Checking in with the Oregon Ducks EDGE room ahead of the 2025 season

We are less than 50 days away from the start of the 2025 college football season, and fewer than two weeks stand between us and the beginning of the Oregon Ducks' fall camp getting off the ground in Eugene. While coaches and players wrap up their final couple of offseason weeks, we're ready to jump back into things and take a deep dive into what's set to take place at Autzen Stadium this year.

The Ducks are coming off of an incredible season that saw a 12-0 regular season, a Big Ten Championship, and the No. 1 seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The offseason brought significant roster turnover as Oregon sent a program record 10 players into the 2025 NFL draft; however, those players have been replaced by a young yet incredibly talented group of players ready to uphold the standard in Eugene.

Will they be able to complete the job? Expectations are high, but it won't be an easy task.

Over the next few weeks, many questions will be asked, and a significant number of them will be answered. Once we get a look at things during fall camp, we will be able to predict more accurately how things shape up. However, we already have our depth chart projections for offense and defense from spring. As we continue our preview of the 2025 season, leading up to the kick-off vs. Montana State on August 30, let's take a deep dive, position by position.

Previous Position Previews

• Quarterbacks Preview
• Running Back Preview
• Wide Receivers Preview
• Tight End Preview
• Offensive Line Preview
• Defensive Line Preview

Now let's take a closer look at the edge rushers as we prepare for fall camp.

Overall Oregon Ducks EDGE Check-In

You could argue that there is no position on Oregon's roster more set up for success in 2025 than the edge rushers. Though they lost Jordan Burch to the NFL draft, Matayo Uiagalelei has a claim as potentially the best player on the entire roster, and Teitum Tuioti is as strong of a running mate as you could ask for alongside him. With those two leading the way, aided by high-upside players like Elijah Rushing, Blake Purchase, and several others, the EDGE should be a strong spot for the Ducks in 2025.

Departing Oregon Ducks Edge Rushers

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 nice career after transferring to Pittsburgh.

Returning Oregon Ducks Edge Rushers

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 this 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 Oregon Ducks Edge Rushers

Nasir Wyatt

247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star recruit, No. 18 LB, No. 196 Overall

Analysis: 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 after a good spring and summer, he could see some time this fall.

Matthew Johnson

247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star recruit, No. 25 EDGE

Analysis: 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 tearing things up off the edge for Oregon.

Tobi Haastrup

247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star recruit, No. 24 EDGE

Analysis: 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 possesses 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.

Predicting Oregon Ducks Edge Rushers

Projected Starters: Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti

I think that Uiagalelei and Tuioti are the clear top two players at this position, but there is a lot of talent behind them, so expect a heavy rotation to come through. Guys like Elijah Rushing and Ashton Porter have a major chance to prove themselves this season, while a guy like Blake Purchase could further establish himself as a dominant player on the defense after an impressive spring game.

Overall Oregon Ducks EDGE Outlook

In 2025, the Ducks should have one of the best groups of edge rushers in the nation, led by Uiagalelei and Tuioti. What happens down the road will be determined by what we see this year behind those two players. There is an expectation that with another strong season, Uiagalelei will be off to the NFL in 2026. Tuioti may return next year, but we will see if guys like Rushing, Purchase, Porter, and potentially guys like true freshman Tobi Hastrup can develop into the future. With the roster development and the level of recruiting at this position, the Ducks' EDGE room should be set up going into the future.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks EDGE preview ahead of 2025 season