**Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in the Emerald’s “Gameday” edition, which was released on Aug. 27. Copies are available on stands throughout Eugene. 
Johnny Mundt and Evan Baylis are growing increasingly confident. The Oregon tight end duo, each in their third fall camp, experienced success early in their collegiate careers. But Mundt and Baylis were somewhat lost in the mix last season after Pharaoh Brown emerged.
This fall camp has been different.
“When they’re confident in what they do, they can play harder, faster and more efficient,” tight ends coach Tom Osborne said.
Last November, Brown’s football future, and even his ability to walk, were in question after a gruesome injury to his right leg against Utah.
Baylis, who had totaled just one catch for 10 yards in the 2014 season when Brown went down, was suddenly thrust into the starting role. Late in the season, Baylis played his best game in a six-catch, 73-yard performance against Florida State in the Rose Bowl.
Mundt faced similar circumstances as a true freshman in 2013. Troubled tight end Colt Lyerla was held out of an early non-conference home game against Tennessee, and Mundt played his best game to date, totaling five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’ve had to play three freshmen when they’ve maybe not been ready to go,” Osborne said. “…When they’re all young guys, they’re just babes out there.”
Even without a fully healed Brown, Mundt and Baylis bring plenty of big-game experience to a position that sorely lacked it during the past few years. Mundt and Baylis are now exuding the confidence that allows them to be consistent in their assignments. Brown has taken huge steps in his recovery, most recently participating in non-contact drills during fall camp. But his return to the field is uncertain. Until Brown’s status changes, the starting spot comes down to Mundt versus Baylis.
Though Mundt took meaningful snaps in 2013, he rarely saw the field as a sophomore. When Brown’s 2014 season ended prematurely, Baylis was named the starter, never relinquishing the job. Meanwhile, Mundt struggled in practice.
“He’d go out and blow an assignment and get down on himself,” Osborne said. “Then he’d do something else wrong and start to spiral.”
Mundt seemingly turned a corner in the spring, calling it the “best football I’ve played” at Oregon. Osborne noticed Mundt’s improvement on the line of scrimmage as a blocker, something that hindered him in the past. So far, it appears Mundt hasn’t regressed in fall camp.
“My confidence level is way up there,” Mundt said. “Everyday, I’m showing up, doing something right and learning from something else.”
Baylis, on the other hand, is trying to build on a strong finish to last season. This fall camp is the first in which Baylis has been healthy, having been limited in the previous two with knee and leg injuries.
“(Camp) allows me to get in good shape and get out there every day,” Baylis said. “The amount of reps you get in fall camp, it helps tremendously.”
Osborne has not set a date on when he’ll name a starter. The backup between Mundt and Baylis, however, still figures to get meaningful playing time.
“If you noticed last year when Pharaoh and Evan were healthy, we ran two tight ends a lot,” Osborne said. “We think we have two really good tight ends right now, so we might be in a two-tight package more than we were a year ago.”
Follow Will Denner on Twitter @Will_Denner