The freshmen made a massive impact for the Oregon Ducks last season. From the backfield duo of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. to Brandon Finney Jr. locking down half the field defensively, the Ducks weren't afraid to put their young players in big roles right away.
Nasir Wyatt came to the Ducks as a four-star edge rusher, and while the Ducks were slow to incorporate him fully into the pass rush, his performance in a limited role has led to big expectations for his sophomore campaign. Wyatt made just 11 tackles, but had four for a loss and three sacks as a freshman.
The Ducks picked their spots to use Wyatt with Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti already established as threats on the edge. Tosh Lupoi deployed Wyatt as a mercenary of sorts, utilizing his speed and finesse in critical moments to create chaos in the backfield.
While Uiagalelei and Tuitoi are still in front of him on the depth chart, that's not going to hold Wyatt back this season from getting on the field more often.
"I feel like really just attacking this offseason and knowing how to, you know, be a four-down player," Wyatt said. "If it comes to getting extra bonus meetings, when it comes to different stunts and different movements we have, because I feel like a lot of times last year I was mainly focused on third down because I knew my skill set. I know I could fit in the defense. But I feel like this year, I want to be out there as much as I can, because I get excitement from making plays."
Getting on the field more often means becoming a smarter player as well. As a freshman, Wyatt's role was simple and defined as a pass rusher. To evolve into a full-time starter, it starts with getting bigger and learning more about the defense as a whole, rather than just his responsibilities.
"I think the biggest area of growth for Nas is learning the system and being able to line up and execute the system," Dan Lanning said. "He certainly put on a ton of weight since he's been here, and there's still more to gain there, but knowing what you're doing is a great accelerator on getting you on the field. And Nas has spent a lot of time and taken a lot of effort to learn what he's supposed to do and execute on the field, and that's going to allow him to be able to do more for us."
Last season, the Ducks listed Wyatt as 228 pounds, and it showed with his lightning speed. However, in the Big Ten, that smaller frame could present some issues defending the run and taking on bigger blockers.
Without sacrificing his speed, Wyatt is bulking up, proving his commitment to his goals this season.
"I'm trying to get up to 240," Wyatt said. "I got up to 238 during the winter, and I hit winter workouts real hard with Coach Love. Really worked on transferring my body and building more muscle so I can set the edge when I get out there."
Despite some coaching staff changes in the offseason, Wyatt was fortunate enough to have Oregon edge coach Kamran Araghi back in Eugene. If the Mater Dei alum plans to make a bigger impact this season, he'll have to prove it to Araghi on the practice field.
So far, so good.
"I can't say enough great things about Nas Wyatt right now," Araghi said. "This guy has done a complete 180 since he first got here, and we just had our first spring scrimmage last Saturday, and yesterday he stayed after meetings. And you know, he was like, 'Man, I want more.' And that's the mindset I want him to have, like we're never satisfied."
The Ducks have frequently rotated defensive linemen and edge rushers during games, despite having a powerful duo capable of getting after the quarterback and setting the edge. With some of the depth that blocked Wyatt from regular snaps last season, however, Araghi has seen the growth Wyatt needed this offseason. From a wide-eyed freshman just looking to rip quarterbacks apart, to a smarter and more balanced edge player with the same intensity.
"Now he's out there with the confidence of, I know what I'm doing," Araghi said. "I know where my eyes are supposed to be. I know what my techniques are supposed to look like here, and he's dominating at the point of attack, and I'm so, so proud of him. The growth that man has had has been phenomenal and very excited for his future. With that being said, he's still got to keep growing, you know, got to keep that mindset, but I'm really looking forward to the type of season he has."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Nasir Wyatt working to become every-down threat for Oregon Ducks
