Oregon Ducks Snubbed In 2025 Top-25 Player Rankings: Evan Stewart, Matayo Uiagalelei?

The Oregon Ducks did not have a player ranked in On3's Top 25 Impact Players for 2025. Who from Oregon was snubbed and who is ahead of them?
Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart (7) rushes with the football in front of Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman (2) after catching a pass during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart (7) rushes with the football in front of Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman (2) after catching a pass during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks should be one of the top teams in college football again next year following their 13-1 season in 2024. However, On3’s Rankings of Top 25 Impact Players for the 2025 season did not include a single Duck. 

Zero Ducks in Top 25 Player Rankings

Aug 31, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei (10) sacks Idaho Vandals quarterback Jack Lay
Aug 31, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei (10) sacks Idaho Vandals quarterback Jack Layne (2) during the first quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images / Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

On3 released their Impact Top 25 player rankings for the 2025 season on Monday. No Oregon Ducks were to be found. The Ohio State Buckeyes have the No. 1 and. No. 3 ranked players in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. 

The Texas Longhorns had three players in the top 25; edge rusher Colin Simmons at No. 5, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 11, and quarterback Arch Manning at No. 14.

A handful of other teams had multiple players in the top 25. Some come as no surprise as Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State, Miami, and South Carolina all had multiple Top 25 players. However, a team that surprisingly has two Top 20 players are the Arizona State Sun Devils out of the Big 12 Conference.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is ranked No. 2 and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is ranked at No. 18.

A few of Oregon's best returning players in wide receiver Evan Stewart and defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei did not crack the top 25.

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New Look Oregon Roster in 2025

Nov 11, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane safety Dayne Hodge (39) and linebacker Julien Simon (24) ta
Nov 11, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane safety Dayne Hodge (39) and linebacker Julien Simon (24) tackle Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes (21) in the fourth quarter at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Dobbins-Imagn Images / Matthew Dobbins-Imagn Images

It is a surprise that a team with as much talent as Oregon did not wind up anywhere on the Top 25. The Ducks will be losing a lot of star power from their 2024 team, but have done a good job in replenishing that through the transfer portal and recruiting. 

On the offensive side of the ball, Oregon will have to replace some of their top weapons, offensive lineman, and quarterback from a year ago.

Quarterback Dante Moore is shaping up to be the starting quarterback in 2025, taking over for Dillon Gabriel. Moore saw limited action in 2024 for the Ducks. Prior to that, he played in 2023 for the UCLA Bruins as a freshman, throwing 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The running back room will have a new lead back with former Tulane running back Makhi Hughes. Hughes was rated as a four-star transfer.

Wide receiver Tez Johnson is entering the NFL Draft, but the Ducks may have found their next superstar at the postion to pair with wide reciever Evan Stewart. Wide receiver Dakorien Moore was the No. 1 wide receiver in the class of 2025 and could make an instant impact.

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Cory Pappas
CORY PAPPAS

Cory Pappas is sports writer for USC Trojans On SI and Oregon Ducks On SI. Since starting in March of 2024, he has been writing breaking news stories, game previews, game recaps, and more across College Sports, the NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympics for Total Apex Sports. In addition to writing, Cory is also a sports data scout for Sportradar. He covers live sporting events ranging from college athletics to semi-pro and professional. Before joining the industry, Cory graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022. He ran track for Oregon's club Track and Field team. Before Oregon, he played varsity basketball and track and field in high school in Walnut Creek, CA. Cory is using his lifelong passion for sports and writing together.