Oregon Ducks' Newest Transfer Tight End Changes Jersey Number

Spring practice for the Oregon Ducks brings in a group of fresh-faced athletes ready to make their mark at the college level.

With so many new Ducks entering the locker room, the first week of getting back to the gridiron includes revealing which jersey numbers Oregon's latest additions chose for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.

Oct 18, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Andrew Olesh Picks New Jersey Number

Oregon's latest tight end transfer from Penn State, redshirt Andrew Olesh, practiced with the Ducks on Tuesday wearing No. 86. Olesh was listed as No. 81 prior to the spring break, and was No. 88 while still with the Nittany Lions.

True freshman tight end Dayton Raiola, the brother of Nebraska quarterback transfer incoming junior Dylan Raiola, will wear No. 81. The younger Raiola was added to the Ducks' roster, including his jersey number, on Tuesday.

The most famous Oregon Duck to wear the No. 86 is wide receiver Paul Burleson, who played his senior year on the 1963 Ducks team led by head coach Len Casanova.

This era was when Oregon split their home game lineup between Multnomah Stadium in Portland, Oregon and Hayward Field, highlighted by the Ducks' 35-0 shutout on the road against the West Virginia Mountaineers, and a Sun Bowl win over SMU with an 8-3 season record (tied for the highest single season win record for Casanova).

The Duck rides into Autzen Stadium before the game against James Madison in Eugene Dec. 20, 2025. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

What Andrew Olesh Brings to the Ducks

According to On3, Olesh was the No. 1 TE in the nation, and the No. 29 overall player for the class of 2025. The Southern Lehigh High School graduate recorded 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns over a 12-3 senior season record. Olesh had Oregon in his top five recruited schools before committing to Penn State, where he sat out for a year.

Oregon's offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer, spoke about Olesh's inclusion on the team in mid March before spring practice started up again.

“In terms of the two young guys, I think that high school football is different. I think that Kendre (Harrison) is learning a lot. We're doing a lot more things, and practice is happening a lot faster than it was for him only a few months ago. And then Andrew (Olesh) is coming off of a redshirt year at Penn State, where he's learning, too. For him, this feels maybe not like this in the first year," Mehringer said.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks from the podium at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex on the first day of spring practice for the Oregon Ducks on March 12, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon Ducks' Tight Ends Room

Right now, there's a bit of uncertainty at the tight end position, which is likely why the Ducks brought Olesh into the fold.

Incoming junior Jamari Johnson is the only tight end in the Ducks' current lockerroom with a career reception at the college level. Johnson put up 510 yards of 32 receptions and three touchdowns during the 2025-2026 season.

Other promising athletes in the Oregon tight end corps includes Clemson transfer Markus Dixon and 6-7 true freshman Kendre Harrison, who joins the Ducks as a four-star prospect according to 247 Sports.

With the current open field for tight ends, Olesh has a real chance to see the field for the Ducks this season.

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