The death of a teammate will always be something college athletes can never really truly prepare for, especially when it came so suddenly as Spencer Webb’s did.
But when there are just a few players within the group, such as the tight end position, the tragedy can bring those who remain even closer.
Oregon has seven tight ends listed on its roster with four of them having actual playing experience at the college level.
Webb’s sudden loss has left a significant void within the team to be sure, but life does go on and the Ducks will need to make up for his loss in the tight end room, on and off the field as well as away from the game.
The junior-to-be was projected as Oregon’s starting tight end when the Ducks begin the season Sept. 3 at Georgia.
Webb was going to come in as the most experienced in the group with 31 career receptions and four touchdowns. Webb was also an extremely valuable and vocal teammate and was quick to mentor the younger players.
Now the Ducks will have no choice but to focus their attention on some very talented, but mostly inexperienced tight ends.
The position is wide open and players such as Cam McCormick, Moliki Matavao, Terrance Ferguson, and Patrick Herbert all have an equal shot to win the starting job.
McCormick and Herbert have a history of injuries, while Matavao and Ferguson showed glimpses of greatness last season as true freshmen.
“Our tight end unit as a whole is looking really good,” Matavao said.
“We’ve been super successful in the run and pass game, but there’s still more we can work on.”
Matavao also said that practices are as intense as most games and it’s been eye-opening. But when you see edge rushers on the other side of the ball such as Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe every day, the tight ends can only get better with their blocking techniques.
“It’s about staying low and the one with their pads lower will be the guy who wins,” he added.
“There’s going to be guys bigger than you, stronger than you, and we’re going to face edge rushers who are big dudes. We’re big, but they’re bigger. It’s not for the weak.”
Neither is recovering from prolonged injuries like the ones Herbert has had to deal with. Justin’s younger brother has had to wait three full years in order to get 100 percent healthy and it looks like the wait is finally over in 2022.
“I’m just going to keep working. I’ve spent a lot of time reading defenses and understanding the playbook better and not just from the tight end position, but from every receiver position,” Herbert said early in camp.
“I’ve been able to get my speed back and I think I’m faster now than I was before the injuries.
If there’s anyone that can relate to Herbert’s struggles with staying out of the trainers’ room, it’s McCormick.
The senior from Bend played in all 13 games in 2017. Then sustained a season-ending injury in 2018, 2019, and even in 2020. It appeared McCormick was on the verge of a great comeback story last season when he managed to stay healthy through fall camp.
But when he caught his first pass at Ohio State, a 16-yard reception for a key first down, McCormick hurt his knee and was out for the rest of the season.
A crushing blow to McCormick and the group as a whole.
He and the Ducks are hoping that great comeback story was just delayed a year and 2022 will be McCormick’s season to shine.
Even with all of those great stories already written within this tight-end group, the loss of their friend and teammate lingers and stings within the quiet moments in the locker room.
The Ducks will most certainly have an angel watching over them this season.
Webb’s indelible memory will forever have a place in the Ducks program, but what remains to be seen is can this tight-end group push forward out of their grief and find peace and success without their friend.