Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon: 2027 NFL Draft Prospect Profile & Scouting Report
Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
1. General Information
|
Name |
Matayo Uiagalelei |
|
Position |
Edge Rusher (EDGE) |
|
Number |
10 |
|
Class |
Senior (Heading into 4th Season) |
|
School |
Oregon |
|
Height / Weight |
6’5″ / 272 lbs |
|
Hometown / HS |
Bellflower, Calif. / St. John Bosco HS |
2. Career Statistical Breakdown
Defensive Performance & Pass Rush Production
|
**Season** |
**Team** |
**G** |
**Tackles** |
**TFL** |
**Sacks** |
**FF / INT** |
|
2023 |
Oregon |
13 |
18 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
0 / 0 |
|
2024 |
Oregon |
14 |
38 |
12.5 |
10.5 |
2 / 1 |
|
2025 |
Oregon |
15 |
34 |
9.5 |
6.0 |
2 / 0 |
|
**Total** |
**42** |
**90** |
**25.0** |
**18.5** |
**4 / 1** |
3. NFL Combine Testing Projections
Projected metrics for the 2027 NFL Draft cycle based on historic high school background and verified heavy-set perimeter closing burst.
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.62 – 4.74s
- Vertical Jump: 34.5″ – 36.5″
- Broad Jump: 10’0″ – 10’4″
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.28 – 4.40s
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.05 – 7.21s
4. Scouting & Transfer Notes
Background Profile
Uiagalelei arrived in Eugene carrying a pristine consensus five-star pedigree as a top-20 national recruit out of legendary powerhouse St. John Bosco High School in California. The younger brother of notable college quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, Matayo wasted little time forging his own premier defensive path. After serving as a crucial rotational asset during his 2023 true freshman season (highlighted by a memorable sack against his sibling), Uiagalelei completely exploded onto the national radar as a sophomore in 2024.
Starting 11 games, he tormented Big Ten blockers to lead the Ducks with 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, earning First-Team All-Big Ten recognition. He sustained his elite tier-one role beautifully during the 2025 campaign, starting all 15 matchups, logging 6.0 sacks, and earning Lombardi Award semifinalist honors for a deep-playing Ducks front line. Bypassing early draft windows, he returns for his senior year in 2026, locked in as a premier blue-chip defensive bookend.
Key Strengths
- Imposing, Pro-Ready Base Outline: Combines standard modern size at 6’5″ and 272 pounds with rare upper-body frame thickness, delivering a true heavy-handed defensive end blueprint.
- Premium Backfield Production Scale: Exceedingly productive across high-volume Big Ten schedules, generating 25.0 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over his first three collegiate campaigns.
- Elite Upper-Body Hand Disengagement: Weaponizes massive natural strength and active hands to quickly press out extension blocks and throw off anchors in the run game.
- High-Tier Pass Rushing Closeness: Highly instinctual loop and edge tracker who converts speed smoothly into continuous power, racking up multi-sack game logs.
Developmental Focus
Because Uiagalelei operates with a naturally heavier, denser 272-pound outline, pro evaluators will continue to track his lower-body leverage points out of his stance. Scouts occasionally want to monitor his play-by-play anchor consistency against direct inside gap power schemes, checking to ensure his lower-body assignment discipline prevents him from being washed down by heavy interior double-teams. Refining his overall step-by-step lateral recovery quickness against shiftier outside-zone constraint threats will fully secure his evaluation as a lock first-round, multi-scheme three-down anchor.
Draft Countdown Film Notes
*pending*
All-Star Game Notes
*pending*
Combine/Pro Day Measurables
*pending*