There’s no easy way to say it, but Pharaoh Brown’s season is over.
Brown was Oregon’s breakout star this year, amassing 25 catches for 420 yards and six touchdowns, before suffering an injury two weeks ago against Utah. While all the prayers go out to Brown’s successful recovery, the Ducks are faced with finding a suitable replacement for Brown and all his productivity at the tight end position.
“Pharaoh has been having a really good year so far, but now it’s up to us to take over,” redshirt sophomore tight end Evan Baylis said. “I’m feeling pretty good now, but I still have some things to work on, we all do, if we are going to produce like Pharaoh did.”
Because of Brown’s prowess as a blocker and as a receiver, he emerged from fall camp as the starting tight end and did not disappoint. His absence could translate to a dramatic drop in the production from that position.
“We’ve been working hard to pick up for Pharaoh, now that he’s hurt,” redshirt junior tight end Koa Ka’ai said. “We are just working on our technique and finding any way to get better and be able to block and catch at a high level.”
Oregon’s offense is predicated on rhythm, so whoever replaces Brown, whether it be Baylis, Johnny Mundt or Ka’ai, has got to be on the same page with the rest of the unit.
“All of those guys (Baylis, Mundt and Ka’ai) have all payed for us before, so I feel great about it,” tight end coach Tom Osborne said. “Evan has played really well the past six or seven weeks — we got a game to play and get those guys ready to play.”
Here is a glimpse of what each player could provide at the position:
Evan Baylis: Baylis replaced Brown in the starting lineup last year when Brown missed the Alamo Bowl, due to a team suspension. Baylis is the biggest of the trio, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 250 pounds. He is mostly known for his prowess at the line of scrimmage. He’s a big, physical blocker who does a good job opening holes at the line of scrimmage for the running backs, but he struggles when he goes out for a pass, often being unable to get separation between him and the defenders.
2014 season statistics:  8 games played, one catch for 10 yards
Johnny Mundt: Mundt is the most well known from the group because of his breakout game last year against Tennessee when he caught five passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Mundt is the opposite of Baylis. He succeeds more in the passing game but struggles in the trenches.
2014 season statistics: 8 games played, two catches for 29 yards
Koa Ka’ai: Ka’ai is the long shot of the group to get the playing time vacated by Brown. He is 6-foot-4, 245 pounds and could become a matchup problem in the passing game. A redshirt junior, he has the most experience of any other tight end on the roster.
2014 season statistics: 2 games played, has not caught a ball this year