Matayo Uiagalelei highlighted as major sophomore jump prospect at Oregon

With the current rules regarding the transfer portal, it will be rare to see a freshman spend all four or even five years in the same program. It’s difficult for fans to get attached to players and coaches often don’t see the fruits of their labor as the player develops and then makes an impact elsewhere.

Oregon and Dan Lanning are hoping that isn’t the case for defensive back/linebacker hybrid Matayo Uiagalelei.

He made strides in his freshman season, but in 2024, Uiagalelei is expected to be that dominant defensive player everyone imagined he would be when he was recruited out of California.

According to CBSSports. with and writer Will Backus, fans better learn how to spell and pronounce Uiagalelei, as he should become a household name soon.

“Oregon has seven deep forwards who will likely rotate a lot of players, but few have more upside than Uiagalelei,” Backus said of the Ducks’ rising star. “He has already had three tackles for loss and two sacks in his first year of college football and offers versatility with the option to line up at outside linebacker or defensive end for the Ducks. He will play both this fall, providing him plenty of opportunities to blow his impressive freshman production out of the water.

The Ducks have tremendous talent on the defensive side of the ball and will be an opposing quarterback’s nightmare. Oregon thinks Uiagalelei will be on many Big Ten quarterbacks many times in 2024.

The story originally appeared on Ducks Wire