The Oregon Ducks were quite fortunate to return their entire starting defensive line this offseason. Although the group's statistical numbers were down in the 2025 season, bringing back Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti on the edge and Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington in the middle gives the Ducks one of the best defensive fronts in the country.
For Washington, the decision to come back came as a surprise to some. Throughout his standout junior season with the Ducks, Washington received some projections as a late first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, with the rise of NIL, it can make sense for some athletes to return to school for an extra year.
It wasn't the payday, however, that kept Washington from leaving Eugene. In fact, it wasn't a huge decision for him at all. With the rest of the group coming back for one last run at a national championship, it was a no-brainer.
"I couldn't wait to come back with these guys," Washington said after Saturday's scrimmage . "One more, just for one more, man. I remember all the stuff we had last year, but now we get to really take it up another notch. So I'm really excited to see that too, as well."
Washington stood out in his first season as a starter for the Ducks, collecting 33 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks and leading the team with eight pass breakups. He regularly applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks and knocked down passes over the middle, but he really stood out shedding blocks and making tackles at the line of scrimmage against some aggressive rushing attacks in the Big Ten.
Still, Washington felt like it wasn't enough. By returning to the Ducks for his senior season, Washington has a goal of proving to himself that he's ready for the next level, rather than just making it there.
"I feel like I could have just went the NFL, but I also want to just sharpen some things before I get there," Washington said. "I didn't want to feel like I was just getting there. Not that I wasn't mature, but I just want to mature in the right areas before I get there. You've got to be a legit pro before you become a pro ... It's not just trying to figure out how to be good once you get there."
Washington earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season and paired well with Alexander to stuff the run. Down the stretch of the season, especially in the College Football Playoff against Indiana, the defensive front was largely neutralized and less effective. The Ducks gave up big chunks on the ground and had a tougher time getting to the quarterback as their season came to an end.
The core fore up front are returning to Eugene with some unfinished business in addition to boosting their NFL-caliber resumes. Pass rush is a team effort, but Washington knows what he needs to do to improve his game heading into the fall.
"More of finishing plays," Washington said. "I feel like it'd be times when you get there, excellent block release, all of that, but then it's just the finish. It's one thing to get there, but you've got to finish on it. And in the league, it's gonna be better guys. Lamar Jackson , Derrick Henry , guys you've got to really finish on, because they're trained to stop you, you know what I'm saying? They've got to break tackles. You've got to finish on guys that (are) elite as well."
The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder in the middle of the Ducks' defense is a handful. His hands and unusual speed for his size can create problems in the trenches this season for opposing offenses. The NFL is the obvious goal for Washington, and the Ducks have a track record of getting quality defensive linemen ready quickly, most recently with Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch , both of whom were selected within the top 80 picks in last year's draft.
The Ducks have some impressive young talent and some new veteran bodies as depth up front , after much of their previous depth left in the transfer portal. That shouldn't cut into Washington's role at all. In fact, the Ducks are hoping to maximize Washington's potential in his final season in Eugene while prepping the depth behind him for the future.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: A'Mauri Washington preparing for NFL in final season at Oregon
