Evan Stewart Will Return to Oregon for Senior Season, Won't Enter 2025 NFL Draft
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 7, 2025
While the Oregon Ducks fell short of their national championship aspirations during the 2024 season, their 2025 outlook improved Tuesday.
That is because wide receiver Evan Stewart announced he will return to the Ducks instead of entering the 2025 NFL draft:
This is a welcome development for an Oregon offense that is losing plenty of talent this offseason. Wide receiver Tez Johnson, running back Jordan James and wide receiver Traeshon Holden all declared for the NFL draft, while quarterback Dillon Gabriel and tight end Terrance Ferguson are among those without any remaining eligibility.
Oregon is still expected to be among the best teams in the country in 2025, though, especially with the highly regarded Dante Moore leading the way under center.
Moore was a 5-star prospect and the No. 3 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and Johnson already told reporters he believes the signal-caller will be a national star next season:
"He'll be a Heisman finalist next year, 100%," Johnson said. "It's something you haven't seen yet, that boy can throw a ball like no other. I've never seen nothing like it."
While Johnson won't be back to catch passes from the potential Heisman contender, Stewart will be the expected leader of the wide receiver room. The former Texas A&M pass-catcher tallied 48 receptions for 613 yards and five touchdowns this season while helping lead the Ducks to an undefeated regular-season record, Big Ten title and No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
However, he missed the team's CFP quarterfinal loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl with a lower back injury.
Stewart might not have changed the outcome of the game considering the Buckeyes jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the first half and never looked back, but he posted seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown in Oregon's regular-season victory over the Scarlet and Gray.
The Ducks clearly missed his presence during the loss but will welcome it back in 2025.
