Former Oregon commit Bott Mulitalo opened up his recruitment after choosing the option to change positions.
Bott Mulitalo Leaves Eugene, Defensive Line Behind
When 2026 recruit Mulitalo decommitted from the University of Oregon, few people knew that would be the second-biggest surprise. The four-star recruit from American Fork, Utah, made the decision to switch from a defensive lineman to an offensive tackle, according to 247Sports’ Blair Angulo.
Additionally, he reopened his recruitment, listing BYU, Utah, USC, and Washington as possible landing spots. How does Mulitalo’s move affect his recruitment and where he will land?
Although he shocked the recruiting circles, Mulitalo’s stock actually looks more promising playing on the offensive line. 247Sports lists him as the eighth-best offensive line recruit in the 2026 class.
That distinction attracts attention because the position flip jumped the future collegiate lineman 115 spots ahead of other players who possess substantially more time up front and understand blocking schemes.
BREAKING: Elite offensive lineman Bott Mulitalo has backed off his commitment to Oregon and discusses the next steps in his recruitment as the likes of BYU, USC, Utah and Washington all make a major push https://t.co/fR2ufBvPj1 pic.twitter.com/NyehKgz0xG
— Blair Angulo (@BlairAngulo) March 10, 2025
Right off the jump, Mulitalo will need to change a great deal if he wants to make that transition to the offensive line. First, from a basic sense, stay vs. shed. Defensive linemen are hardwired to shed the block from the earliest parts of their lives in order to get free.
In contrast, offensive linemen prefer to lock on and steer the defender away from the ball and the action. With no breaks or disengagement, Mulitalo must take that into early consideration.
Looking deeper into the matter, Mulitalo’s strengths as a defender could actually translate into his journey as a blocker. First. his long arms, traditionally utilized to keep offensive blockers off his chest, will serve him in a similar spot.
That distance forces the defender to attempt to wriggle free while being guided from side to side. Plus, the 2026 four-star recruit will attempt to use his power to jar defenders, thwarting their momentum and rendering them ineffective during the reps. That will go a long way towards securing a starting spot at his school of choice.
Mentality matters in football. Any indecision or lack of comfort with the task at hand will tank any chance for success. As a result, the mindset must be changed immediately.
Dealing with blitzes, stunts, and loops will become a trial by fire. Furthermore, attempting to offer readjustment of hand placement will prove to be one of the toughest tests. Defenders will spin, rip, swim, club, and swipe at Mulitalo’s hands. How does he recover/recombobulate from that?
Mulitalo’s decision to switch sides of the ball makes sense from a technical standpoint. From a recruitment view, he made the right choice.
At Oregon, he would’ve competed for time with Kodi Greene, a 2026 recruiting classmate. Dan Lanning will start the experienced player with more reps at the position, who also has the most upside.
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Not to mention, opening up his recruitment, in concert with the position change, makes his local schools, Utah and BYU, far more attractive to him. With a clearer path to start, why not stay in your home area?
In addition, Utah changed its offense from a pro-style to a spread, run-heavy attack. A quicker blocker, like Mulitalo, would benefit from the ability to block in space.
Bott Mulitalo changed his football future. Walking away from Oregon allows him to write a different path. As an offensive lineman, he is not subject to rotations out of the game to stay fresher.
Plus, with slightly above-average quickness for an edge rusher, that places him as a far quicker offensive tackle than most. If he gains weight by instruction, those nimble digits will not disappear. Some lucky schools will benefit from Mulitalo’s arrival.
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