Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning discusses the growth of Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti.
For the first time in what felt like a long time, the Oregon Ducks had a strong pass rush in 2023. Those efforts were led by seniors Brandon Dorlus and Jordan Burch, but they were also aided by a trio of elite freshmen rushers: Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti.
Now, in preparation for the 2024 season, it seems natural that those three freshmen (now sophomores) will take on a larger role. Burch will be back this fall for his final season, but Dorlus is off to the NFL Draft, so there are some spots to fill in the pass rush.
After Oregon’s sixth spring practice on Tuesday, Ducks head coach Dan Lanning was asked how those three pass rushers have grown in the last twelve months.
“Yeah, I think strength, right?” Lanning said first. “I mean, I think if you look at what happened in the weight room for these guys — this offseason — they’ve all gotten bigger and stronger.”
Lanning also mentioned that Uiagalelei, Purchase, and Tuioti all have a better understanding of how the defense operates, after spending a year playing in it.
“And then obviously, having a better feel for what we’re trying to accomplish on each play,” Lanning said. “It’s kind of like going from Year 1 to Year 2 of this defense of where we’re able to improve because guys knew what the assignment was. It’s not just knowing the call, but now you know the strengths and weaknesses of each call. You know where you can lose leverage, where you can win leverage, who am I, and where are my eyes at pre-snap. All those things have really cleaned up for those guys.”
As I mentioned above, Dorlus is moving on to the NFL, which leaves a lot of production on the defensive line to be replaced. But if these three young rushers can take jumps — mentally and physically, as Lanning suggests they have — Oregon’s pass rush could be stronger in 2024 than it was in 2023.
Three keys to victory for the Oregon Ducks against the Liberty Flames in the Fiesta Bowl.
2023 will surely be a year to remember for the Oregon Ducks. It was a year where a lot went right for Oregon. We saw Bo Nix’s Heisman campaign, the Ducks’ improved defense, and a team compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
On Monday, Oregon will cap off this memorable season in the Fiesta Bowl against the Liberty Flames. It certainly isn’t the matchup the Ducks wished for — or a matchup they deserve — but it’s still the culminating event of a historic season for Oregon football.
While Liberty certainly won’t be the toughest opponent the Sucks have faced this year, they have a lot of talent on there roster, and they couldl challenge the Ducks. Below, are my three biggest keys to victory for the Ducks against the Flames.
A strong run game
Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
The best way to control a football game is by running the football for a consistent 3-6 yards. Liberty’s best chance to upset the Ducks is by stifling the Ducks offense, especially the run, giving them control of the game. So, if Oregon is able to run the ball well, they’ll put themselves in a good spot to win.
Strong cornerback play
Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
Khyree Jackson — Oregon’s CB1 — has opted out of the Fiesta Bowl, and Jahlil Florence — Oregon’s CB2 — likely won’t play due to injury, which leaves the Ducks shorthanded at corner. With that lack of depth, the Ducks will need to be weary of getting gashed over the top by Liberty’s wide receivers. Dontae Manning and freshman Rodrick Pleasant will need to step up and have big games for Oregon to ensure success.
Quality performances by depth players
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
This is less of a key to victory, and more of a key to long-term success. I don’t think The Duck will struggle too much in this Fiesta Bowl, but they’ll need a few things to prosper in their first few years in the Big Ten. Specifically, I hope to see strong performances from Jurrion Dickey, Matayo Uiagalelei, Cole Martin, and any other young player who is able to step up.
Oregon Ducks freshman Matayo Uiagalelei breaks down the special moment he shared with his brother DJ Uiagalelei after the Civil War.
In the moments after the Oregon Ducks closed out a Civil War victory over the Oregon State Beavers earlier this season, something took place on the field that touched a lot of fans from both programs.
Though there is often a lot of bad blood that comes with this rivalry, a relationship that goes far deeper than football came to the forefront.
Brothers Matayo Uiagalelei, a freshman edge-rusher for Oregon, and DJ Uiagalelei, the starting QB for Oregon State, met at midfield and shared a moment together. The two hugged, got on one knee, and prayed together for a couple of minutes. All of the game-planning, preparation, and intensity of the matchup went out the window, and the two were left there, sharing in a moment that meant more than anything.
Matayo and DJ Uiagalelei meet after the game and share a very special moment. pic.twitter.com/nyB3oreonG
That wasn’t the first big moment in the game. Not too long before that, Matayo found his way into the backfield and pushed his blocker into DJ, officially recording a sack. For the younger sibling, that’s a moment he’s dreamed of for a long time.
“I used to joke about it growing up, like if there was one goal that I had in football, it was going to be to sack my brother,” Matayo said on Tuesday afternoon.
In all, Matayo said that the entire day was special, and looking back he can appreciate the opportunity for what it was.
“I try not to think about it because I don’t want to put my personal goals first,” Matayo said. “But you can’t really not think about it. Like, we’re on the field and I’m seeing him warm up thinking ‘I’m really about to play my brother.’ I don’t think I’ve ever been that excited to play the game.”
The two are very close, and talk constantly throughout each and every week. That was no different in the days leading up to the Civil War, which is something that Matayo said he eventually had to temper.
“We were talking a little bit in the beginning of the week, and then I was just juggling like ‘Alright, stop texting me, I don’t want to talk to you no more.'”
Though the conversation may have died down, big brother did get a final word in before the game started.
“He texted me right before the game and said that he wanted to pray after,” Matayo said. “Stuff like that just kind of shows me what kind of person my brother is, and just helps me to look up to him.”
It led to one of the more touching moments of the season for either player, and for their dad, Big Dave, who was watching from the stands.
“I think I’m one of the luckiest dads,” Dave told me back in November. “I mean, any father would just dream for this, you know, so I’m just totally grateful and thankful.”
The Ducks had a trio of true-freshmen edge rushers stand out in 2023, and if Jordan Burch returns, that unit could be dominant in 2024.
The 2023 season is now behind us, and while there is still a bowl game to be played — The Fiesta Bowl vs. The Liberty Flames — Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are working hard on the construction of their roster and hitting the transfer portal in attempts to formulate what this team will look like going into the 2024 season, the team’s first year in the Big Ten Conference. While they work on bringing new players in via the transfer portal, we want to look at the future breakdown of each position, detailing current players on the roster, incoming recruits, and potential targets on the market right now.
While there are some gaps on the Oregon Ducks 2024 interior defensive line, there is a stable of rushers on the edge ready to charge at opposing quarterbacks next season. The Ducks are hoping to return veteran transfer Jordan Burch for his second season in Eugene, as well as the trio of highly productive freshmen in 2023 — Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti.
The biggest thing that made Oregon’s defense better this year than they were in 2022 was their premier pass-rushing unit, led by Brandon Dorlus, Burch, and Uiagalelei. With how many returning Ducks — and new Ducks — there are at outside linebacker and defensive end, Oregon looks like they’ll be able to get to opposing quarterbacks with consistency again in 2024.
Below, is the full preview of the Oregon Ducks’ 2024 edge rushers.
Brothers DJ and Matayo Uiagalelei will face off when Oregon State plays Oregon this weekend, putting Dave Uiagalelei in a fun position.
There are many things that can make a dad proud.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as your child finishing a plate of food or making their bed in the morning. Down the road, the standard is set a bit higher, with some hoping for a high grade-point average, while others dream of hard-hitting tackles and touchdown catches on a Friday night.
As the parent of a 1-year-old, I tend to set the bar at long and successful nap times that allow Dad to get some work done. For Dave Uiagalelei, it’s safe to say the bar of success has been set quite a bit higher over the years, thanks to unending hard work, perseverance and what looks to be a masterclass in parenting.
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On Friday evening in Eugene, those years of blood, sweat, and tears — mixed with a massive dose of love — will culminate in something that most dads in the world of sports would be jealous of. Big Dave gets to see his two boys take the field and play against each other when the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers square off in the Civil War.
DJ Uiagalelei, the oldest, is the star quarterback in Corvallis, while Matayo, the youngest, is one of the most promising up-and-coming defenders on Dan Lanning’s roster down in Eugene. It will be redshirt-junior vs. true-freshman; passer vs. pass-rusher; brother vs. brother.
Matayo Uiagalelei (Left) and DJ Uiagalelei (Right) as teammates at St. John Bosco in 2019. Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
“I think it’s a father’s dream,” Dave told me in an interview this week. “You know, to be able to have two sons, not just one, play at a high level, come out of high school being five-stars, No. 1 players at their position. For me, it’s a blessing.
“I think I’m one of the luckiest dads,” Dave continued. “I mean, any father would just dream for this, you know, so I’m just totally grateful and thankful.”
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Big Dave during Matayo’s recruiting process. The high school senior was a five-star player at St. John Bosco in California, and I wanted to pick Dave’s brain about what it was like having the No. 1 edge rusher in the nation, just a few years after his oldest son, DJ, was rated as the No. 1 pro-style QB in the nation. He told me all about “Big Dave’s Blueprint,” and his philosophy when it comes to molding talented young athletes into successful and respectable men. At the time, Matayo was considering the Ducks, but leaning toward USC. Meanwhile, DJ was the starting QB for the Clemson Tigers on the East Coast.
Who would have thought, two years later, we’d be talking again with Matayo in Eugene, and DJ 45 minutes north in Corvallis?
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It may seem like a string of coincidences played out for these two brothers to be playing in such close proximity. In reality, it should come as no surprise if you know the bond that the two share. Having the two playing on opposite ends of the country would have felt unnatural.
“People don’t understand how close those two are,” Dave said. “DJ finishes his game, he gets right into the car and drives to go see his little brother play. That just should tell you how much DJ loves his little brother and so forth. For me as a father, I mean, there’s nothing better than that.”
Matayo Uiagalelei (Left) and DJ Uiagalelei (Right) on a recruiting visit to the Oregon Ducks Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
As a fan, the situation is quite advantageous for Dave, who attends as many games as he can. Of course, the scheduling doesn’t always work out, but Uiagalelei has been able to catch as many games as possible throughout the season, saying that there have even been two games this year where he’s managed to watch both sons play in a single day.
On Friday, it will be made possible again, with DJ and Matayo facing each other on opposite teams for the first time ever. For each son, the competitive drive will take over instantly as they quickly lock in and do whatever it takes to win. For Dad, you could write a book on the emotions that he will experience throughout the evening.
“I don’t even know what to feel, you know? I’m cheering for both, I know that for sure,” Dave said. “It’s like I’m sitting there like ‘Wow, I can’t believe these two are gonna play each other.'”
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Of course, brothers playing against each other in football is not a unique thing. NFL fans have seen the story of Travis and Jason Kelce shoved down their throats as both played against each other in the Super Bowl last year. We’ve also seen matchups between siblings like Peyton and Eli Manning, J.J. and T.J. Watt, and Nick and Joey Bosa take place over the years, among many others. However, those brothers typically play on the same side of the ball, so it doesn’t present the opportunity for a clash on the field.
On Friday, that’s exactly what could be in store, though. There is a world in which DJ drops back to pass, and Matayo comes off the edge and brings down his older brother for a sack. If that happens, expect quite the reaction from Dave in the stands.
“I’m going to laugh my ass off, man. And then I’m going to pray that he gets up and they hug each other.”
Dave Uiagalelei (top left), Matayo Uiagalelei (bottom left) and DJ Uiagalelei. Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
It would make for an interesting visual, having the two opponents embrace after a crucial play in a high-intensity game, but again, it makes sense if you understand the bond.
“That would be perfect, it would be so perfect,” Dave said. “You know, your younger brother sacks you, he gets up and picks his older brother up. And then DJ just wraps his arm around him and stuff, that would be so perfect. That’s an ESPN highlight if you ask me.”
It certainly would be a story that the two would be telling for the rest of their lives and a memory that Big Dave would never forget.
That can be said about the entire day, and the season as a whole, in reality. The past two decades have seen a lot of long hours, a lot of pain, and a lot of time spent working hard to improve. There were endless mornings of Dave being woken up by his two sons after a shift working as a bodyguard, with the boys pestering him to get up and go train. All of the hours have led to this weekend, though, where he will sit inside Autzen Stadium, wearing neutral colors, rooting for his two sons to succeed in doing what they love.
“I’m just gonna sit there being thankful, playing the proud dad.”
Drew Mehringer discusses Matayo Uiagalelei, Ducks’ TE room depth
During the spring football season in Eugene, an injury to starting tight end Terrance Ferguson caused a little bit of unease for the Oregon Ducks. With Ferguson out, the depth at the position was waning. Patrick Herbert and true freshman Kenyon Sadiq were the only scholarship players suited up in that spot during the spring game.
Fortunately, the Ducks had true freshman EDGE Matayo Uiaglelei that they could lean on as well. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Uiagalelei excelled as a pass-catcher in high school. Though he came to Oregon as an elite pass-rusher, but his versatility allowed the Ducks to plug him into the offense for a few plays during the annual scrimmage.
Since then, Ferguson has come back healthy, and Oregon has added a handful of depth pieces at TE, including Ole Miss transfer Casey Kelly. So does that mean that Uiagalelei will no longer see both sides of the ball?
TE coach Drew Mehringer was asked that question on Wednesday after practice. He said that unfortunately may be the case right now, but not by his own desire.
“He’s an impressive individual. I think if you wanted him to play quarterback, he could probably figure out a way to do it,” Mehringer said. “He’s super smart and super tough. If I had the option to keep him out there a little bit more, I probably would.”
It’s not strange to see a handful of players excel at multiple positions. A couple of years ago, we saw DJ Johnson play both DE and TE for the Ducks, and the previous decade saw Charles Nelson play both DB and WR as well.
However, when you get a true freshman that comes in and is trying to learn the playbook, it can be a bit of an overload to have him try and double his knowledge intake. Because of that, it would be a surprise to see Uiagalelei on the offensive side of the ball any time soon.
“He’s digesting the entirety of a pretty complex defense,” Mehringer said. “You can’t stunt him on one side or slow him down, just to say we’re going to do something else with him. I’m sure we’ll find something to do with him, but we feel pretty good with where we’re at tight end depth-wise as well.”
Dan Lanning highlights Austin Novosad, Matayo Uiagalelei among freshman standouts in camp
One of the biggest mantras that Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning has had since taking over in Eugene is “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
Virtually, what it means is that there is no restriction on how old players have to be in order to get meaningful minutes on the field. If a true freshman is good enough to contribute, then he is old enough to play.
So far during this fall camp, it sounds like there have been a lot of young players on Oregon’s roster who have shown that they might be good enough to have an impact this season. On Saturday after the Ducks’ fourth practice of the season, Lanning was asked to highlight a few freshmen who have stood out thus far.
“Cole Martin has been a guy that gets up here every single morning, early. He spends a lot of time on his craft and it’s really showing up,” Lanning said. “Matayo (Uiagalelei) is a guy who does that, Teitum Tuioti had two really big plays yesterday. There are some young guys on offense; Austin Novosad has made huge strides since the spring to now. There’s a lot of guys who have really stood out and a lot of guys putting in extra work.”
While we likely won’t see Novosad any time soon because of the depth at the QB position ahead of him, there’s a good chance that players like Martin, Uiagalelei, and Tuitoti find their way onto the field this fall and show what they can do at the collegiate level.
Top 10 2024 Player, DL David Stone puts Oregon in top six schools
While college coaches are already starting to take a glance at players in the class of 2025, some of the best players in the class of 2024 are still undecided — or at least unannounced — on where they will play their college football. One of the best examples of this is defensive lineman David Stone.
Rated as a 5-star recruit by 247 Sports (as well as other outlets) Stone is one of the top 10 players in his class and will likely have an immediate impact wherever he goes. At 6′ 4″ and 270 lbs, Stone already has a frame that should startle opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks. Stone has set his commitment date for August 26th, which is now less than a month away, and the anticipation is building across the college football world.
From Oregon’s perspective, the addition of Stone would be perfect. Obviously, any program would vivaciously welcome a top ten player to their program, but with one of the country’s best pass rushers in Brandon Dorlus likely moving on after the 2023 season, the addition of David Stone would immediately fill a hole in the Ducks’ defense.
From Stone’s perspective however, it doesn’t look like the Ducks are at the top of his list. Yes, he named them among his top six schools earlier this week, but according to 247 Sports experts, Steve Wilfong and Brandon Drumm, Stone will more than likely choose to be an Oklahoma Sooner. Wilfong and Drumm have logged crystal ball predictions of Stone to Oklahoma at a 78% certainty level, with Michigan State as seemingly the only alternative if he does pass on the Sooners.
Wherever Stone ends up in 2024, he is likely going to be a special player coming around the edge. If he does decide to go to Oklahoma, he could be an important piece in the rebuilding of a program that was setback hard after the departure of Lincoln Riley and many of its star players two years ago. If he chooses Oregon, hopefully, he and Matayo Uiagalelei can dominate off opposite edges and terrorize opposing QBS for years to come.
Flipping to the other side of the trenches, let’s look at the most important defensive linemen names to know in the Pac-12 this season.
As we continue our preview of the 2023 college football season in the Pac-12 conference, we are going to shift our focus from individual teams to individual positions. The last several weeks have been spent picking apart each school out west, finding where they improved the most over the offseason, and identifying what realistic expectations should be for them going forward.
Now, we’re going to look at position groups as a whole in the conference. Whether it’s a quarterback or a linebacker, a punter or a safety, there are dozens of highly talented players out west. We want to go through them all, position group by position group, and highlight some of the most important names that fans should know at each spot.
On Monday, I looked at the big boys up front, specifically, the best the Pac-12 has to offer down in the offensive trenches. Now, I’ll examine their opponents. The Pac-12 has just as much to offer in terms of pass-rushers and run-stoppers as it does protectors, and the amount of talent on both sides of the ball should make for fun battles on the line of scrimmage all year.
An interesting thing about this group is that it seems that the best defensive linemen are concentrated on a select few teams. Part of the reason for that may be that as a defensive lineman, you often need high-quality teammates to have high production yourself. If you don’t, the opposing offensive line will double- and triple-team you, reducing your value.
Here are my picks for the highest-impact defensive linemen in the 2023 Pac-12.
There are a trio of young Ducks who are expected to be playmakers as true freshmen this season
Oregon has recruiting at a good pace in the last few years, starting with Mario Cristobal. But when Dan Lanning was hired, the recruiting has gone to another level.
The second-year coach doesn’t just recruit these kids to sit on the sideline and watch. Sure, some will definitely do that and redshirt and some will play just on the special teams to start out with.
But there are a handful of freshmen who could, and probably should, make an immediate impact on the 2023 season. According to On3.com writer Matt Zenitz, the Ducks have three such players.
The first player is wide receiver Jurrion Dickey, a five-star recruit and the No. 2 receiver in the Class of 2023. Although he is with a group that includes Troy Franklin, part of what is considered one of the top receiver rooms in the country, Dickey’s talent is too much to ignore and he could see the field early and often.
Part of a conference-by-conference look at true freshmen expected to make immediate contributions.
Freshman No. 2 on the list is the No. 1 player out of the state of Oregon in linebacker Teitum Tuioti out of Hawai’i and finally Sheldon High School in Eugene. He had a solid Spring Game as an early enrollee and turned some heads.
Finally is defensive end and edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, who also had a good first outing on the Autzen Stadium turf. He’ll most likely start from Day 1 and his career will be off and running.
