Linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei is prioritizing focus over family hype, silencing his father’s frequent posts to eliminate distractions as the Oregon Ducks chase a wide-open national championship run.
The Oregon Ducks are trying to lock in for the 2026 season, and one key defender is blocking out some of the outside noise coming from his own family.
The Ducks have one of the top three rosters on paper in college football this year. After being blown out by Indiana in the College Football Playoff semifinal in January, several key defenders, as well as quarterback Dante Moore, chose to return for more years to compete for a national championship and boost their stock for the 2027 draft.
Linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei is one of those important defenders for the Ducks. He recorded 34 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles last season.
When speaking to reporters this week, the linebacker said he had to mute his father on social media before the season. His father likes to post about Uiagalelei.
“So I’m gonna be honest, I feel like the most posts I would see about myself are from my dad. So I don’t follow my dad, I muted his account so I don’t see all the posts,” Uiagalelei said, via On3.
“But you know, I talk to him a lot, but just his posts, like you know, I don’t need to… You know, he’s gonna post a lot. It’s always been like that, and I’m not mad at him. You know, it helped me get here to where I am today. But you know, I don’t need to see all that."
The Ducks will be better off if they block out the noise on social media and in the press. The national media believes Oregon has one of the more talented teams on paper, but there are questions about having two new coordinators and three starting jobs being taken over on the offensive line.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is also facing pressure about being blown out by Indiana in the CFP in January and Ohio State in the Rose Bowl for the 2024 season.
The Ducks need to believe in their program and keep their positivity in the locker room. They can't entertain negative thoughts coming from doubters on the outside.
