Cal, UCLA surge for promising interior lineman Oregon fans need in Eugene

When Lex Mailangi was in eighth grade, he was already 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds. He grew up in the Sacramento area, winning an invite to join the elite program at Mater Dei High School, six-time prep national champions including 2020, 2021 and 2023. Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young went there.

You can't coach size, they say. By the time Mailangi was a freshman and sophomore he was already getting attention from elite schools like Alabama, Michigan and the Ducks. Now a senior, he's a four-year starter at tackle for the Monarchs, something that rarely happens in the Trinity League, the most competitive in Southern California.

He quickly absorbed the Mater Dei culture and values. "It's pride, poise and courage," he said on "The Coach V Show." "You've got to have pride. Pride in everything you do, how hard you work."

In the 2027 class he's a three-star player, ranked No. 726 in the 247Sports Composite and the No.43 interior lineman, now grown to 6-3, 350.

Fans who follow recruiting often say things like he's only a three-star, but that's silly. There are about 1.1 million high school football players out there. Of those, less than 12,000 will earn a D1 college scholarship, and fewer than 2,000 a class achieve a three-star ranking or better, 300 or so four-stars, about 35 five-stars.

Just reaching these levels makes a high-school prospect the elite of the elite, the top 1 percent . Mailangi won Offensive Line MVP at the Rivals Camp Series in Los Angeles. He's been named a Polynesian Bowl All-Star. He's a veteran of not only Trinity League football but the camp and clinic circuit.

And you can't teach size. What separates Mailangi from the four- and five-star prospects like Ismael Camara and Oregon commit Cameron Wagner is part reputation and part development. Mailangi can improve his strength, footwork, body composition, pad level, footwork and agility. But that's not a criticism, that's an opportunity.

UCLA closes gap for coveted o-line prospect

It's approaching June before his senior year, and the D1 prospect faces a recruiting decision. Though he's had offers all over the nation, the recruiting battle for his talent and potential has come down to UCLA, Oregon, SMU and Cal.

Mailangi visited the Bruins and new head coach Bob Chesney on May 15, and the recruiting services report that the new program at UCLA is surging. "The UCLA visit was special. The gap has gotten tighter, it's going to be a tough decision." he said.

That makes this a pivotal recruiting chase. Both the Trojans under Lincoln Riley and the Bruins under the former James Madison head coach want to reestablish the strong Mater Dei and Southern California pipelines that fueled their heyday.

In recent years, the Ducks have plucked Nasir Wyatt, Aydin Breland, Jordon Davison and Matayo Uiagalelei out of the Trinity League. It's a dominance they want to continue.

A'lique Terry develops offensive linemen better than nearly anyone else in the country. Josh Conerly taken in the first round. Rimington Award winner Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second. After Emmanuel Pregnon transferred in from USC, he became an All-American and a third-round draft pick at Oregon.

Under Terry, the Ducks have been Joe Moore Award semi-finalists three straight years. He doesn't just recruit offensive linemen, he molds them into a unit.

Oregon coaches made a home visit in March. Mailangi made trips to Eugene in April and May. Oregon was an early leader, but they'll have to reclaim that momentum on his official visit on June 19.

But the most significant thing is the opportunity to lock down another big offensive lineman with size, work ethic and a desire to provide for his family. The 6-3, 320 eighth grader is a few months from becoming a professional athlete, perhaps following Geoff Schwartz and Steven Jones from Southern California to Eugene.

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