Nasir Wyatt didn’t need long to make his presence felt at Oregon, and now he’s back in camp looking like a different player altogether.
As a freshman, Wyatt wasted no time getting on the stat sheet. In Oregon’s second game against Montana State, he picked up his first career sack.
From there, he turned a limited role into real production, finishing with three sacks, a forced fumble and 11 total tackles while logging just 39 snaps. That kind of efficiency made him impossible to ignore.
Wyatt’s game last season came with a built-in edge. At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, he could explode off the line on third-down blitzes and pressure packages, using speed to get past blockers before they could react.
But that same lighter frame also made him easier to scheme around. If he had to line up on early downs, offenses could attack him with the run game and try to work right at his side.
That’s the version Oregon is trying to leave behind.
Wyatt showed up to fall camp with a much more imposing build, and through the first week he’s already drawing attention. CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford named him one of the biggest risers in camp, pointing to both the body transformation and the chance to earn a larger role.
“From failing to bulk up early in his career to now tipping the scales at a muscular 245 pounds, Wyatt finally looks the part as one of the Ducks' outside linebackers,” Crawford wrote. “Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton said after Oregon's second day of fall camp that Wyatt has a chance to be an "every-down player" this fall, which speaks to his offseason body makeover and what he's shown on the field early. That level of consistency must continue, Hampton says, to warrant extended reps at an uber-talented position group for one of the Big Ten's frontrunners.”
The path to those reps won’t be simple. Wyatt is working behind starters Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, both of whom are drawing early-round buzz in the 2027 NFL Draft class.
Still, Oregon under Dan Lanning has made its priorities clear: the best players play. Draft status and reputation only matter so much. If Wyatt keeps showing what he’s shown so far, the Ducks will find ways to get him on the field.
And if that happens, his freshman output may just be the beginning. In 2026, Wyatt figures to be on the field far more than 39 snaps, with a real chance to turn this into a sophomore breakout.
In Other News...
Oregon May Need An Early Backfield Shakeup Over Jordon Davison
Jordon Davisons status has become one of the more important storylines out of Oregons second week of fall camp, because the Ducks may already be looking at how to sort out their backfield if he is slowed for any length of time. Running back depth is always a camp talking point, but it carries a little more weight when a player expected to be part of the rotation is dealing with an apparent injury and the staff has to keep the rest of the room ready to absorb extra reps.
The uncertainty is what makes this one worth watching. One report initially suggested Davison could be out for 6 to 8 weeks, while another said he practiced on Wednesday, which would point to a shorter absence than first feared. If he is limited, Oregon would need more from players like Dierre Hill Jr. and DaJuan Riggs as the Ducks continue shaping the early-season pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons O-Line Battle May Depend On Two Freshmen Sooner Than Expected
The Ducks offensive line picture is still taking shape, and Alique Terry is weighing a mix of veterans and young talent as Oregon tries to settle on its best five up front. Among the players drawing attention are true freshmen Immanuel Iheanacho and Tommy Tofi, two big-bodied additions whose physical gifts and work habits have kept them in the conversation as the staff sorts through a group with plenty of ability but not much proven experience.
Iheanacho and Tofi are part of the reason this battle has more intrigue than usual, because their readiness could influence how quickly Oregon feels comfortable in the trenches. Terrys comments suggest the staff is looking closely at who can handle the demands of the job right now, not just who looks the part, and that leaves the Ducks in a familiar spot for a program trying to protect talent while figuring out which line combinations can actually hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Reached A Preseason Level Fans Have Rarely Seen
Oregons preseason profile has climbed to a place Ducks fans have rarely seen, with the program landing at No. 2 in the 2026 Preseason FWAA-NFF Super 16 Rankings and matching that spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll. It is the highest Oregon has ever appeared in that Super 16 setup, and it lines up with the broader buzz around a roster built on a strong batch of returning veterans and a team now being treated like a real national title threat.
Dante Moore is part of the reason the ceiling feels so high, with the quarterback already drawing attention as one of the early Heisman Trophy favorites. Oregon is also expected to sit inside the top 5 when the Associated Press preseason poll comes out, another reminder that the Ducks are entering camp with expectations far beyond the usual preseason optimism and with the kind of national attention that only grows louder once the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]