Florida State's second game of the season is against the ACC's SMU Mustangs. The Seminoles and Mustangs have faced off before, but what is the full series history between these two? Here's the full breakdown.
Florida State's record vs. SMU is 0-1, as they have met just once in 2024. The Mustangs handily defeated the Seminoles, winning 42-16 in Dallas, Texas.
Kevin Jennings threw for 254 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in their last meeting. On the other hand, D.J. Uiagalelei passed for 222 yards, two touchdowns, and three picks.
The Seminoles have a positive record against ACC teams since joining the conference in 1991 after being independent in football for 40 years. Per StatMuse, Florida State is 225-86-2 against the ACC. They average 31.8 points per game when facing an ACC team and have a strong record against most of their conference opponents.
In 2024, FSU would go on to finish 2-10 and would not make a bowl appearance. SMU would advance to the College Football Playoff with an 11-2 record, but lost in the first round.

#seminoles #game #yards

The Chargers announced their initial 53-man roster around 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening.
It came with several notable surprises, including having only two specialists and 11 total offensive linemen.
Below is a complete breakdown of the roster along with some ***** ysis on each room.
Even as someone who believes D.J. Uiagalelei outplayed Lance during the preseason by a decent margin, the Chargers were always going to keep Lance as their backup due to his larger pool of experience in the NFL, on top of his familiarity with the Shanahan-influenced offense that Mike McDaniel wants to run (even if he's not the best at executing it himself).
Uiagalelei is expected to return on the team's practice squad for another year, but the Chargers would be wise to still look elsewhere for an upgrade at backup behind Herbert. Former 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens was released and he has even more experience in running this style of offense than Lance during the former's time with the 49ers.

#even #sunday

With the NFL preseason all wrapped up, it's time for teams to cut down their rosters to just 53. From 90, it's inevitable that players will find themselves on the outside looking in or, at the very least, on the practice squad with room to improve and be signed at any time.
Former Florida State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei was one such player today and was waived by the Los Angeles Chargers after losing out on the backup job to former third-overall pick Trey Lance, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Uiagalelei, who had a productive college career with the Clemson Tigers and Oregon State Beavers, was an undrafted free agent in 2025. In college, he threw for 9,384 passing yards and 61 touchdowns. He was a solid rusher as well, netting another 1,124 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He appeared in three preseason NFL games this season, throwing for 341 yards and two touchdowns with a 57.1% completion percentage.
At Florida State, Uiagalelei threw for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns before a finger injury took him out of action in the fifth game of the season.

#Florida #preseason #time

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Darryl Peterson III saved his best performance of the preseason for the biggest moment.
With the Los Angeles Rams clinging to a 20-18 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers, Peterson came up with a game-stealing play that could go a long way toward keeping his NFL dream alive.
Peterson recorded two sacks in the Rams' preseason finale, including an eight-year strip sack of Chargers quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei with just 49 seconds remaining. The play forced a fumble and effectively ended Los Angeles' final attempt at a comeback, allowing the Rams to hold on for the victory and finish the preseason undefeated. It was an impressive conclusion to a preseason that has seen Peterson consistently make his presence felt.
His first sack came earlier in the game when he brought down Trey Lance for a five-yard loss. Peterson then delivered his biggest play of the night when the Rams needed it most.
Peterson entered the preseason fighting for a roster spot after signing with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin. The Rams signed him and fellow former Badger Nyzier Fourqurean following the 2026 NFL Draft, which marked the first time since 1978 that Wisconsin did not have a player selected.

#Rams #angeles #former #came

Following the Chargers' 20-18 preseason finale loss to the Rams, head coach Jim Harbaugh offered a positive evaluation of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei's performance.
"I thought he did some good things," Harbaugh said. "Excited to look at the tape."
Uiagalelei delivered a performance that may have given him the upper hand for the backup spot to starter Justin Herbert. He entered the game for a late first-half drill and commanded the offense for the remainder of the second half. Uiagalelei showed solid composure, quick decision-making, and an ability to push the ball downfield
Stepping in with less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter, Uiagalelei instantly injected life into a stagnant offense. He completed back-to-back passes of 21 and 20 yards to set up a 49-yard field goal attempt, which kicker Cameron ******* er missed.
Later in the game, Uiagalelei threw a precise pass to tight end Evan Svoboda to successfully secure the two-point conversion and map the score to 20-18. With 3:24 remaining on the clock and the Chargers backed up at their own 1-yard line, Uiagalelei led a highly efficient drive into Rams territory. He found Liam Clifford for 13 yards and Gary Jennings for 24 yards to move past midfield.

#game

The Chargers fell 20-18 to the Rams in a back-and-forth matchup inside SoFi Stadium.
Justin Herbert and the majority of the starters got four plays on the night, headlined by a 65-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.
The stars of the night for the Chargers were third-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. "DJU" led the team with 141 passing yards with a completed pass for a two-point conversion. DesRosiers took nine carries for a whopping 118 yards, including a bruising 34-yard touchdown run.
Defensively it was a fine day as the Chargers stood their ground on fourth downs several times, but otherwise got diced up by rookie Ty Simpson who completed 18-of-23 passes. The Rams offense has always looked to get the ball out fast which made it tough for the Chargers pass rush to make plays.
With the preseason now over, final cuts are next. The deadline to cut a roster down to 53 players is this Sunday (August 30th) by 4:00 p.m.

#chargers #back #yards

The Chargers dropped their second preseason game on Thursday, falling to the 49ers by a final score of 41-17. Justin Herbert and the starting offense played one series, in which they went three-and-out, and the starting defense technically played one series as well, albeit without Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr., or first-round pick Akheem Mesidor.
Here's what to take away from the game.
It's becoming increasingly apparent this preseason that the Chargers have a problem behind Justin Herbert. Neither Trey Lance nor DJ Uiagalelei were impressive on Thursday, combining for 17-of-31 passing for 153 yards and a touchdown, which Uiagalelei was credited with after receiver Jerand Bradley was not touched down and jogged into the end zone. Lance did rip off a 37-yard scramble, which accounted for more than half of LA's rushing yards on the night, but neither player looks capable of holding up for long if Herbert has to miss time. Then again, for a team like LA, things will go sideways if Herbert is hurt anyway, so it remains to be seen if the Chargers will address this hole on their roster or if they'll keep the status quo.
Undrafted rookie Avery Smith had his second standout game in a row as he competes with Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers for the last spot in the cornerback room. Smith tied for the team lead with 6 tackles, which included another ferocious run stop at the line of scrimmage, and was sticky in coverage even if San Francisco completed more passes on him than Houston did last week. But his fellow undrafted rookie Rodney Shelley is pushing the envelope, too, breaking up two passes and logging four tackles as he looks to put his name in that competition. Smith did incur a holding penalty in the end zone on fourth-and-goal, and Shelley was around the ball a lot on Thursday because he was frequently targeted, so both still have room to improve, but their stock has to be pointing up after their performances.
If you take out Gregory Desrosiers' 4 carries for 21 yards, all of which came late in the fourth quarter when San Francisco led 41-9, Chargers running backs combined for 10 yards on 13 carries on Thursday. Omarion Hampton lost a yard on his only carry, a toss play to the right. Keaton Mitchell lost a yard on his three carries. Kimani Vidal churned 6 yards in 4 tries. Amar Johnson lost a yard on two carries after scoring twice last week. Jaret Patterson was the least ineffective of the bunch, racking up 7 yards on 3 attempts. Part of that falls on run blocking, which was spottier than it was last week, but it also seemed like LA's running backs were trying to stretch plays rather than look for cutback lanes at times.

#thursday #carries #week

The Oregon Ducks have released multiple rosters this offseason, but on Wednesday night, they finally revealed the new heights and weights for every player on the 2026 roster.
Several Ducks have mentioned transforming their bodies this offseason as a key focus, either adding or shedding weight. Matayo Uiagalelei was one of the notable losers in the offseason, hoping to slim down and to become quicker and bendier on the edge. Nasir Wyatt, on the other hand, added weight to be more physical on the edge while also sliding around on defense.
With the release, we also officially learned the height and weight of the freshmen on the roster, some of whom have already seen massive transformations since arriving on campus, while others are, by nature, massive.
The entire roster is worth a look, but some players stood out more than others. Let's take a look at some of the most notable changes and additions to the roster this season.
QB Dante Moore up 14 pounds to 220 pounds

#ducks #pounds

Few teams played all of their starters in preseason openers, and it's likely we'll see more Battles of the Backups in preseason Week 2.
Two teams that leaned heavily on their second-, third- and fourth-stringers in Week 1 were the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. Neither team had its starting quarterback take the field last week, and the 49ers didn't even play backup Mac Jones – let alone starter Brock Purdy – against the ******* ans on Aug. 13.
When the two California teams face off in Inglewood this week, the stakes will be the highest for the bubble players still trying to earn a roster spot and the quarterbacks trying to move up the depth chart.
San Francisco's Kurtis Rourke, a seventh-round pick in last year's draft, seemed to outplay reserve/futures signing Adrian Martinez last week as they battled for the 49ers' QB3 spot. Los Angeles' Trey Lance, formerly a No. 3 overall pick by the 49ers, will continue to compete with 2025 undrafted free agent DJ Uiagalelei for the Chargers' backup quarterback role.
Here's how to watch the all-California matchup in Week 2 of the preseason:

#backup

Danny Sprinkle and the Washington Huskies are reportedly interested in a newly eligible player.
South Alabama guard Chaze Harris, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, has heard from Washington, SMU, and Seton Hall in the transfer portal after being granted an injunction to become eligible for the 2026-27 season, according to a report from 247Sports' Dushawn London.
Harris' injunction stems from similar cases around the country, granting fourth-year seniors who have recently graduated the opportunity to return to school in the wake of the NCAA's change to a 5-in-5 eligibility model that gave class of 2023 athletes and later the ability to play five years of competition. A similar injunction recently allowed Washington football defensive lineman Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei to return to the Huskies shortly after the beginning of fall practice.
What makes Washington's reported interest more confusing than all of the legalese, however, is that the Huskies' roster is full. Sprinkle's team has 15 players as of right now: Wesley Yates III, Nikola Dzepina, Mady Traore, Lathan Sommerville, Jasir Rencher, Rutgers transfer Harun Zrno, Davidson transfer Parker Friedrichsen, Gonzaga transfer Steele Venters, San Francisco transfer Ryan Beasley, Texas Tech transfer LeJuan Watts, Australian Tristan Devers, Croatian Boris Tišma, Brazilian Wini Braga Silva, freshman Lattimore Ford, and walk-on Brandon Roy Jr.
The Huskies added a 16th player - Dzepina - last season, but were only able to do so because Traore suffered a season-ending injury before the first game. In order to add Harris, a similar situation would need to occur. One possibility is that Rencher will be held out of games this season as he recovers from heart surgery - although he has been participating in summer workouts, there is no clarity on whether he has been cleared for game action. Another is that one of Washington's other players has suffered an as-yet unreported injury serious enough that the Huskies want a former conference player of the year to step in and give the Huskies a boost.

#huskies #harris #season #dzepina

The Chargers plan to play their starters, including quarterback Justin Herbert, for exactly one series in their second preseason game against the 49ers this Thursday night. Head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed the decision following a collaborative joint practice with the 49ers, emphasizing the need to ramp up competitive game reps ahead of the regular season.
This matchup offers the first live-game look at the first-team unit executing the playbook of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
For Herbert, this brief appearance provides a crucial opportunity to establish rhythm with his primary targets, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre' Harris, along with the newcomers, tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. The starting offensive line will also be tested as the team continues to evaluate its ongoing battle for the starting left guard position.
Once the opening series concludes, Harbaugh will pull the starters and hand the game over to the backups, Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei, to finalize the remaining roster evaluations.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Jim Harbaugh reveals playing time plan for Chargers starters vs. 49ers

#starters

As the August 30 roster deadline approaches, undrafted free agent cornerback Avery Smith is trending toward cracking the Chargers' final 53-man roster.
Despite facing long odds in a crowded position room, the former Toledo product has become one of the biggest standouts of the summer. Smith captured everyone's attention during a training camp practice earlier this month by breaking up a pass from Justin Herbert and recording an interception against DJ Uiagalelei.
He carried that momentum straight into the Bolts' preseason opener against the Texans. During the game, Smith showcased his coverage skills after completely blanketing receiver Lewis Bond and breaking up a pass on a crucial third down. Later in the game, Smith stuffed a fourth-down run for a turnover on downs.
Smith's sudden rise mirrors that of Nikko Reed, who successfully cracked the roster as a UDFA last season. While Smith is slightly undersized at 5-foot-10, his instincts, collegiate ball production, with 28 passes defended over his last two collegiate seasons, and extensive special teams experience give him a significant edge.
By consistently making splash plays against first-team offenses and proving it translates to live action in the preseason, Smith is forcing management into a difficult decision. He is a legitimate challenger to earn the fifth corner spot behind Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still and Deane Leonard.

#down

The Chargers' 27-7 preseason victory over the Texans ignited the usual August hyperbole, turning an exhibition opener into a certified hype machine.
A handful of standout performances have fans wildly extrapolating the team's regular-season potential. From instant quarterback controversies to the defensive side of the ball, the fanbase is already running wild with a few major overreactions.
Here are four of them:
Trey Lance started the game but struggled, throwing some questionable passes, including a red-zone interception to Texans rookie Kamari Ramsey. DJ Uiagalelei stepped in and looked like the sharper quarterback, throwing for 120 yards and a three-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross, leading many to claim Uiagalelei as QB2. The reality is that while Uiagalelei has had a strong summer and a solid preseason performance, he hasn't done anything notable enough to surpass Lance just yet.
Johnson, the second-year running back, racked up 85 scrimmage yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a successful two-point conversion. He also broke free for a 55-yard reception. If the Chargers only roll with three backs, Johnson will have a tough time earning a spot on the 53-man roster with Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal in front of him. He is undoubtedly in the mix for a practice squad spot alongside Jaret Patterson and rookie Greg Desrosiers.

#rookie

So early, so clutch.
The new-look Mililani Trojans turned to some old staples to rally for a 31-24 win over Nevada powerhouse Liberty on a soggy Friday night at John Kauinana Stadium.
Trailing 24-14 at the half with electrifying new wide receiver Zion White sidelined by an ankle injury, Mililani's defense came up with two fourth-down stops. A crucial 35-yard strike from new quarterback Hunter Fujikawa to Bless Cabrera-Hopkins set up a 1-yard TD run by Toa Sam to give the Trojans a 31-24 lead with 2:10 remaining.
Liberty's dangerous offense was ready for a down-to-the-wire finish, but Mililani defensive lineman Lincoln Uiagalelei read a middle-screen pass and came up with the interception to seal the win with 1:21 left.
"He still has never dropped a pass," Cabrera-Hopkins said, referring to his TD pass to Uiagalelei last year.

#uiagalelei

The Chargers have completed their first preseason game, defeating the Texans 27-7 on Thursday evening. With a number of players sitting out for rest and a handful flashing in Houston this week, most of LA's 53-man roster is actually already set.
Let's go through who on the Chargers roster is a lock to be on the team in Week 1 when the Bolts face the Cardinals.
Quarterback: Justin Herbert (1)
Before Thursday, backup quarterback Trey Lance would have joined Herbert on this list, and maybe he should still be on here. But Lance was up and down in his half plus one drive against Houston, opening up just enough room in the QB2 competition for DJ Uiagalelei to overtake him. It's also possible the Chargers will look externally for their backup quarterback, as they did when they traded for Taylor Heinicke at the cut deadline in 2024. While Lance probably still has the inside track, it's not as easy to guarantee his place on the team as it was previously.
Running Back: Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold (FB), Kimani Vidal (4)

#chargers #herbert

The Chargers released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2026 season. While coaching staffs frequently remind fans to take early PR-generated depth charts with a grain of salt, this layout highlights several intense training camp position battles, personnel choices, and notable rookie standings.
Here are the key takeaways from each position group following the team's first depth chart release:
Justin Herbert firmly anchors the starting role. As no surprise, Trey Lance secures the direct backup QB2 spot over DJ Uiagalelei, setting expectations for how preseason game snaps will flow.
Omarion Hampton leads as the starting back. Behind him, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are locked in a tight committee race for the primary RB2 role. Alec Ingold is the clear FB1, backed up by Scott Matlock. Matlock has also been getting reps at offensive tackle throughout camp.
Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston are listed as the primary starters alongside Tre' Harris. Camp standout Brenen Thompson, who is ahead of Derius Davis and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, is rapidly building momentum to push for meaningful reps by the regular season.

#depth #chart #primary

It didn't take Nasir Wyatt far into his freshman season with the Oregon Ducks before he began impressing, as he recorded his first career sack in the Ducks' second game against the Montana State Bobcats. He logged only 39 snaps but made the absolute most of them, finishing the year third on the team with three sacks, a forced fumble and 11 total tackles.
Primarily deployed on third-down blitzes and various pressures, Wyatt used his 6-foot-2, 228-pound frame to blast past would-be blocker and get to the quarterback in a flash. But what proved to be his superpower also turned out to be his downfall, as a sub-230-pound edge rusher had to be schemed into action. If he were to be on the field on early downs, teams would likely target his side and run the ball right at him, capitalizing on his lean frame.
No more in 2026. With his newly-chiseled, bulky frame, Wyatt arrived at fall camp already impressing and has continued that sentiment through one week, with CBS Sports' Brad Crawford tabbing him as one of the biggest risers thus far infall camp.
"From failing to bulk up early in his career to now tipping the scales at a muscular 245 pounds, Wyatt finally looks the part as one of the Ducks' outside linebackers," Crawford wrote. "Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton said after Oregon's second day of fall camp that Wyatt has a chance to be an "every-down player" this fall, which speaks to his offseason body makeover and what he's shown on the field early. That level of consistency must continue, Hampton says, to warrant extended reps at an uber-talented position group for one of the Big Ten's frontrunners."
Reps won't come easy for Wyatt, who, as a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher, is behind starters Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, two players garnering early-round buzz in the 2027 NFL Draft class.

#camp

Due to a recent federal court ruling, several players in the class of 2022, whose college football careers appeared over, have been granted another year of eligibility. That includes former Washington Huskies defensive lineman Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, who appeared wearing a new number as the team went through its third practice of training camp on Sunday.
Uiagalelei, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound fifth-year senior, went through drills with the rest of the defensive tackles wearing No. 46, a switch from No. 11 that he wore in 2025, which has since been claimed by first-year edge Ramzak Fruean.
"I'm unsure about what I'm allowed to say on that or not because of rules of recruiting or not recruiting," coach Jedd Fisch said last Tuesday when asked about the potential of former players returning who had another fifth season of eligibility left.
"But if there was a player or two that only had four years and we were capable of bringing them back, I would not be opposed to bringing them back if it fit our culture."
A former three-star recruit out of Mater Dei High School in California in the 2022 recruiting class, Uiagalelei made six starts and 21 appearances for Fisch at Arizona. He reunited with his former coach last season after he elected to remained in Tuscon for the 2024 campaign, when Fisch and most of the Wildcats' staff moved north.

#uiagalelei #fisch #recruiting #eligibility

There are plenty of areas of intrigue for the Oregon Ducks going into the 2026 season, but near the top of the list is the defensive line. With several players turning down a spot in the 2026 NFL Draft and choosing to return to Eugene for one more season, there's an expectation that the Ducks have one of the best defensive lines in the nation this year.
If that's going to happen, there are two players who need to stand out in particular, though. On Monday at Oregon's annual media day, both players took center stage; one much bigger than we last saw, and the other trimmed down a great deal.
Both Nasir Wyatt and Matayo Uiagalelei have been in the lab this offseason, but with different goals.
After a standout freshman year where he had 11 tackles, 7 QB pressures, 4 TFL, 3 sacks, and one forced fumble in just 39 snaps, there's been a ton of hype surrounding Wyatt ahead of Year 2. That hype is only increasing after Monday, when he divulged that he put on 20-30 pounds this offseason and is now sitting at a healthy 245 with the same quickness he became known for last year.
So long as he can keep that "power and twitch," Wyatt says that he hopes to model his game after a David Bailey or Reuben Bain, both of whom went in the first round of last year's draft despite being considered undersized edge rushers, like Wyatt.

#wyatt #season

Defense wins championships, and often that is because of a strong foundation along the line of scrimmage. The front seven is key to stopping the run and putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If a defense can win against the run without devoting extra numbers to pass coverage, that can throw offenses through a loop.
The Oregon Ducks have proven they can stop the run and get after the passer, and this season should be more of the same. A veteran group, led by Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, will guide the Ducks along the line of scrimmage, turning runs inside to Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington while making quarterbacks uncomfortable on dropbacks.
CBS Sports' Blake Brockermeyer tabbed Oregon's front seven as the third-best in the country, trailing only Oklahoma and Miami. Not only do the Ducks have experienced talent up front, but they have plenty of depth as well, including Nasir Wyatt on the edge and North Carolina transfer D'Antre Robinson on the interior.
"The Ducks return the best defensive line in the country, led by returning interior starters Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington," Brockermeyer wrote. "Both rank among the nation's best run defenders and have steadily improved as pass rushers. They possess the power and knock-back ability to physically dominate opponents."
While Oregon is loaded with talent along the defensive line, the linebacker room still has some questions. Jerry Mixon takes over as the leader after a breakout season in 2025 behind leading tackler Bryce Boettcher. Now that Boettcher is off to the NFL, Mixon will lead the room.

#alexander

If you've read enough of my pieces, you know that I'm a very defensive person.
Defensive end of the basketball court, defensive unit in Football, digging and blocking in volleyball, pitching and outfield in diamond sports.
Love that defense!
So it gives me great pleasure to announce that Oregon Football will, at least on paper, field one of the best defensive lines the program has ever seen. Run-stuffers, quarterback-hunters, the whole shebang.
Tackles A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander are flanked by edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.

#defensive #love #washington #bear

We have reached another week into the Summer Scouting process, and that means we have wrapped up watching the top edge rushers in the class heading into the Fall.
In total, I watched 13 edge rushers and will be sharing some notes on the top 10. I will share all the names at the end, but when we discuss the top options of this edge rushers class, there are some top-end pieces for teams to target. The Summer is all about being positive with players, with some notes to keep in mind when we watch them in the Fall.
We have beaten around the bush enough, though, let's show our rankings.
Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon (Scouting Report)
Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss (Scouting Report)

#edge #summer #notes #uiagalelei

The Chargers are over a month away from the start of training camp, when position battles and players competing for spots on the 53-man roster will begin.
We have a good idea of the players who are locks to make it on the squad, and there will always be underdogs who make some noise and find themselves on the team.
With that being said, let's take a crack at predicting what the roster could look like.
Justin Herbert, Trey Lance
Herbert remains the undisputed starter and franchise quarterback. Lance has solidified his role as the reliable backup. The team may carry three in camp but will likely trim to two for the 53-man roster, designating DJ Uiagalelei as the emergency QB if needed.

For Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies, the in-state 2028 class looks like it's going to be of the utmost importance as the program looks to level up in the Big Ten.
Among those prospects is four-star defensive tackle Aedyn Havili out of Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, who has quickly become a very popular target around the country after just two seasons of high school football. After tallying 33 tackles and 7.5 sacks during his sophomore season, Havili has rocketed up ESPN's 2028 recruiting rankings, as the Worldwide Leader In Sports' most recent update placed him as the No. 26 overall recruit and No. 5 defensive tackle in the class.
"It's been a blessing for sure," Havili told Dawgman.com's Scott Eklund of his rise on the recruiting trail. "All of these coaches showing me love, talking to me, getting to know me, it's been such a blessing to me and my family for sure, but it only makes me want to keep working and getting better."
The 6-foot-2, 320-pound defender has reeled in 16 offers, with Arizona, Arizona State, California, Michigan, and Utah all among the programs interested in securing his commitment, but the Huskies may have an early edge after extending an offer to him in June 2024, before he even took a snap at Eastside Catholic.
As the Huskies continue to make upgrades along their defensive line in the 2027 class, holding commitments from four-star defensive tackles Jon Ioane and Tevita Nonu, along with four-star edge rusher Chaz Gray, and three-star defensive lineman Matamatagi Uiagalelei, there's no such thing as too much depth along the defensive line in the Big Ten.

The Washington Huskies saw one of their few remaining uncommitted targets along the defensive line go elsewhere on Friday afternoon when three-star Josh Christensen announced his commitment to coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks.
After also taking official visits to Illinois and Oklahoma, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Christensen took a trip to Washington on June 5 and Oregon on June 12 in what was widely believed to be a battle between the two rivals in the Pacific Northwest, with the in-state program winning out for the product of Lake Oswego High School.
In recent weeks, Christensen has experienced a major rise, now sitting as the nation's No. 627 overall prospect and No. 53 edge rusher in the 2027 class according to the 247Sports Composite. While he would have been a promising addition to Washington's defensive front, defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi's unit is quickly running low on spots.
The Huskies currently hold a pair of commitments from four-star defensive tackles Jon Ioane and Tevita Nonu, and a pair from similarly framed prospects in 6-foot-4, 250-pound four-star edge rusher Chaz Gray and 6-foot-3, 240-pound three-star defensive lineman Matamatagi Uiagalelei, both of whom have the potential to grow into interior players as their careers progress.
While the long-term plan for Gray appears to be to let him develop on the edge, Uiagalelei, whose older brother Ta'ita'i started along the interior for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters in 2025, has all the makings of a versatile defensive tackle who can line up at several different spots across the front.

Over the next month, leading up to training camp, we will break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.
First, I project what the quarterback room will look like heading into the 2026 season.
Herbert battled through a broken hand for much of the 2025 season, yet still delivered another highly productive year despite playing behind one of the league’s most battered offensive lines. Fully healthy heading into 2026, he is poised for a major bounce-back campaign in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme. One of the most gifted and prolific passers in the NFL, with an innovative system, an improved line, and a better supporting cast, Herbert could finally take another leap toward MVP contention.
The Chargers re-signed Lance to a one-year contract worth up to $6.75 million. He stepped into four games last year, including a start in the regular-season finale against the Broncos. Lance threw for 226 yards and an interception while adding 85 rushing yards on 17 carries. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has expressed confidence in his upside, believing Lance is primed for a significant career resurgence as an insurance policy behind Herbert.
Uiagalelei signed a futures contract after spending the entirety of his 2025 rookie campaign developing on the team's practice squad. While the former undrafted free agent offers intriguing size and raw physical tools, the gap between him and Lance for the primary backup spot is substantial. Look for Uiagalelei to be waived during final cuts with the intention of stashing him on the practice squad once again.