As the offseason begins across all of college football, the focus shifts to how the 2025 season may play out. More specifically, what players will be making the biggest impact?
Our very own Oli Hodgkinson created a ranking of the Top 100 eturning players in college football. The list includes four talented and accomplished Oregon Ducks.
4 Oregon Ducks Slotted on Top 100 Returning Players List
The Ducks’ 2024 season was excellent in many ways: six weeks ranked as No. 1 in the country, a Big Ten Championship, and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. However, the season came to an abrupt end when the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Oregon 41-21 in the CFP quarterfinals.
There are annually high expectations for the Ducks program, but after many departures due to the NFL Draft, who are the best players on Oregon’s roster come 2025?
We’ll begin with a former five-star receiver who is expected to be the team’s go-to target on the outside.
73) Evan Stewart, WR
Evan Stewart, who spent two seasons with the Texas A&M Aggies before transferring to Oregon prior to last season, has had a solid career up to this point. He was widely considered a top-10 receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft had he declared, yet he decided to run it back for one more season in Eugene.
He hasn’t yet achieved alpha status at the position, instead serving a role as a high-level secondary WR. Last season, he caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, notching only one 100-yard game.
Stewart’s quickness and overall athletic ability present him as a fluid route-runner who has the ability to create separation with ease. He is small, measuring in at 6’0″, 175-pounds, putting his ability as a go-to receiver in question.
However, combining his immense talent with another year of experience should lead to an excellent senior season for the Frisco, Texas, native, supplanting himself in the upper echelon of wide receivers in the country.
38) Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE
The younger brother of Florida State Seminoles quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, Matayo was a force for the Ducks in 2024. He totaled 10.5 sacks, tied for 10th in the nation. He added 38 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and an interception to his season stat line.
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At 6’5″, 270 pounds, Uiagalelei was a constant presence in opponents’ backfield, continually putting pressure on quarterbacks and making splash plays. His efforts were noticed by many, and he earned a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Once he’s eligible for the NFL Draft in 2026, Uiagalelei has the potential to be a first-round selection, but first, he’ll continue to rack up sacks and wreak havoc for the Ducks.
27) Makhi Hughes, RB
The Ducks landed the former Tulane Green Wave running back through the transfer portal after two extremely productive seasons. Only a three-star recruit, Makhi Hughes was an immediate revelation for the Green Wave. In his freshman season, he recorded seven 100-yard rushing games on his way to accounting for 1,445 total yards.
He topped that in his sophomore season, contributing 1,577 total yards and 17 total touchdowns.
Now, he’ll be running behind one of the most talented offensive lines in the country. With the departure of starting running back Jordan James, Hughes will likely assume a large bulk of the carries for the Ducks.
How he adjusts to the speed of the Big Ten competition early on will be intriguing to watch — but if his past success is any indication of the future, it’s looking very bright.
16) Dillon Thieneman, S
Another transfer, Dillon Thieneman was the top-rated safety in this year’s transfer portal, according to 247 Sports. In two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers, the Westfield, IN, native proved himself as one of the best safeties in the country.
In his freshman season, Thieneman intercepted six passes, forced two fumbles, and totaled 106 tackles. For his efforts, he was named the Big Ten Freshman of Year.
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In 2024, he posted a team-leading 104 total tackles (70 solo) and six passes deflected. Defenses were much more aware of where Thieneman was on the field and largely avoided throwing to his area.
Thieneman will help lead a largely unproven Ducks secondary, as a large core of it has moved on. His presence will be enough to elevate the group right away.
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