definitely a plus, so we’re going to be very good.
