The Oregon Ducks opened spring football practice on Wednesday with one freshman listed as a starter on the depth chart.
Linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia, a 2017 Saint Louis graduate who redshirted last season with the Ducks, was listed as the starting JACK linebacker.
Slade-Matautia, who is 6 feet and 213 pounds, was the No. 2-ranked prospect out of Hawaii in 2017 and chose the Ducks over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Central Florida, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Washington State.
Oregon was tied for third in Division I with five players from Hawaii last season, trailing only the University of Hawaii and Oregon State.
Sophomore Adam Stack, a 2017 Kamehameha alumnus who was ranked the ninth-best kicker and fourth-best punter in the class of 2017 by Chris Sailer Kicking, is listed as Oregon’s starting placekicker and punter.
Stack played in every game last year as a freshman and averaged 38.4 yards on his 62 punts. He did not attempt a field goal or an extra point.
Senior Kaulana Apelu, a Kamehameha alum who walked-on and was surprised with a scholarship last year, is listed as the backup to Slade-Matautia at the JACK linebacker spot.
Apelu tallied 20 tackles in five games and made three starts before an ankle injury ended his season.
The Ducks will add Kalani alumnus Sione Vea, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end from East Los Angeles junior college, who will be a junior next season.
Oregon did not sign anybody from Hawaii in the class of 2018, but has been heavily recruiting the islands, handing out offers to eight juniors and two sophomores — Kahuku QB Sol-Jay Maiava and St. Francis OL Ope Laloulu.
I remember when this kid was listed at 6’1 and 6’2 at Kaiser and St Louis and now he’s listed @ 6 feet.
Still an Awesome player from Halawa!!
he’s really 5’7″
Whatever the height maybe? Everyone measures differently. Some might say he is 6’3” lol! He still a baller! Support the 808 talent people. Smdh!