ESPN College Football Writer Highlights One Oregon Player as Breakout Candidate

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ESPN College Football Writer Highlights One Oregon Player as Breakout Candidate originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson might not be under the radar for long.

In a new ESPN article spotlighting sleeper players from college football's top-25 teams, Paolo Uggetti picked Benson as Oregon's breakout candidate for 2025.

"It's difficult to call a four-star wide receiver a sleeper," Uggetti wrote. "But given the kind of season Florida State had last year, Benson was not exactly the talk of the sport after putting up 25 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown."

Benson transferred to Oregon this offseason after just one year in Tallahassee. A former top-ranked JUCO prospect out of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver was once widely considered one of the most explosive pass-catchers in his class.

Now, with former five-star quarterback Dante Moore stepping in as Oregon's presumed starter and projected top wideout Evan Stewart dealing with a serious injury, Benson could quickly rise to the top of Will Stein's passing attack.

"Benson has the tools to be exactly the kind of wideout that flourishes in Will Stein's offense," Uggetti wrote. "I wouldn't be surprised if Benson becomes Moore's top target this coming season."

If that happens, Benson's sleeper status won't last long, especially on a Ducks team eyeing another College Football Playoff run.

Benson and Oregon will move through summer workouts and fall camp before hosting Montana State in their season-opener on Saturday, August 30. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. PST.