The Oregon Ducks lost several veteran defensive playmakers this offseason, with the likes of Jordan Burch, Jeffrey Bassa, Derrick Harmon, Jabbar Muhammad, and Jamaree Caldwell headed to the NFL. Fortunately, one of the biggest producers for the 2024 season returns.
Matayo Uiagalelei led the Big Ten Conference in sacks a year ago with 10.5, which ranked 10th nationally. The junior has shown time and again that he can be a producer on the field, but what he hasn’t had to show just yet is how much of an impact he can have in the locker room.
Just as much as his stats on the field, what the Ducks need this year from Uiagalelei is to hear his voice off of it. With the departures of Bassa and Burch, Oregon’s front-seven lost two of the most vocal leaders on the team. There’s a vacuum to fill, and the Ducks are looking for Uiagalelei to step up.
He’s ready for the challenge, but knows that it’s going to force him outside of his comfort zone.
“I’ll be honest, I think leadership is new for me,” Uiagalelei said on Thursday after practice. “I was never a vocal guy in high school. I always just led by example. Just talking more and express more to the team. We got a lot of older guys in the room, we all came in together so it’s kind of easy to lead in there.”
Uiagalelei isn’t alone as a veteran in the defensive line room. The Ducks also have Teitum Tuioti and Blake Purchase, both of whom came to Oregon alongside Matayo as members of the 2023 recruiting class. This offseason, the Ducks also added former USC DL Bear Alexander to the roster, who is entering his junior season.
Behind them, there is a ton of youthful talent just waiting for an opportunity. Whether it’s A’Mauri Washington, Tionne Gray, Jericho Johnson, Terrance Green, or Aydin Breland, the Ducks have the pieces to be dominant in the trenches going forward.
At this point, they just need someone to lead the charge, both on the field and with his voice. Uiagalelei is trying to answer the call.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.