Oregon Transfer Tight End Moliki Matavao Commits to UCLA Football
The Bruins have added one of the top young tight ends in the Pac-12.
Former Oregon tight end Moliki Matavao has verbally committed to UCLA football, he announced Tuesday on Twitter. Matavao, who played the last two seasons with the Ducks, entered the transfer portal on Dec. 12 and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Matavao commitment comes just one day after the Bruins flipped Sports Illustrated's No. 1 recruit in the country, quarterback Dante Moore, from Oregon.
Matavao is the seventh transfer to commit to UCLA since the end of the regular season, joining UPenn edge rusher Jake Heimlicher, Cal linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo, Princeton punter Will Powers, Kent State quarterback Collin Schlee, Purdue left guard Spencer Holstege and Army running back Anthony Adkins.
Coming out of Liberty High School (NV) in 2021, Matavao was a consensus four-star recruit, according to 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and On3. In the 247Sports Composite, Matavao was the No. 1 player in Nevada, the No. 5 tight end in the country and the No. 160 overall prospect in his class.
Matavao racked up 718 yards and seven touchdowns on 46 catches during his final season at Liberty, and he was on the rosters for both the Polynesian Bowl and All-American Bowl.
The Bruins hosted Matavao for an unofficial visit back in May 2019, and he even included UCLA in his top four before ultimately committing to Oregon.
Once he arrived in Eugene, Matavao was a contributor right off the bat. Matavao appeared in all 14 of the Ducks' games, even catching a 14-yard touchdown in his second career appearance against Ohio State on Sept. 11, 2021. He finished his true freshman year with nine catches, 75 yards and a touchdowns.
Matavao produced at a slightly higher level in 2022, recording 134 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches as a sophomore. He also added a 3-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry of the season.
Oregon lost its offensive coordinator earlier in the offseason, with Kenny Dillingham taking the head coaching job at Arizona State in late November. Matavao committed to the Ducks before Dillingham or tight ends coach Drew Mehringer were even on the staff, though, making his decision back when Mario Cristobal was still in town.
His fellow 2021 signee Terrance Ferguson cemented himself as Oregon's starting tight end this fall, getting more than double Matavao's catches and yards. Four-star class of 2023 commit Kenyon Sadiq is also set to join the mix at the position moving forward, further crowding an already productive tight end room.
UCLA, on the other hand, is losing starter Michael Ezeike, who has exhausted his collegiate eligibility. None of the Bruins' 14 commits play tight end, either.
Former walk-on wide receiver Hudson Habermehl got solid playing time in 2022, racking up 167 yards and two touchdowns on 15 catches, so Matavao won't be joining a complete empty cupboard next season. Four-star 2022 signees Carsen Ryan and Jack Pedersen could also factor into UCLA's tight end production next year, but they were both moved into tight end-running back-fullback hybrid roles this past offseason.
Ever since coach Chip Kelly arrived in Westwood, tight end has been an incredibly important position to the offense. In addition to utilizing 13 and 12 personnel at a relatively high rate, Kelly and his staff have also helped produce three NFL tight ends in Caleb Wilson, Devin Asiasi and Greg Dulcich.
Click here to check out All Bruins' 2023 transfer portal tracker
Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @FN_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @FN.AllBruins
Subscribe to All Bruins on YouTube
Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA football stories: UCLA Football on Sports Illustrated
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLIKI MATAVAO/TWITTER
