The Oregon Ducks’ defense is one of the most feared units in college football, and a new star has broken out in 2024. Defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei has been the star player on a loaded defense, which has led to some significantly high praise from his head coach, Dan Lanning.
Dan Lanning Hails Matayo Uiagalelei as Special Player
The Oregon offense has received most of the attention during the 2024 season, but the defense has been rock solid and deserves equal recognition. Lanning agrees and nominates Teitum Tuioti and Jordan Burch for recognition alongside the Ducks’ key defensive weapon, Uiagalelei.
When sports fans hear the name Uiagalelei, they instantly draw themselves to the declining journeyman quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. But no longer. There is a better, brighter, more masterful Uiagalelei in the form of his brother, Matayo, who has lit up college football in 2024.
In his sophomore season, Uiagalelei has registered 37 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, one interception, two passes deflected, and two forced fumbles. He’s been a true Swiss Army Knife for Lanning and Oregon’s defense.
Uiagalelei’s 10.5 sacks rank second in the Big Ten, behind only Penn State’s Abdul Carter (11). In comparison, Carter is viewed as a likely top-five draft pick and an athletic phenomenon.
“Anybody who watched Matayo realizes we’ve got a special player there. And more than just a player, he’s a great teammate,” Lanning said, speaking highly of his defensive star.
Lanning went on to compliment Uiagalelei’s work ethic, saying, “The way he works every single day, I think people have a lot of trust in him when he’s on the field. He’s shown some versatility.”
CFN recognized Uiagalelei with third-team All-Big Ten honors. Unsurprisingly, Lanning disagrees and thinks the star Oregon defensive lineman deserves much higher praise.
“I don’t know if people recognize the amount of things that we ask Matayo to do,” Lanning spoke before the Rose Bowl.
“And really Teitum [Tuioti] and Jordan [Burch], there are several guys in that light, and we ask them to do a lot of different things. They’ve done it extremely well this year.”
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The whole Oregon defensive line has contributed in 2024. Uiagalelei, Burch, Tuioti, and Derrick Harmon all have more than five sacks on the season. And as a whole, 14 Ducks registered a sack.
But the breakout star has been Uiagalelei, and the sky is the limit for the defensive revelation heading into the College Football Playoff and beyond.
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