Happy “Freaks List” day to all who celebrate.
As we prepare for the upcoming season and dive back into practice reports and season previews for our favorite college football teams, one of the annual staples of reporting in the college football world has been released, thanks to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.
The “Freaks List” is among the most entertaining articles you will read leading up to the college football season. Unlike other publications, it doesn’t rank the top 100 players in the nation. Instead, Feldman goes through the 101 most physically outlandish “freaks” in college football. In his words, the list aims to “spotlight the players whose athleticism blew the minds of folks inside their own college football programs.”
Over the years, we have seen several Oregon Ducks mentioned as “freaks” on Feldman’s list, including Jordan Burch, Christian Gonzalez, Devon Jackson, and Brandon Dorlus. Going into the 2025 season, there are a pair of Ducks who are among the headliners — defensive lineman A’Mauri Washington coming in at No. 4, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq ranking No. 11.
Oregon fans have known that Washington was going to step into a bigger role this year, with both Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell taking off for the NFL. However, Duck fans likely weren’t aware of how special of an athletic specimen the junior defensive lineman is. At 6-foot-3, 338 pounds, Washington is a beast on the defensive line, but what he can do with that size is what led Feldman to place him near the top of the ‘Freaks List.’
“The 6-3, 338-pound Washington is of the caliber of elite D-linemen head coach Dan Lanning saw while in the SEC,” Feldman wrote. “His numbers made me do a triple-take when the staff sent them over. To be that massive and clock 20.89 mph and vertical jump 36 inches is mind-blowing. Washington squatted 755 pounds, bench pressed 475, and power cleaned 385.”
Washington has not had many opportunities to produce in his college career, playing behind Harmon and Caldwell last year, but he now steps into a new role where he is expected to start in 2025 alongside USC transfer Bear Alexander. With that frame and athleticism, he could be a truly special player for the Ducks.
Meanwhile, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Duck fan who isn’t aware of what TE Kenyon Sadiq is capable of. Time and again, he has shown how dynamic a playmaker he can be with the ball in his hands, whether it’s hurdling a defender with ease or lowering a shoulder against anyone in his way.
“A junior from Idaho, Sadiq is a matchup nightmare for defenses,” Feldman writes. “Last year, he took a big step forward, catching 24 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns; both TDs were in the Big Ten title game. The 6-3 Sadiq came to Oregon two years ago at 220 pounds but is now 255. He’s much leaner this season thanks to healthier eating, which he said has enabled him to go from 12-13 percent body fat to about 10. He vertical jumped 41.5 inches this summer, power cleaned 365 pounds, and bench pressed 435.”
The coaches in Eugene have routinely sung Sadiq’s praises, with Will Stein comparing him to former Georgia Bulldogs TE Brock Bowers, while both Dan Lanning and Dante Moore have said they think he is the best tight end in the nation.
Much like Washington, Sadiq has not had a full runway cleared for him up to this point in his career, playing behind both Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert for the past two seasons. However, he now steps into the TE1 role in 2025 and should be one of the most significant pieces of Stein’s offense, which replaces every single starter at the skill positions from last year.
While Washington and Sadiq are the only two Ducks on the ‘Freaks List’ going into 2025, it will be fascinating to see how many are included on future iterations. Oregon has recruited at a high level over the past couple of years, and, in the 2026 class, in particular, has picked up some truly special athletes. Whether it’s 5-star OT Immanuel Iheanacho (6-foot-7, 345 pounds) or 5-star S Jett Washington (6-foot-5, 200 pounds), it’s not hard to believe that the Ducks will be a staple for Feldman to cover in future seasons.
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