What's new with the Oregon Ducks' EDGE's ahead of 2026 spring season?

Coming off of yet another elite season, the Oregon Ducks now go into a new 2026 campaign with higher expectations than they've had in quite some time. There's a belief that it is "championship or bust" in Eugene, thanks to the return of guys like Dante Moore , Evan Stewart , Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, and Teitum Tuioti. Oregon's roster is among the best and most experienced in the nation, and there's a feeling that the '26 season could be special.

While it may be a stretch to say that anything short of a championship will be considered a failure, there are reasons for the Ducks ' fanbase to hold such high hopes. Oregon has been building to the 2026 season for a couple of years now, and with the combination of elite young talent like Jordon Davison, Dakorien Moore, and Brandon Finney, among others, along with the aforementioned veterans, it comes as no surprise that the Ducks are considered among the championship favorites going into spring ball.

A driving force behind their successes last season and heading into 2026 is the EDGE position, which features two first-round hopefuls in next year's NFL draft. Beyond Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, Nasir Wyatt was tremendous in limited snaps a season ago and the Ducks secured the commitment of a standout five-star in the 2026 class.

As we get ready for spring practices to kick off in a couple of weeks, here's a refresher on who is returning, who left, and who is joining the Ducks' EDGE room going into the new year.

Returning Players

Matayo Uiagalelei

Career Stats:42 games — 90 tackles, 25 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 1 INT, 8 PBU

A year ago, Matayo Uiagalelei led the Big Ten in sacks, with 10.5, and while his pass-rushing numbers might have dipped slightly in 2025, he improved his game, becoming a better run-defender and havoc-wreaker. Getting him back for one more season was among the biggest offseason victories for Oregon, guaranteeing themself another year of one of the best defensive ends in the nation.

Teitum Tuioti

Career Stats:42 games — 156 tackles, 27.5 TFL, 17.0 sacks, 7 PBU

Along with Matayo, Teitum Tuioti's announced return for 2026 was monumental for Oregon, giving them one of the best sets of defensive ends in the nation next year. Teitum had a career year in 2025, leading the Ducks with 16.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He became a national name last season and should be well known by the time next season rolls around.

Nasir Wyatt

Career Stats:15 games — 11 tackles, 4 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Oregon had a lot of dynamic true freshmen in 2025 making an impact, and Nasir Wyatt was one of them. While his game needs to expand a bit to have an impact on every down, he proved himself to be one of the most successful pass-rushers on the team, notching three sacks on the year, including a strip-sack forced fumble in the Peach Bowl against Fernando Mendoza.

Elijah Rushing

Career Stats:11 games — 3 tackles

A former 5-star player, Rushing has been biding his time and developing over the past couple of years in Eugene. He has a very high upside and the ideal frame for the position at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. We will see if he can crack the rotation this year, but he's going to have a great opportunity.

Player Departures

Blake Purchase

Career Stats:35 games, 39 tackles, 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBUs

Blake Purchase was one of Oregon's bigger losses in the portal this year. While he was not an every-down player, he did have a significant role on the defense, and found a lot of production on pass-rushing downs. He has transferred to the Ole Miss Rebels.

Ashton Porter

Career Stats:26 games — 25 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU

Ashton Porter became a fan favorite over the past year after his life story came to light in the 'Ducks Vs. Them' training camp series, and he stepped up and found some real production this year, though in a complementary role. He has now transferred to the Houston Cougars.

Tobi Haastrup

Career Stats:3 games — 1 tackle

Tobi Haastrup was always unlikely to see the field as a true freshman, seeing that he picked up the game of football midway through high school and was still learning the sport. However, he is a freak of an athlete and has a really high upside, should things click. He has transferred to West Virginia to continue his career.

Incoming Players

Beau Dantzler (Transfer)

Career Stats:1 tackle

A three-star prospect and the No. 77 EDGE in the 2025 class, Beau Danztler comes over to Oregon after one season at Oregon State. Standing 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, he gives the Ducks another speed option in pass rush situations.

Anthony "Tank" Jones (Recruit)

Recruiting Ranking:5-star, No. 7 EDGE, No. 33 overall (247 Sports Composite)

One of the gems of Oregon's strong 2026 recruiting class, Anthony "Tank" Jones has as much potential as anyone in the EDGE room. He has an impressive combination of strength and explosion, proving himself as an elite pass rusher while contributing heavily in the run game. He may serve in a Nasir Wyatt-type role in 2026, specializing in blitz and third down packages.

Dutch Horisk (Recruit)

Recruiting Ranking:3-star, No. 88 EDGE, No. 919 overall (247 Sports Composite)

Dutch Horisk is a St. John Bosco product and harbors terrific power within his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame. He projects as a developmental piece for the Ducks with a chance to contribute as an upperclassmen.

Most Intriguing Storylines to Watch This Spring

Nasir Wyatt's Progression Into an Every-Down Player

As a true freshman, it quickly became apparent that when #32 was on the field, he was going to make something happen. Wyatt played in just a handful of snaps a game but each one was impactful, as he was used as a chess piece in blitz packages and registered three sacks and a forced fumble. His explosiveness off of the edge was something to see.

His return to the Ducks was extremely important for the position not only in 2026 but in 2027 once Uiagalelei and Tuioti depart. But the first step to Wyatt's development is being able to play against the run and potentially in coverage as well as opposed to simply rushing off the edge and wreaking havoc. That can still certainly be his calling card, but Wyatt becoming a more well-rounded player is right at the top of the intrigue list during spring practices for a group returning two established starters.

Biggest Questions Facing the Position in 2026

Can they generate more sacks?

It's a simple question with a difficult answer to parse. Last season, the Ducks managed 30 sacks, good for a tie for 44th in the nation. But the caveat is that it came in 15 games, with Oregon tying for 69th with just two sacks per contest.

Uiagalelei had a down season with just six sacks while Tuioti came into his own with the team lead. Wyatt contributed as well, but more production is needed here. How new defensive coordinator Chris Hampton can ramp up the pass rush and rack up more quarterback takedowns could determine how likely the Ducks are to make a deep playoff run next season.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What's new with the Oregon Ducks' EDGE's ahead of 2026 spring season?