After an impressive showing in limited action last season, the Oregon Ducks have a decision to make in regards to their defensive depth chart.
The Swiss Army Knife is one of the world’s most useful tools. You have your blade, your scissors, screwdriver, can opener, and everything else in between.
Which is why when in football we see a player that can play multiple places in different situations, we call them a Swiss Army Knife.
Meet Nasir Wyatt – the sophomore linebacker who became a staple of Oregon's defensive rotation as a freshman.
Last season after only playing 41 snaps, Wyatt was highly impressive, posting 11 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble.
Wyatt may still be young on a team filled with veterans, but his emergence has given defensive coordinator Chris Hampton another problem to solve.
“I think he's very close,” Hampton said on the possibility of Wyatt becoming a three-down player. “He's competing extremely hard. I think camp is part of what's going to show his ability to do that. Or not do that, but I expect him to do that. I definitely do. He's looked great.”
The plan was always for Wyatt to be an integral part of this program, but his rapid ascension is starting to make the Ducks defensive staff think twice about the depth chart.
OurLads currently has Wyatt behind Teitum Tuioti at the JACK position, and there's little reason to expect that to change barring an injury. That doesn't necessarily mean Wyatt's path to the field is blocked, however.
“Without getting into too much detail, Nas is a Swiss Army Knife,” Ducks EDGE coach Kam Araghi said with a gleaming smile on his face. “The biggest thing he’s done is he’s really enhanced his football intelligence. He’s wanted to know the ins and outs of every single defense… and that’s helped his game go to the next level. In result, he’s making more Havoc plays and it’s a product of the work that he’s put in.”
From the outside looking in, it seems like Wyatt isn’t taking “no” for an answer.
He may not be taking Tuioti's spot at JACK, but with his ability to line up all over the defense, Wyatt is quickly making it difficult for Oregon to keep him off the field.
