The Latest With Oregon and Five-Star EDGE Nasir Wyatt
2025 Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei EDGE Nasir Wyatt is one of the best defensive players in the country and has been a big priority for Oregon.
Which is why it should come as no surprise that he wanted to get back up to Eugene, making the trip to see the Ducks defeat USC. He's been feeling the love from the Ducks staff for some time.
"I've been in touch with Coach Tosh [Lupoi] and Coach [Dan] Lanning since I've been back up there," he said. "Between [Rashad] Wadood, it's constant calls, constant checking up on me.
"We're talking about what I can improve on. What I can watch, how to dissect film. Being able to talk to those guys, who've been there and done that, to go up there and reconnect is always a good feeling."
Mater Dei EDGE Nasir Wyatt vs. Sierra Canyon on November 17, 2023.
Max Torres/Ducks Digest
Mater Dei EDGE Nasir Wyatt throws up an Oregon O following a 42-14 win over Sierra Canyon on November 17, 2023.
Max Torres/Ducks Digest
Mater Dei EDGE Nasir Wyatt vs. Orange Lutheran on October 19, 2023.
Max Torres/Ducks Digest
Oregon won the game 36-27, but there was clear spots of dominance, including a pass rush that kept Caleb Williams scrambling all night.
That was one of the many highlights for Wyatt, who enjoyed seeing Lupoi's defense play to a high standard.
"It was great to see the pass rush," he said. "Coach Tosh, he speaks a lot about them having the best pass rush and it showed against USC. [Jordan] Burch, all those guys were making a lot of plays, started off the game hot with two sacks."
The Ducks have historically been known for their offense, but it's getting increasingly difficult to ignore the SEC-caliber defense Lanning and his staff are striving for.
"Seeing that and then coming in, I'm just like man, it's something big they got cooking up. They rotating Blake Purchase, all the guys are getting good quality looks on third down. It's good getting to see it first-hand."
Playing time will always need to be earned in Eugene, but seeing young players emerge as key pieces of the rotation almost instantly only strengthens Oregon's appeal in Wyatt's eyes.
"It's good. It shows that they're about what they say," he said of seeing the true freshmen edge rushers play big roles. "They're here to play the best man, to develop the best players. So when I see dudes like Teitum [Tuioti], dudes like Blake out there, it makes me think when I get there I could be just like them and probably even better."
For the 6-foot-2, 210-pound edge rusher, there's plenty to like about Dan Lanning's program, but a few things stand out most.
"For sure probably the background that they have," he said. "The defensive championships, defensive rings, him [Lanning] and Tosh at Georgia and 'Bama. Having that background and being able to go up there and see the family-oriented vibe. It really is something that you really don't see a lot.
"Having to go there, talking to these guys on the phone, on FaceTime. When you go down there and get to still feel the love that you felt on the phone, it's a real feeling."
Following his trip to Oregon he's locked in on finishing his junior season with Mater Dei and will face St. John Bosco next Friday in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title.
But after that, he has a couple of schools he'd like to visit.
"I'm gonna go check out Tennesse and Ohio State soon," Wyatt said. "Those are going to be my couple trips before I go back to UCLA for a visit. I'm gonna knock those three out probably right after the season ends."
Wyatt is working from a top eight that includes Oregon and gave the latest on a decision timeline.
"I have a tops. I'm looking toward committing my senior year, probably during the season, I want to, like the signing day and all that. But the decision's coming around the corner and it's coming fast."
The Southern California standout wrapped up the interview by likening his Oregon visit to a wakeup call in his recruitment.
"Oregon was really a wake up call for me," Wyatt said. "It gave me a chance to see the side of the game where it's best man plays. Going up there and checking out these schools, it showed me a lot about how the next level of the game is and how fast, how quick the change is. Even though I made my top eight, I'm constantly trying to build connections just to see what place is the best fit for me."
