The Oregon Ducks have a number of draft-eligible players on their roster this season, with some facing the decision of whether to turn pro and declare for the NFL draft or return to Eugene for another season.
Defensive tackle Bear Alexander was the first to announce his decision in mid December, as he’ll return for his final season of eligibility. Another key cog in the trenches, this time on the offensive side of the ball, came to the same conclusion on Tuesday: center Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu.
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Laloulu was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, rated as the top player in the state of Hawaii and the No. 18 interior offensive lineman.
From the time that he arrived in Eugene, the 6-foot-2, 330-pounder has contributed, as Laloulu appeared in all 14 games during the 2023 season and made his first start in the Ducks‘ 45-6 victory over Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl. He was named a 247 Sports True Freshman All-American.
He started the first two games at right guard and the final 12 at center during his sophomore campaign, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and being named to the Rimington Trophy watch list.
Laloulu’s 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular, as he’s emerged as the undisputed leader of Oregon’s offensive line. While being apart of a Joe Moore Award finalist offensive line and helping lead the Ducks to an 11-1 record and the No. 5 seed in the College Football Playoff, the Hawaii native was named a Rimington Trophy finalist and an AP Third-Team All-American — racking up the personal accolades while contributing heavily to team success.
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Now, with the announcement coming via Instagram, Laloulu will be back in Eugene and leading the Ducks’ offensive line unit for his final season of eligibility in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Iapani Laloulu to return to Oregon in 2026
