Bold moves can shake up the game, and this one is no exception. A 2026 three-star defensive lineman, once locked in with Oregon, is back on the move. His journey took a twist last October when he committed to the Ducks right after their thrilling 32-31 win over Ohio State. It was a shocker—especially since USC was his dream school. “To be honest, man, I always loved USC. They’ve always been my dream school, ” he admitted. Versatile and tough, he’s a force on both sides of the line—whether in the trenches on defense or holding it down as a guard or center. Oregon saw his potential. But now, after months of commitment, he’s flipping the script. Where’s he headed next?

Big moves before a big season. 2026 Oregon commit Viliami Moala is on the move again. The Max Torres reported on X, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound lineman is transferring to Willamette High School for his senior year. Moala touched down at his new school on Wednesday after a season at Bingham High in Salt Lake City. His journey has been a wild ride—Davis, Brighton, Bingham in Utah, and Cactus in Arizona. Now, he’s gearing up for his final chapter in Eugene.

However, Moala is a name to know. Ranked No. 208 overall and the No. 12 DL in the nation by ESPN, he’s a game-changer. He’s a force up front. Powerhouses took notice—Arizona, Houston, BYU, and Utah all wanted him. At first, he chose USC in September. But just a month later, he flipped to Oregon. The exact reason? Still a mystery. But one thing is clear—he felt the love in Eugene. Moala was among the select few Duck commits at Oregon’s Junior Day. And when asked about it, he didn’t hold back. “It felt like home,” he said.

Now he’s locked in with the Ducks. For how long? Time will tell. But he couldn’t hide his excitement about being back in Eugene. “It was great. It was just like a regular trip like I’m coming home. It already feels back home over here. So it was great to come back and reconnect with everybody, get to know the players a little better,” Moala said.

As of now, Oregon is stacking talent, and Moala is a key piece. He’s one of four DL committed to the Ducks in the 2026 cycle, joining four-star standout Tony Cumberland. His pledge only strengthened Oregon’s top-ranked class. But head coach Dan Lanning made it clear—Oregon isn’t settling. “We’ve got recruits from all over… We challenge ourselves to go get the best of the best… I always tell people don’t pick what’s most convenient, pick what’s best.”

And Moala took that to heart. Now, he’s all in with the Ducks. However, this recruiting strategy of Lanning isn’t just talk—it’s delivering results. Lanning’s Oregon went head-to-head with powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama and came out on top.

What’s the status of Oregon’s 2025 recruiting class?

Dan Lanning’s Oregon is still hunting for their first national title, but it feels like only a matter of time. Building a championship team starts with elite talent, and Oregon is stacking up stars. Through relentless recruiting and smart moves in the transfer portal, they’re building a roster built to win it all. The pieces are coming together. The Ducks are knocking on the door.

And right now, no one is reeling in championship-level talent like Oregon. The Ducks are outpacing the competition, stacking elite recruits year after year. Since arriving in 2022, Dan Lanning has delivered three straight top-10 classes and back-to-back top-5 hauls. But rankings only tell part of the story.

What really matters? The Blue-Chip Ratio—the percentage of a team’s class made up of four- and five-star talent. And Oregon is dominating in that department. Lanning isn’t just chasing stars. He’s building a roster built to win it all. And in 2025, the Ducks crushed it with a 95% blue-chip ratio—the highest in the nation—leaving powerhouse SEC programs in the dust. Out of 20 signees, 19 were rated four stars or higher.

Despite finishing No. 4 overall, Oregon had fewer commitments than any other top-10 team. But Lanning had a plan—quality over quantity. And it worked.

For comparison, Georgia came in second with 82%, and Alabama followed at 81%. The message is clear—Oregon is recruiting at an elite level. Now, with this recruiting victory in the books, all eyes turn to the field. Talent is in place, and the foundation is set—but can the Ducks turn stars into championships?