The Husky Haul
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Oregon Ducks’ Matayo Uiagalelei might create headaches for Washington Huskies offense

By Ethan Lee

Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) is pressured by Oregon defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei (10) during the first quarter of their game Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) is pressured by Oregon defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei (10) during the first quarter of their game Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. / Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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If the Washington Huskies are going to find a way to get a road upset of the top-ranked Oregon Ducks, the UW offensive line will likely need to hold up against one of the more devastating pass rushers in the country. Matayo Uiagalelei has done well all throughout the season when it comes to disrupting opposing offenses and there’s a very good chance that he causes a headache for the Huskies tomorrow. 

Uiagalelei, who is just a sophomore, has consistently pressured quarterbacks and provided plenty of problems for offensive linemen, tight ends, h-backs, running backs, and basically anyone else who tried to block him. 

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Uiagalelei is certainly a difficult athlete for really anyone to match up against. And that’s proven in the stats he’s racked up this season.

Throughout this season up to this point, Uiagalelei has racked up 8.5 sacks and tallied 10.5 tackles for loss. He’s routinely been able to get into the backfield and that’s going to be a massive challenge for Washington’s offensive line in this game. 

That’s not bad at all for a sophomore who has played in 11 games this season.

Oregon Ducks players to watch vs. Washington Huskies: Matayo Uiagalelei and the Oregon pass rush might be a problem

This is something that Jedd Fisch, Brennan Carroll and the Washington Huskies offense will need to find a way to scheme around. And I don’t know that there’s an easy solution for the Huskies offense. Maybe it involves having Demond Williams Jr. starting at quarterback instead of Will Rogers? 

I don’t totally know if that solves the issue here, but Williams is the more mobile and athletic quarterback for the Huskies. 

The Washington Huskies offense has been struggling to play consistent football in recent weeks. Through the first six games of the season, UW was averaging 25.5 points per game. Not great, but not bad. In the five games since then, Washington has averaged 19.2 points per game.

That’s, uh, uninspiring. Washington will need to account for Uiagalelei in this game if they’re going to score more regularly in this one. And the Huskies will need to score somewhat regularly to have a shot at winning.

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