Top Eugene-Springfield high school pass-catchers to watch in 2026 30%
By Jarrid Denney38%
8/2/2026, 5:02:55 AM
Topics: High School Football
Keywords: High School Football, Eugene, Springfield, Pass Catchers, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Osaa, Oregon, 2026
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The 2026 Oregon high school football season is just around the corner.
With Week 1 less than a month away, The Register-Guard is taking a closer look at the top players in the Eugene-Springfield area across every position group.
Next up: the wide receivers and tight ends.
A handful of local schools are slated to return proven star pass catchers, while others have up-and-comers poised to step into big roles.
Without further ado, here is a preview of the top local wide receivers and tight ends based on last year's stats, all-league and all-state lists, as well as insight from local coaches.
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Eugene-Springfield wide receivers and tight ends to watch in 2026
Brady Barry, Willamette
Until he went down with an injury midway through the 2025 season, Brady Barry was arguably the top target for Willamette's high-powered offense.
The standout senior is back this season and is ready to pick up where he left off.
Barry, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, will be the go-to guy for star quarterback Zeke Thomas.
The Wolverines have no shortage of other talented options on the perimeter, which could lead to Barry thriving in single-coverage scenarios.
"When Brady went down, Hunter Vaughn exploded as our feature guy.
But Brady is just as explosive and as athletic," Willamette coach Josh Line said.
"We're going to really lean on him to make those explosive plays like he did last year."
Bodie Bonar, Thurston
The breakout star of the Midwestern League in 2025, Thurston's Bodie Bonar is back for the Colts after a stellar junior campaign.
Bonar erupted for 817 receiving yards on 56 catches — third-most in Class 5A — and also hauled in 11 touchdowns.
He earned second-team all-state honors and figures to be a focal point of the Colts' offense once again in 2026.
Kawai Chamberlin, Willamette
The top-rated linebacker recruit in the state, Kawai Chamberlin's future is on the defensive side of the ball.
The Willamette senior is a 3-star recruit committed to Oregon State as an inside 'backer.
But he is also a Class 6A second-team all-state tight end who will create matchup nightmares for opponents.
"We're hoping to use Kawai less on offense this year to keep him fresh, because he's going to have such a big impact on the defensive side," Willamette coach Josh Line said.
"But we really like him coming back.
It goes without saying he can have a huge impact on our offense."
Finnley Currington, Churchill
A first-team all-Midwestern League pick at linebacker last season, Churchill junior Finnley Currington will take on a greater offensive role in 2026 as the Lancers work to replace all-state tight end Charlie Dexter.
"Big kid with great hands," Churchill coach Layne Coffin said.
"We're really happy with Finnley.
He's going to be big for us on both sides of the ball."
Gabe Dietmeyer, Marist Catholic
During his sophomore season in 2025, Gabe Dietmeyer shone as a downfield jump-ball threat for Marist Catholic and was one of the more productive pass-catchers in Class 4A.
The 6-foot-3 standout earned second-team all-state honors after catching 45 passes for 624 yards and eight touchdowns.
"Gabe is a complete talent; he just moves really, really well for a high school athlete," Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy said.
"He's for sure one of the highlight guys on our team."
Leofatu Filipe, Thurston
Thurston junior Leofatu Filipe is emerging as one of the top football recruits to ever come through Springfield — and could just be scratching the surface ahead of his junior season.
An ultra-physical 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end and edge, Filipe is the No. 647 recruit in the nation according to 247Sports.
He holds offers from Utah, Arizona and Boise State among many others after establishing himself as a defensive game-wrecker during his sophomore season.
"Arizona offered him as an athlete; they like his potential at tight end," Thurston coach Justin Starck said.
"I think because he had limited reps at tight end last year, there just isn't a lot of film on him there.
But he's going to break out this year as a tight end."
Adam Hernandez, Springfield
Springfield's most productive pass-catcher is back in the fold in 2026 after a strong junior season with the Millers.
Adam Hernandez was a second-team all-Midwestern League selection at receiver for Springfield and was also one of the more dangerous return specialists in the area when opponents opted to kick to him.
"He's a stud.
We've got to be really, really good at getting him the ball because he's that good," Springfield coach Frank Geske said.
"He's got to be the only high school receiver in the state of Oregon that can clean and jerk 275 pounds.
Bench presses 330; a very strong, very fast kid.
Like a lot of kids going between their junior and senior year, the game is slowing down for him.
Hopefully his God-given gifts get to shine."
Chase Herrera, Harrisburg
Last season, Harrisburg rising senior Chase Herrera earned Class 2A first-team all-state honors after helping the Eagles to a 7-3 overall record and a state playoff appearance.
Aiden Hibler, North Eugene
A returning first-team all-league wide receiver, Aiden Hibler could be a focal point of North Eugene's passing game in 2026.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound rising senior is also an all-state catcher for the Highlanders' baseball team, and he provides plenty of toughness and athleticism on the perimeter.
"Really talented, explosive player.
He's got great hands — football IQ is through the roof," North Eugene coach Rick Raish said.
"He had a pretty stinking good junior year both on the football field and the baseball field."
Jackson Ingram, South Eugene
South Eugene's Jackson Ingram put himself on the radar of college football programs as a junior last season.
A bouncy 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end and defensive end, Ingram flashed a rare combination of size and athleticism for the Axe in 2025.
He could see his recruiting profile skyrocket this fall; he recently received an offer from Linfield University.
Barry Myles, Sheldon
A superb athlete who saw his recruiting stock take off after a strong junior season, Barry Myles will be Sheldon's go-to receiver on the perimeter in 2026.
The standout senior is committed to play defensive back at Eastern Washington after earning second-team all-Southwest Conference honors on both sides of the ball in 2025.
"Barry was our biggest threat last year and is just a really explosive kid who has big-play capabilities," Sheldon coach Tyler Martell said.
"And he's obviously going to be really good for us on the defensive side again, too."
Aidan Navarro, Pleasant Hill
In Week 1 of the 2025 season, Aidan Navarro exploded for 106 yards and a touchdown on six catches.
But he suffered a broken hand in that game that derailed much of his junior season.
Navarro is back healthy this fall and is slated to step into a star role for the Billies as they look to replace the production of all-state wideout Jacob Neely.
"He kind of became more of a defensive player for us after that injury last year," Pleasant Hill coach Kenny Koberstein said.
"He'll slot into that 'H' position that Neely occupied for us.
He'll be a really good player for us there; he kind of balled out during 7-on-7s this summer.
He's ready to step up and be the dude."
Jax Norcutt, Lowell
An explosive athlete who won the Class 2A state triple jump title last spring, Jax Norcutt will be all over the field for Lowell in 2026.
He is the reigning Special District 3 defensive player of the year, one of the top kickers in Class 2A and is also a standout pass-catcher who figures to do plenty of damage for the Devils' offense this fall.
"Jax is moving over to tight end from receiver, and he's going to create some mismatches for us there," Lowell coach Ray Yarbrough said.
"He's really going to allow us to put defenses in conflict, and he changes the way we can block our outside runs because he's so quick."
Mason Schartz, Creswell
It's possible that Creswell offensive X-factor will be a wideout who hasn't played an organized game of football since middle school.
Mason Schartz, a bouncy 6-foot-6 small forward on Creswell's state quarterfinal basketball team, is out for football this fall and has turned plenty of heads.
Schartz is also a standout high jumper who reached the podium at the Class 3A state track and field championships last spring.
"I can confidently say he is a freak and he is going to be a problem for defenses," Creswell coach Chase Beach said.
"August is going to be big for him just because it's been so long since he's played, but he's going to be huge for us at X receiver as a solo, one-on-one guy."
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard.
He can be reached at jdenney@registerguard.com or on X @jarrid_denney
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