In a position group littered with NFL-caliber talent, the 6-foot-1 Justius Lowe blends in well. He’s accompanied by Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, both pass catchers who transferred in and have broken out catching balls from (other transfer) quarterbacks.
But Lowe? He went to nearby Lake Oswego High School, redshirted a year and has slowly begun to find his spot in the Oregon offense. He was a part of head coach Dan Lanning’s first Oregon team and one of 22 players who still are Ducks from that squad.
He’s been a part of the Ducks for the major college football realignment, the introduction of NIL and committed to the team under a different head coach. The greatest changes have happened around him, not in him. For years, Lowe chugged along, doing his thing, just knowing and being who he is.
“I just try to execute every play and keep grinding,” Lowe said after practice the week of the Illinois game.“When the game comes my time will come.”
It’s just that now, more people actually see him.
“Justius has continued to prove his ability to help us,” Lanning said in a Monday press conference to GoDucks. “When he’s healthy he can be a really really special player, and he’s been healthy later and I’m excited for how his role will continue to grow in our offense…he’s done a good job and I’m proud of his performance so far.”
Lowe has recorded 99 yards on eight receptions this season, so he isn’t lighting the world on fire, but some of his intangibles — blocking, being a decoy and always being at the right spot — has opened up things for the rest of the offense. It wasn’t until this past week’s game against Illinois that he had a signature moment. Lowe played the most wide receiver snaps for the Ducks on the day.
“We had a playcall it was just really more so, ‘There’s a dude in front of me, and I just gotta run by him and the balls going to come,’” Lowe said after the Ducks’ win over Illinois.
He continued: “Every play is really your play.”
That’s a significant part of the recipe for head coach Dan Lanning — getting buy-in from everyone, flashiness be damned.
“I just do my best to know every position and make the most of each opportunity,” Lowe said after practice.
Lanning has made it so everybody realizes there’s no supersizing the lineup to accommodate the influx of talent, that only 11 can play at a time. His players have continued to buy in regardless.
“All of the younger guys take pride in our role,” Lowe said after the Ducks win over Illinois. “If you keep your head in the playbook and execute in practice and all that, [Lanning] will play you.”
Following its 35-0 shutout of Purdue the Ducks received the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll. It’s another concrete affirmation that Oregon belongs, not just in the Big Ten, in the national title conversation. That much is obvious now.
And Lanning’s motivation, even saying “who cares” when asked about his team’s ranking, is proof of concept for the way that Lanning built his program. He won’t be satisfied until a national championship comes to Eugene.
Lanning has built the Ducks through recruiting without a doubt, utilizing the transfer portal well, but not entirely relying on it. One of the biggest proponents for that practice came with Lanning’s marquee win over then-No. 2 Ohio State. It was a game that called for the Ducks’ best, and everyone on the roster brought it.
Those offseason recruiting wins showed up. Future high draft pick Jordan Burch goes down with an injury? In comes former blue-chip prospect, sophomore defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei, who had five tackles (two for loss) and a sack. Traeshon Holden spits on someone? In comes redshirt sophomore Lowe, who has worked his way through the system, earning his coach’s trust, one play at a time.
“[I just try to ] execute my plays, when they are handed to me,” Lowe said after practice. “And just not messing up honestly.”
The Ducks’ title-worthy depth was built with championship intention. Still, stories like Lowe’s are reassuring amid the turbulent state of college football, in a climate where players are opting out of seasons due to NIL or already announcing their intent to transfer. The Ducks are making different headlines, with their home-grown stars the tip of the sword for their success.
And after the Ducks’ massive win over the Buckeyes, Lanning was sure to stay true to his form.
“If you see any good players, tell them to come here,” Lanning said to end his press conference.
In Lanning’s eyes, the No. 1 ranked Ducks’ success is about the players — about running back Jordan James’ dominance and Uiagalelei’s force and Dillon Gabriel’s experience and Lowe’s intelligence. And not about him.
But that doesn’t mean the man who brought this team together doesn’t deserve his flowers, too.