EUGENE — Evan Stewart was thought to be one of the most critical additions to Oregon’s offense this offseason. The former five-star recruit, who spent his first two seasons at Texas A&M, has largely fulfilled that promise while becoming the No. 2 receiver for the top-ranked Ducks.

Stewart enters the Rose Bowl with 48 catches for 613 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. More impressive than his overall production has been Stewart’s reliability — he has just one drop — and toughness, willing to take huge hits from safeties at times while still holding on to the ball, as well as a blocker on the perimeter.

“He’s a dude and you’ve seen it time and time again,” quarterback Dillon Gabriel said. “Evan necessarily didn’t get fed in the (Big Ten) championship game and Kenyon (Sadiq) came alive. We have a bunch of weapons and one football. He’s a dog and he’s unselfish and wants to win like a lot of our teammates.

“On nights where maybe he ain’t getting as many targets he’s still going out there competing blocking his butt off. That’s what I appreciate about him most, he’s unselfish. I love that about him. He’s eager and wants that ball but isn’t selfish and negative about it. When we call his name and do need him, he makes it happen. On nights like that he’s going to contribute in any way. He’s probably one of the best catchers I’ve been around as far as reliable hands.”

Stewart’s best game of the season came against Ohio State, when he had seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. His 69-yard reception remains the longest play of the season for Oregon and the longest allowed by Ohio State, but his 28-yard catch over the middle earlier in the game was a highlight for Stewart’s willingness to take on contact, as OSU’s Lathan Ransom hit him immediately.

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban broke down the play on College GameDay and remarked that Stewart “should stay out on the hash mark and he wouldn’t get his ass knocked off by the safety.”

Stewart said the hit hurt because he forgot his mouthpiece for that game.

“I was like, somebody is around me but I don’t really know where,” Stewart recalled. “Whenever I went up for it and caught it and I peeped him, I said ‘OK, that’s where you were.’ A lot of it comes from the pride thing of not dropping the ball. I get that I’m going to get hit. At the same time, if I’m going to get hit, might as well make the catch.

“I think I’m tough because I played in the SEC and I was getting hit a lot and I was underweight. Now that I got a little bit more weight on me it makes me more fearless. I definitely feel better taking hits.”

Stewart’s only drop on the season came against Washington and it wasn’t because of a defender, he simply turned too his attention upfield too early. For a receiver who texts offensive coordinator Will Stein after rare drops in practice to say it won’t happen again, his lone drop of the season was an anomaly.

“I walk in that building everyday and I will tell them about that Washington game, I’ll be like, ‘Look, that was a fluke,’” Stewart said. “I couldn’t tell you really what happened. I think it happened too fast and I got too happy because I was fitting to run after the catch after the one. ... I’m pretty prideful.”

Stewart did not have a reception in the Big Ten championship game win, a credit Penn State’s corners, but he was still effective as a blocker. Gabriel’s 54-yard touchdown run on a speed option against Oregon State came with Stewart blocking the lone defensive back on the perimeter.

“Sometimes the game plan is the game plan,” Stewart said. “I don’t really have a problem with it as long as we win.”

Oregon (13-0) has done nothing except win this season and Stewart is a big reason why. Replacing Troy Franklin, the best receiver in program history, has been made easier thanks to Stewart’s speed, reliability and willingness to put his body on the line.

“I think Evan’s proven to be a really solid player for us,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “He’s done a really good job. What I’m more impressed with is we challenged him early in the year to be able to block on the perimeter. He’s done a really good job of that, as well as of late (he’s) strained to create second-level plays for our offense. Evan’s been really consistent. I’m proud of his effort.”

-- James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter .