Oregon has a deep and talented roster, one that FanDuel projects for 10.5 wins in 2025. Who are the Ducks five best returning players?
1. Matayo Uiagalelei
Young Concrete led the Ducks with 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss last season, named first team All-Big-Ten by the media.
The 6-5, 270 pass rusher from St. John Bosco in Bellflower, California posted sacks in nine games, two against Idaho and a pair against Washington. He proved to be a major disruptor with two forced fumbles, a blocked kick, two pass breakups and an interception.
The exciting thing is, Matayo U. has just scratched the surface of how good he can be. The Oregon record for sacks in a single season is 13, by Nick Reed, who also holds the career mark at 29.5.
Uiagalelei could threaten both of those, particularly because he has Teitum Tuioti, Blake Purchase, Elijah Rushing, A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander to flood the rushing lanes, while the Oregon secondary is full of long, athletic cover guys now.
In what should be a more disruptive defense, there will be more coverage sacks, more two-score leads, and more obvious passing situations, opportunities for the pass rush to eat.
2. Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu
The Oregon center will be on the Rimington Award watch list, the honor won by Jackson Power-Johnson in 2023.
A starter for 15 straight games, "Poncho" played a team-high 970 snaps in 2023, earning an 80.6 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus while not allowing a sack.
He's powerful, 6-2, 325, nimble enough to block at the second level and lead screens. Laloulu leads the Oregon offensive line and calls the audibles. He sets the pace in training.
Laloulu draws his inspiration from his faith and the pride he takes in his home town of Kailhi, Hawaii, a four-star recruit from Farrington High School in the class of 2023, the No. 136 prospect and the No. 7 interior lineman in the country that year.
Plus, he's a pretty good dancer.
3. Kenyon Sadiq
Sadiq could be the best tight end in college football by the end of the year, the first one taken in the 2026 NFL draft.
At 6-3, 245 he reaches 22 mph on the GPS. The junior from Skyline High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho broke out last season with a pair of touchdowns in the Big Ten Championship Game, then led all receivers in the Spring Game with seven catches for 102 yards.
He's a matchup nightmare who can block as an in-line tight end, flex out, motion, or take a handoff on an end around.
In April offensive coordinator Will Stein called him one of the best players in the country.
“It’s my job to make sure he’s getting as many touches as we can every single game. Kenyon is somebody I’m expecting to be one of those leaders on our team. He provides so much value in the pass-game and in the run-game. (Run-pass options). He’s a very special player.”
4. Teitum Tuioti
A junior from Laie, Hawaii and Sheldon High School in Eugene, Tuioti started every game for the Ducks in 2023, fourth on the team with 58 tackles, third in sacks with 5.5.
Tuioti, 6-3, 255, is versatile with great technique. He earned an 80.1 tackling grade from PFF, 78. 3 pass rush grade.
His presence on the other side makes Matayo Uiagalelei even more of a threat.
5. Evan Stewart
A big-play receiver with the potential to blossom as a 1,000-yard, go-to receiver in 2025, Stewart grabbed 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns for the Ducks last season.
The five-star recruit from Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas won the gold medal in the long jump at the 5A Texas State track meet as a junior. What's exciting about him are his best games, like the 7-catch, 149-yard performance he turned in against Ohio State last October.
With a strong-armed quarterback in the pocket, Stewart's numbers this year could skyrocket, boosting him into the first round.