This offseason has seen three new assistant coaches added to the staff. The Ducks wide receivers will be led by Jovon Bouknight, the defense by new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos and the inside linebackers by Ken Wilson. But that's not the only position room which will be led a different coach this season.

On Monday afternoon, head coach Mario Cristobal announced that special teams coordinator Bobby Williams would now coach the tight ends as well.

“Bobby Williams will be coaching tight ends," Cristobal said. "It’s important because Bobby was such an important piece at the former place we were at [Alabama] as a tight ends coach and special teams coach. We feel that is an area of expertise that help us become a better program."

Last season the tight ends had fallen under the purview of offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. That's a responsibility he also held during the 2017 season under Willie Taggart.

As Cristobal stated, Williams is not a first-time tight ends coach. He coached both special teams and tight ends from 2008-15 at Alabama. The Crimson Tide won four national titles during that span. Cristobal was on staff with Williams from 2013-16. Williams acted as a special assistant in 2016.

Having a special teams coordinator also lead tight ends is nothing new at Oregon. Previously Tom Osborne coached both for years before being relieved of his duties as part of Mark Helfrich's staff.

Cristobal provided some positivity for the position group Williams will be leading. Cam McCormick, who started the season opener last fall before losing his season to injury, will be back at full strength this spring, per Cristobal.

“Overall that tight end group looks really really good," he said. "We’ll be at full force at tight end. That’ll be nice. We missed Cam during the season."

The Ducks will open spring practice on Saturday with the first of practices prior to spring break. They'll then reconvene for the final 10 practice culminating with April 20's Spring Game.