Two Oregon linemen were honored Tuesday as part of a select group, the nominees for the Lombardi Award Watch List.
Watch lists typically cast a wide net to draw preseason interest, but still, there are one million kids who play high school football. Only 54 make the Watch List each season for the Lombardi, the award given out in December to the outstanding lineman in the country.
Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and transfer guard Emmanuei Pregnon made it from the Ducks.
Pregnon, 6-5, 318, joined the team in January after two seasons at USC. From Denver, Colorado, the redshirt senior did not allow a sack in 2024 as the Trojans' highest-graded offensive lineman.
Leadership, courage, performance and discipline.
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) August 12, 2025
Matayo Uiagalelei and Emmanuel Pregnon are on the Lombardi Award watch list.#GoDucks x @LombardiAward pic.twitter.com/RvGIKMVkWd
The stated values of the Lombardi Award are "
Leadership, courage, performance and discipline." The Ducks are counting on Pregnon to be a rock on a rebuilding offensive line with four new starters.
He faces a crucial matchup when the Ducks take on big defensive tackle Zane Durant and the Penn State defense. Durant, 6-1, 294, posted 42 tackles, three sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season. He's one of two Lombardi nominees for the No. 2 Nittany Lions.
Emmanuel Pregnon film for your viewing pleasure pic.twitter.com/1ddnv0Lzn8
— ﱢ (@cookinquack) January 14, 2025
Uiagalelei led the Ducks in sacks a year ago, a potential NFL first-round draft pick. Tosh Lupoi and the Oregon staff are counting on him to be a crusher and a disruptor for an Oregon defense with enormous talent but just three returning starters, Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti and linebacker Bryce Boettcher.
The rest of the group is talented but largely untested. Jim Thorpe Award candidate Dillon Thieneman will be counted on to anchor a young secondary, while linebacker Devon Jackson and defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington step into larger roles after being steady contributors last year.
Oregon EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei has the traits to become a first-rounder in 2026. Very smooth athlete with great length and body control pic.twitter.com/iiZmEPgtQu
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) July 1, 2025
Big numbers and big wins are the key to postseason awards. If Uiagalelei or Pregnon want to add the Lombardi Award to their list of accolades, the best route is standout performances in big games. The Ducks will be on national TV for several, including Penn State, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington.
The games they remember are played in November, but those deep autumn clashes are best remembered when a team has an 8-0 record.