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2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

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2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State


Who’s the top offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft?

One name you’ll hear mentioned as being among the top tackles is Oregon State right tackle Taliese Fuaga. But could he wind up being the best tackle to come out of this draft class?

Fuaga doesn’t have the athletic upside of some of the other tackle prospects, however he’s a confident and sound technician who does just about everything well. He also plays with a mauler’s mentality while rarely putting himself in bad positions. Fuaga’s position as a right tackle and less-than-athletic physique have him flying under the radar a bit, but that could all change on Sundays.

Could he be on the New York Giants radar if they’re ready to move on from Evan Neal?

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Prospect: Taliese Fuaga (75)
Games Watched: vs. Utah (2023), vs. UCLA (2023), vs. Oregon (2023), vs. Washington (2023)

Measurables

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Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.football

Strengths

  • Technique
  • Leverage
  • Athleticism
  • Play strength
  • Competitive toughness

Fuaga is a good-sized, athletic, technically sound, and competitive offensive tackle.

Fuaga doesn’t quite have prototypical size for the position at 6-foot 5 ¾ inches, with 33 ⅛-inch arms, but has good bulk at 324 pounds. He doesn’t have the “oversized tight end” build sported by many tackles to come out in recent years and has a definite “power belly”, however Fuaga’s frame belies surprising athleticism. He has quick, light feet that allow him to kick-slide smoothly while also easily redirect back inside. Likewise, Fuaga is quick out of his stance, able to climb to the second level or get out in space to block. He has plenty of agility mirror speed off the edge, as well as the footwork to anchor against power rushers.

Fuaga is a reliable pass protector and has played 1,509 snaps in 25 games at right tackle over the last two years, yet has allowed just five hits and no sacks. He pairs very good hand technique with his feet, consistently using a hard, accurate punch and strong grip to control defenders.

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He’s a mauler in the run game and is able to execute man and zone concepts. He does a good job of playing with leverage and is able to generate movement at the line of scrimmage. His athleticism allows him to block accurately in space and Fuaga seems to relish opportunities to deliver hits to defenders.

Weaknesses

It’s difficult to pick out real weaknesses with Fuaga. Frankly, he’s technically proficient and does pretty much everything well.

If we’re going to point out aspects of Fuaga’s profile that aren’t strengths, the most obvious is his relative lack of length. Fuaga’s arms are “only” 33 ⅛-inches long, which is about one inch shorter than average for NFL tackles. That didn’t really limit him on tape in college, though teams with firm thresholds for player measurables could prefer tackle prospects with longer frames.

Fuaga also doesn’t quite have truly “elite” athleticism. Again, that doesn’t really hamper him on tape, but teams could prefer prospects with higher athletic ceilings.

Game Tape

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(Fuaga is Oregon State RT number 75)

Projection

Fuaga projects as a starting offensive tackle at the NFL level and should be able to win a starting job on most offensive lines as a rookie.

Fuaga should be able to play left or right tackle as a pro, however teams might be better off just leaving him at right tackle and letting him continue to develop at the more familiar position. Fuaga isn’t as exciting as some of the other tackle prospects in this draft class. He’s a bit on the short side and his physique carries some “sloppy” weight. He also doesn’t quite have the sky high ceiling that comes with freak athleticism.

However, he’s already technically polished and has a very high floor – while also having a ceiling that’s quite high as well. Fuaga is the type of player that a team can draft, plug into their line, and then not worry about that position for a decade. He might never be the best at his position, but there’s a very real possibility that he winds up being the best offensive lineman to come out of this draft.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes.

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Final Word: A high first-round value





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Couple married during Bad Bunny’s halftime show got engaged on the Oregon coast

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Couple married during Bad Bunny’s halftime show got engaged on the Oregon coast


The wedding that took center stage during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was not staged, the marriage scene was real. And the couple who tied the knot on national television – Thomas and Eleisa – initially got engaged on the Oregon coast!

A representative for Bad Bunny told ABC News that the couple had invited the superstar singer to their wedding, and he instead invited them to be married during his halftime performance.

But months before their unforgettable mid-game marriage and dancing with Bad Bunny during his hit “Baile Inolvidable,” the California couple got engaged in Oregon.

Portland wedding photographer Nate Meeds said Tommy emailed him in 2024 about taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest, where he planned on proposing to Elly.

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RELATED | Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show: Surprise cameos, setlist and message to America

Meeds, who has been a full-time wedding photographer for seven years, said they went to Ecola State Park for the photography session.

“I hid in the bushes and photographed as he popped the question. And then we went for a walk on the beach and took some pictures together,” Nate remembered. “It was just the windiest day at the Oregon coast, as we know it can be. And there was just hair going everywhere, you know, October at the coast. And it was cold, but they were the sweetest couple.”

Elly and Tommy get engaged on the Oregon coast over a year before being married during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show – Image courtesy Nate Meeds

Nate said he was hosting a Super Bowl party at his house when he recognized Tommy and Elly on stage.

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“All of a sudden a couple pops up and is getting married, and I go, ‘oh, I know those guys!’” Nate said. “I photographed their proposal like a year-and-a-half ago. And so, it was just kind of a shocking moment.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever been more surprised in my life than to see a couple that I photographed before, getting married on the biggest stage.

Nate said he reached back out to Tommy to congratulate him, and the newlywed replied with some kind words.

“Super kind, super fun. Obviously extremely excited to be getting engaged,” Nate said of his time with the couple.

A couple dressed as a bride and groom participate in the Bad Bunny performance during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

A couple dressed as a bride and groom participate in the Bad Bunny performance during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The couple tied the knot about five minutes into the performance at Levi’s Stadium, complete with an officiant declaring the couple married, and the newlyweds sharing a kiss as dancers and musicians surrounded them.

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After the couple stepped aside, Lady Gaga and Los Sobrinos, a Puerto Rican salsa band featured on Bad Bunny’s latest album and residency, performed part of “Die With a Smile.”

Bad Bunny served as a witness, signed the marriage certificate, and even included a real wedding cake, ABC reports, with the moment designed as part of the show’s broader celebration of Puerto Rican culture.



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Oregon Ducks’ Potential Path Through Newly Announced Playoff Dates

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Oregon Ducks’ Potential Path Through Newly Announced Playoff Dates


The NCAA and the College Football Playoff have announced the future dates and bowl sites for their quarterfinal and semifinal games next season.

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Many Oregon Ducks and college football fans in general are disappointed to learn that there are 38 days separating the early first-round matchups for the No. 5 through No. 12 seeds in the field. until the National Championship on Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti shakes hands with Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The first round matchups will take place from Dec. 18-19 at the higher seed’s home field. After that, here are the College Football Playoff dates for the quarterfinals and semifinal matchups. This includes a two-week break between the quarterfinals and semifinals.

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College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Dates/Locations

  • Dec. 30, 2026: Fiesta Bowl (State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona)
  • Jan 1, 2027: Rose Bowl (Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California)
  • Jan 1, 2027: Peach Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia)
  • Jan 1, 2027: Cotton Bowl (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)

College Football Playoff Semifinals Dates/Locations

Jan 14, 2027: Orange Bowl (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)
Jan 15, 2027: Sugar Bowl (Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana)

MORE: 5-Star Recruit Jalen Brewster’s Oregon Timeline Amid Texas Tech Uncertainty

MORE: Oregon Ducks Add Their Next Potential Walk-On Great

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MORE: Top-10 Oregon Players With Highest NIL Valuation Signal A New Era

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Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) walks off the field after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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Oregon’s College Football Playoff History

In the first year of the College Football Playoff model in 2015, replacing the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) model, Oregon lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-20 in the national title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Under Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Ducks beat the Florida State Seminoles 59-20 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to get to that highest stage.

Oregon’s next appearance in the College Football Playoff would come ten years later in 2015, with the current 12-team playoff format in place. The Ducks were given the No. 1 seed, but were upset by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, 41-21.

This past season, Oregon beat the James Madison Dukes at home in front of a raucous Autzen Stadium crowd, 51-34. After that, they shut out the Big 12 Conference champion Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl, 23-0.

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The 2025 season came to a close in a blowout fashion against the eventual national champion Indiana Hoosiers behind their own Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the Peach Bowl, 56-22.

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Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks during the head coaches’ press conference ahead of the Peach Bowl at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 8, 2026. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dan Lanning in the College Football Playoff Spotlight

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Through the big pressure College Football Playoff matchups on a neutral field under coach Dan Lanning, his teams have struggled to make a winning impact. In the last two season-ending losses against Big Ten foes for the Ducks, they have been outscored 97-43.

On the brighter side, Oregon has continuously gotten better and better under Lanning since taking the job back in 2022. He’s gone from not making the College Football Playoff field in his first two seasons to the quarterfinals in 2024 and then the semifinals in 2025. Lanning’s growth as a premier recruiter, leader, and competitor has been evident in his early beginnings with the Ducks’ program.

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Oregon women can’t overcome 23 turnovers in home loss to No. 9 Ohio State

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Oregon women can’t overcome 23 turnovers in home loss to No. 9 Ohio State


The Oregon Ducks put forth a spirited effort against No. 9 Ohio State during a women’s basketball game Sunday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena.

But that wasn’t enough to overcome a glut of turnovers and an inability to keep the Buckeyes out of the paint during an 80-64 loss.

The Ducks matched their season high with 23 turnovers. They committed 18 in the first half and 22 through three quarters to trail 56-44.

Oregon cleaned up its turnover issues in the fourth quarter, but failed to prevent the Buckeyes’ offense from thriving inside. Ohio State scored 34 points in the paint compared to 18 for Oregon.

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“Disappointed,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves told reporters. “Obviously, in the outcome and kind of how we played … The turnovers just killed us.”

The Buckeyes specialize in forcing turnovers. They lead the conference in steals per game (12.7), forced turnovers (22.8) and turnover margin (plus-9.6).

“That’s who they are, that’s what they do …” Graves said. “They were just relentless.”

Oregon, which averages 15.1 turnovers per game, forced Ohio State into 20 turnovers. But the Buckeyes shot 51.9% from the field while the Ducks shot 36.7%.

“We just weren’t as sharp and composed as we needed to be (today),” Graves said. “I didn’t coach with poise and we didn’t play with poise. And it showed.”

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WHAT IT MEANS

The Ducks (18-8, 6-7 Big Ten Conference) moved to 1-5 against currently ranked teams, having also fallen to No. 2 UCLA, No. 8 Michigan, No. 10 Iowa and No. 12 Michigan State. Oregon won 68-61 at No. 22 Maryland last weekend.

The Ducks likely must win two of their remaining five games to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

Oregon last committed 23 turnovers this season during a double-overtime 92-87 loss to Michigan on Dec. 29.

TOP PERFORMERS

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Ari Long led the Ducks with 16 points. Sarah Rambus and Mia Long each scored 13.

Ohio State’s 6-foot-6 center Elsa Lemmila took advantage of Oregon’s lack of size by scoring a career-high 23 points. She shot 10 of 12 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds.

Kennedy Cambridge scored 20 points, and her sister, Jaloni Cambridge, added 19.

Kennedy Cambridge made a career-best five three-pointers on seven attempts.

“She was feeling it tonight,” Graves said.

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NEXT UP

The Ducks play at No. 24 Washington (17-6, 7-5) at 5 p.m. on Feb. 15.

“We’ve got a whole week to kind of lick our wounds and heal up,” Graves said.



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