Oregon Ducks looking for young DL to bridge gap with veteran unit
With all four starters returning for one last run up front, the Ducks are hoping their young talent can develop quickly in larger roles.
To put it simply, the Oregon Ducks were quite fortunate this offseason. The Ducks put their chips on the table, rolled the dice, and somehow wound up with their four starters along the defensive line all deciding to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft in favor of one last season in Eugene. Matayo Uiagalelei , Teitum Tuioti, Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington will all be back in green next season, hoping to take the Ducks to the promised land behind one of the most stout defensive lines in the country.
It's an all-in approach that will only benefit Dan Lanning's defense. Yet, the group of four will only be around for one more season, which means the younger guys behind them won't see nearly as many snaps with the road to the starting lineup blocked. The Ducks do as good a job as anyone of rotating their defensive linemen in the game, but you can only tell so much from limited reps on film.
Oregon defensive line coach Tony Tuioti knows the importance of getting the young guys up to speed this season, because in 2027, they will be the ones the Ducks need to carry the water. "Right now, the biggest thing for us in our room is how can we close the gap between the guys who are returning, who are professional draft pick guys, and the younger guys," Tuioti said on Saturday. "If we can do that, we'll feel good about where we're at.
" The Ducks lost several interior and edge rushers to the transfer portal, but stepping into their place is plenty of flexible depth, capable of contributing in either role. One guy Tuioti singled out is defensive tackle Matthew Johnson, who is firmly in the mix for a big role in the rotation heading into his second season with the Ducks. “A lot of people haven't seen him play a lot, but Matt Johnson redshirted, and then he played pretty much every game in the playoffs," Tuioti said.