While the real world continues to grapple with the crippling impact of COVID-19, few programs across the country have reaped the kind of rewards that Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff have received on the recruiting trail during the month of May.

That hot streak continued in emphatic fashion Wednesday evening, when Henderson (Nev.) Liberty four-star tight end Moliki Matavao announced his verbal commitment to Oregon.

100% COMMITTED 🦆🦆🦆 pic.twitter.com/sS1BNAfGWD

— Moliki Matavao (@MatavaoMoliki) May 28, 2020

Ranked as the nation’s fourth-best tight end prospect per 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Matavao is the first commitment the Ducks have received at the tight end position since the 2019 cycle when Oregon eventually went on to sign Patrick Herbert. Matavao’s commitment also continues a developing trend on offense for the Ducks during the 2021 recruiting cycle, as eight of Oregon’s ten verbal commits to their 2021 recruiting class have come on the offensive side of the ball.

After choosing the Ducks from a final four that also included Georgia, Penn State, and UCLA, Matavao lifts Oregon to 14th in 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings, while still remaining second in the Pac-12 Conference rankings behind USC.

Below we take a closer look at Matavao’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:

• Slender frame: For as big as Matavao is at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, he’s more lithe than you’d expect when watching him on tape. Not an athlete with especially broad shoulders or wide hips, one wonders how well he might fill out once he reaches a collegiate strength and conditioning program. The potential is tantalizing, but there is necessary progress to be made before Matavao is able to physically hold his own against other FBS athletes.
• Work-in-progress as a blocker: Matavao clearly possesses terrific athleticism and coordination for young athlete of his size, but one area that will require improvement is his proficiency as a blocker. The willingness is there, but the lack of power and ruggedness in this regard will be something he’ll need to sharpen in order to be an effective every down weapon.

Notable strengths:

• Impressive jumbo athlete: Matavao is one of those uncommon athletes that combines impressive physical size and stature with the athleticism of a player five or six inches shorter than him. His fluidness running routes and the speed and quickness he showcases with the ball in his hands is what makes him one of the nation’s top tight end prospects. Consider him a souped version of former Duck tight end Jacob Breeland.
• Good ball skills: One of the biggest things that stands out when watching Matavao on film is his ball skills. Though there are times when he can allow the ball to get into his body, Matavao is a natural locating the football and going up and over defenders to make contested catches. He should be a favorite target for Oregon quarterbacks in the red zone.
• Formational versatility: No matter the formation, Matavao is a player who can seamlessly line up and be deployed just about anywhere on offense. While it’s true that Matavao is stronger in some areas than others, he’s effective enough in all facets of the game to be a threat for opposing defenses, making him a valuable multi-purpose tool for any play-caller.

Overall outlook:

In somewhat underrated fashion, the tight end position at Oregon has been one that has produced quality talent year-after-year dating back at least two to three decades. Rarely has there been a season where the Ducks have had a dearth of capable bodies at the position, though the 2019 season certainly exposed Oregon’s lackluster depth when Jacob Breeland suffered a season-ending injury vs. Colorado after establishing himself as the most reliable receiving weapon for Justin Herbert through the first five games of year. From that point forward, the Ducks were forced to turn to a converted defensive lineman (Hunter Kampmoyer), a walk-on (Ryan Bay), and a talented, yet inexperienced underclassman (Spencer Webb) to shoulder the load. The injury to Breeland didn’t prevent Oregon from notching their third Rose Bowl victory in the previous decade, but it did apply pressure to a unit that suddenly became the weak link for the Ducks on the offensive side of the ball. The addition of a player like Matavao, however, would seemingly signal the end of those days. Built like a jumbo-sized receiver, Matavao should provide the Oregon offense with another quality pass catching asset at tight end to go along with Webb, Patrick Herbert, and Cam McCormick in 2021. A redshirt season may be necessary as Matavao will need to add more mass to his imposing frame, but the raw talent is there for Matavao to eventually establish himself as the Ducks’ next impact tight end.

Top Photo: Henderson (Nev.) Liberty TE Moliki Matavao (SI.com)