Sunday was quite a day around the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene. Not only did the Ducks pick up their second wide receiver commitment for the 2019 recruiting class in four-star Josh Delgado, but they also added another massive piece to their offensive line for 2019 in four-star lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 overall JUCO player, Aumavae-Laulu is the first offensive lineman to commit to Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and the Ducks this cycle.

Checking in at a whopping 6’7″, 345 lbs., Aumavae-Laulu definitely fits the prototype for what Cristobal has been building along the offensive line at Oregon. But is he more than just a big body? Below we take a closer look at Aumavae-Laulu’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

• His height can be used against him: At 6’7″, Aumavae-Laulu practically blocks out the sun, but due to his tremendous height, he could be susceptible to getting out-leveraged by more stoutly built defensive linemen who are able to get underneath him and root him out of position. Given his mass, he’s not likely to get handled like that often, but it’s worth noting as he further develops at the collegiate level.
• Could get overmatched lining up at tackle: Aumavae-Laulu is very athletic for a guy his size, but he does have his limitations. If pressed into duty at tackle, his size and lack of quickness could be used against him by edge rushers who are particularly quick and athletic.

Notable strengths:

• Powerful initial punch: Pop in the film and get a good chuckle out of the way Aumavae-Laulu initially strikes guys he’s lined up against. He has heavy hands, and when he gets opportunity to take advantage of them, he’s usually taking his opponents for a ride. Moves people with ease.
• Surprisingly agile: Guys like him aren’t supposed to move like that! Lined up at guard, Aumavae-Laulu isn’t just a load to deal with, but he’s also quite quick laterally, showing an ability to smoothly explode out of his stance and wipe out defenders when he’s asked to pull. Could be a potentially dominant run-blocker.
• He’s a finisher: I’ll refrain from any Mortal Kombat references here (but totally follow the link if you want to watch a 2-minute clip that spans the 25-year evolution of the “FINISH HIM!” voice-over), but Aumavae-Laulu does show quite the knack for burying defenders once he’s able to lock on. A guy his size should do those types of things, though there are few times when Aumavae-Laulu leaves something to be desired in that department.

Overall outlook:

Aumavae-Laulu is still a year away from stepping foot inside Autzen Stadium, but he has the look of a player who is ready to contribute today. A largely unheralded player coming out of high school, Aumavae-Laulu has developed into quite the talent after only a year at the junior college level. A likely fit at one of the guard positions when he arrives at Oregon, it’s fairly safe to expect that he’ll be among the top contenders for a starting job. Comparisons to Kyle Long might be a bit lazy given the size similarities and JUCO background, but they aren’t completely unfounded. Aumavae-Laulu is a tantalizing talent who is only getting better, and soon he’ll have the good fortune of playing under one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the country in Cristobal. The potential is sky-scraping.