The Oregon Ducks had one of the most successful seasons in program history last year, going 13-1 with a Big Ten Championship win and a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Now, in 2025, they will look to reach the same heights once again, but this time around with almost an entirely new roster.
Since coming to Eugene, Dan Lanning has recruited at an elite level. In 2025, talent acquisition and development will be tested. Gone are the players from past regimes; in will be the blue-chip players whom Lanning and his staff have hand-picked.
On offense, players like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Jordan James, Terrance Ferguson, and Josh Conerly are leaving for the NFL. The defense sees the likes of Jeffrey Bassa, Jordan Burch, Derek Harmon, and Jabbar Muhammad move on as well.
So, who will step up and replace them? That’s the million dollar question in Eugene. We have our depth chart projections on offense and defense, but the next several weeks of practice will determine a lot for the Ducks. As we continue our preview of the spring season leading up to Oregon’s annual spring game, let’s take a deep dive, position by position.
We’ve tackled the offense, with previews on Oregon’s quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and O-line situations. Now, let’s kick off the defensive previews.
Oregon’s defensive line should be a force yet again in 2025, as it was last season. The interior defensive line is young and unproven but stacked with blue-chip talent ready to break out. On the edges, the stars are ready to shine, though. With guys like Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti leading the way, there’s a good chance that the Ducks have one of the best, if not the best, group of edge rushers in the nation.
Let’s look at the whole picture, breaking down who arrived this year, who left, and who remains at the EDGE group going into spring football.
Departing Players
Jordan Burch (NFL)
Oregon Stats: 65 tackles, 19 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 7 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR
Analysis: Jordan Burch’s two years at Oregon were special ones. After three years at South Carolina, Burch was one of the first major transfers of the Dan Lanning era, and he quickly made an impact for the Ducks’ defense. In 2023, Burch was effective opposite current Atlanta Falcons DE Brandon Dorlus, but in 2024, he blossomed into Oregon’s best defensive player.
Emar’rion Winston (Transfer)
Oregon Stats: 27 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
Analysis: After three years at Oregon, Emar’rion Winston has entered the transfer portal, likely looking to play for a program where he could be in a starting position. Although his stats may not suggest it, Winston was an impactful and versatile player for the Ducks. This past season, despite his outside linebacker frame, he took snaps at defensive tackle and saw some success.
Jaeden Moore (Transfer)
Oregon Stats: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Analysis: The final departing Ducks pass rusher is redshirt freshman Jaeden Moore, who spent two seasons at Oregon. As a 3-star recruit two cycles ago, Moore faced a lot of competition at Oregon. In the same class, the Ducks brought in three blue-chip pass rushers and had several other elite front seven players on their roster. Hopefully, Moore finds a more suitable home in the transfer portal.
Returning Players
Matayo Uiagalelei
Oregon Stats: 56 tackles, 16 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 1 INT, 2 FFs
Analysis: With Jordan Burch moving on to the next level, Matayo Uiagalelei is about to have much more weight on his shoulders. Uiagalelei has had responsibility since he was a freshman, and this past season, he was asked to be one of the Ducks’ top defenders, especially while Burch was hurt.
Time and again, Uiagalelei has proven he is one of the most talented and consistent players at his position in college football, and Oregon will depend on him next season.
Teitum Tuioti
Oregon Stats: 88 tackles, 12 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 FF
Analysis: After splitting time on the field with Blake Purchase as a freshman, Teitum Tuioti established himself as a key Ducks defender this year, and his importance will only grow in 2025. Tuioti excels as a pass rusher, but he is also skilled in drop coverage and against the run, making him one of the Ducks’ most important defenders.
Blake Purchase
Oregon Stats: 7 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Analysis: After a strong freshman season on limited snaps, Blake Purchase didn’t play much this year as part of a plan to redshirt in 2025 to preserve three years of college eligibility. With Burch and others headed for the door, space is opening up for Blake Purchase to shine in 2025. With Uiagalelei and Purchase coming off each edge and Tuioti floating wherever he is needed, the Ducks’ front seven is in great shape.
Elijah Rushing
Oregon Stats: None
Analysis: Elijah Rushing is one of the Ducks’ most exciting returners in 2025. Although he hasn’t yet played 20 college snaps, Rushing was Oregon’s top recruit in 2024, and he has the potential to turn into one of college football’s top pass rushers. With players like Burch, Winston, and Moore gone in 2025, Rushing should have a greater opportunity to increase his snap count and impact Oregon’s defense.
Ashton Porter
Oregon Stats: 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sacks
Analysis: The final returner in the Oregon Ducks edge-rushing unit is sophomore Ashton Porter. Porter was another Ducks’ 2023 class member when he was a 4-star recruit from Texas. In his two seasons at Oregon (the first of which was a redshirt), Porter hasn’t seen the field much, but like many depth players on this list, that could change in 2025.
Incoming Players
Nasir Wyatt
247Sports Recruiting Profile:Â 4-star recruit, No. 18 LB, No. 196 Overall
Analysis:Â Nasir Wyatt is a dynamic freshman pass rusher who combines strength and speed to get to the quarterback. His first step is deadly, which should make him a great edge rusher at Oregon. I don’t expect him to play much as a freshman, but if he has a good spring and summer, he could see some time this fall.
Matthew Johnson
247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star recruit, No. 25 EDGE
Analysis:Â Oregon’s other incoming edge rusher is freshman Matthew Johnson out of California. Like Wyatt, I don’t expect to see Johnson on the field too much in 2025, but in a few seasons, he and Wyatt could be taering things up off the edge for Oregon.
Tobi Haastrup
247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star recruit, No. 24 EDGE
Analysis:Â Tobi Haastrup is one of the most intriguing players in Oregon’s 2025 class, since he has played very little football in his career, but posessess all of the talent in the world, and could be a hugely impactful player down the road should the coaching staff in Eugene be able to develop him and get the most out of his talents.
Projected Starters
Defensive End: Matayo Uiagalelei
Jack Linebacker: Teitum Tuioti
Strong-Side Linebacker: Blake Purchase
Overall Position Outlook
This group is ready to go and ready to destroy next season. Losing Jordan Burch hurts, but the trio of Uiagalelei, Tuioti, and Purchase will be deadly. Throw a pinch of Elijah Rushing in there, and it will be hard to stop this unit from “mentally harassing and physically assaulting quarterbacks,” as Tosh Lupoi says. All “within the rules of the game,” of course. Expect the Ducks pass rush to be a crown jewel position group once again in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks 2025 spring football edge rusher preview
