Football: The Great Wall of Eugene

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

If you’ve read enough of my pieces, you know that I’m a very defensive person.

Defensive end of the basketball court, defensive unit in Football, digging and blocking in volleyball, pitching and outfield in diamond sports.

Love that defense!

So it gives me great pleasure to announce that Oregon Football will, at least on paper, field one of the best defensive lines the program has ever seen. Run-stuffers, quarterback-hunters, the whole shebang. 

Tackles A’Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander are flanked by edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti. 

As a Junior, Washington compiled a career-best 33 tackles with 15 solo, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. At 320 pounds, he’s an absolute boulder to run into up the middle. 

A transfer from USC, Alexander was a stud in his first season with the REAL king of the West Coast, notching 50 tackles with 18 solo and a career-best 6.5 tackles for loss. 

Aptly named Bear, Washington tops 300 pounds as well, making the middle of the line roughly 625 pounds of power to try and run through.

Uiagalelei arrived as a highly-touted Freshman and has been steadily improving ever since. As a Junior he totaled 34 tackles, with the impressive bit being that over half were solo. Add six sacks and two forced fumbles to the mix and the rangy, 6-foot-5 Matayo is quite the disruptor. 

Tuioti has also been a Duck from the get-go, and likewise has gotten better each season. Last year he really broke through with 68 tackles (33 solo), 16 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. With him and Matayo zoning in from either side, opposing quarterbacks can pick their poison.  

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos