Through spring practices, Oregon Ducks coach Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff identified a few areas in which the football program would benefit from added depth - cornerback, wide receiver and tight end.
Hoping to address those areas of concern with immediate help, Oregon has turned to a handful of graduate transfer options.
Oregon has already secured the commitment of UNLV cornerback Tim Hough and are in good position to land Wake Forest wide receiver Tabari Hines, but tight end has remained an issue.
Until Sunday, that is.
After visiting Oregon for the spring game this weekend, South Florida graduate transfer Kano Dillon verbally committed to the Ducks.
The 6-foot-5, 262-pound pass-catcher should provide Cristobal with the desired big-bodied option to insert into the offense for added size at the line of scrimmage.
During his time at South Florida, Dillon caught 28 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns, highlighted by a 126-yard, one-touchdown debut and a game-winning score in overtime of the Birmingham Bowl against South Carolina in 2016.
He joins a depth chart that consists of redshirt juniors Jacob Breeland and Ryan Bay, redshirt sophomores Cam McCormick and Hunter Kampmoyer and soon-to-be true freshman Spencer Webb, a highly-coveted recruit with high expectations.
Among that group, however, Breeland is the only proven option.
Expect Dillon to provide depth for Oregon next season.
-- Andrew Nemec
anemec@oregonian.com
@AndrewNemec