Ducks return a familiar core of players as spring practice resumes

The Oregon Ducks returned to the practice field Tuesday after a two-week hiatus, and for an experienced roster loaded with impact returners, the perks of familiarity showed up in unexpected places.

Take the interview room, for example.

The door leading into where players sit for press conferences has been a tricky one over the years, with an Oregon media representative always on hand to remind players they have to push — not pull — when they exit.

The door always gets freshmen. Even veterans who have been around the block a few times can get tripped up by it.

But it wasn’t an issue on Tuesday for Matayo Uiagalelei and Iapani Laloulu, a pair of returners taking part in their fourth spring with the team. Both have spent plenty of time at the podium — they’ve combined to play in 85 games over the last three years. 

Laloulu has been in Eugene long enough now that the 330-pounder from Honolulu has grown fond of the climate.

“Obviously coming from Hawaii, at first you don’t like the cold,” Laloulu said. “But I tell everyone … I love it. You can’t beat the cold. Whenever I go back home I can’t wait to get back on the plane and go back to Eugene.”

There’s a lot that feels familiar for Laloulu.

Coming off a second-team All-Big Ten junior season at center, Laloulu still has the same offensive line coach in A’Lique Terry, the same quarterback and the same goals as other high-profile returners like A’Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti and Dante Moore, who passed on the NFL for another year to try to bring Oregon to the top of college football.

They’re all playing for Dan Lanning, who is the first Oregon head coach to embark on his fifth season with the program since Mike Bellotti in 1999.

“I realized how special it was the day that I got here and now getting into year five, I mean, it’s even more special and that’s something I just don’t want to take for granted,” Lanning said. “We have a lot of guys that understand what we’re looking for and what we’re trying to accomplish.”

The Ducks haven’t been shy about their goals. They want to win a national championship and have come close in each of the last two seasons. But while continuity and familiarity can take Oregon a certain distance, Laloulu said the key is avoiding complacency.

“You got to be challenged every single day,” he said. “I think that’s one thing that’s good with coach Lanning. He doesn’t just call out the younger guys — he calls out the older dudes — especially because we set the standard, and we need to show the standard for (the freshmen) and dudes who are coming in from different programs.”

Part of that standard is being welcoming.

Uiagalelei said it can be difficult to track all the comings and goings in this era of college football and the transfer portal. But when the Ducks bring in new players, he knows how important it is to make them feel at home. The edge rusher pointed to a moment when freshman Prince Tavizon first arrived on campus from San Diego and was immediately brought over to teammate Tuioti’s house to hang out.

“Once we go through spring ball together, everybody will know everybody. Everybody kind of hangs out with the team outside the building, too,” Uiagalelei said. “I just feel like this is a program that is really well-connected.”

Getting on the field certainly helps.

Tuesday was the third of Oregon’s 15 practices this spring, which will culminate in the April 25 spring game at Autzen Stadium. Oregon’s first two practices earlier this month were in shells with light contact. The pads came out this week — and so, too, did a little pent-up aggression, according to Lanning.

And though Laloulu has done this plenty by now, there’s still nothing quite like hitting each other for the first time of the year.

“It was awesome,” Laloulu said. “Year four of doing this, just being able to have fun and enjoying it. I’m thankful.”