Nasir Wyatt's role in 2025 was as limited as it gets, as the Oregon Ducks edge rusher logged just 39 snaps primarily on third downs and blitz situations. When Wyatt was on the field, it might as well have been a tell that the Ducks were sending pressure.
And it worked extremely well albeit in just 39 snaps, as Wyatt recorded 11 tackles, was third on the team with three sacks and forced a fumble. But entering his true sophomore season, he and the Oregon defensive coaches have a bigger plan for the now-bulked up Wyatt, who's increased not only his weight, but his football acumen as well.
"Without getting into too much detail, Nas is the Swiss Army, and I think the biggest thing he's done is he's really enhanced his football intelligence," Oregon
edge coach Kam Araghi told reporters this week. " He's wanting to know the ins and outs of every single defense. What's the strength? What's the stressor of each call? Where can I take my shot and pass rush? When can I not? When do I got to really be conscious of level rushing, and that's helped this game go to the next level? And in result, he's making more havoc for him, having more havoc, and it's a product of the work that he's put in."
Just recently, Wyatt was named by CBS Sports' Brad Crawford as a major riser during the first week of fall camp, with defensive coordinator Chris Hampton claiming Wyatt has a chance to be an "every-down player" this fall. That goes hand-in-hand with Wyatt's supposed weight gain, as he tipped the scales at just 228 pounds last season, a meager mark for a player operating around the line of scrimmage against offensive linemen.
But with a larger, more imposing frame, opposing offenses will be much less incentivized to run the ball Wyatt's way in 2026, allowing him more trust from the coaches and the ability to be on the field in all types of situations.
It's very unlikely that, barring injury, Wyatt unseats either Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti as the starters on the edge, but his inclusion in a rotation will be much more present this season than it was prior. Just how high his ceiling can rise is unknown, but there's been nary a negative comment on Wyatt in some time, with positive comments and excitement emanating whenever his name is mentioned around the Oregon program.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon finding new ways to use 'Swiss Army' EDGE Nasir Wyatt
