Elijah Rushing came to Oregon as a five-star edge rusher in the 2024 class, and in 2026 he is part of the rotation behind starters Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, both listed as starters in all five official box scores. Rushing played in every one of Oregon's first five games, through UCLA on Oct 10, per the official participation lists.
The box score has not found him much yet: 2 shared tackles and a quarterback hurry at Oklahoma State. That is the honest line, and it is also the life of a rotational edge in a front where the two senior starters take most of the snaps. At Oklahoma State, Uiagalelei played 63 of 87 and Tuioti 61 (Ducks Wire / Yahoo Sports).
He is a redshirt sophomore, 6-6 and 285, with 3 tackles in 2025. Our read: the breakout the spring hype promised has not reached the stat sheet, and it did not have to happen in September. Uiagalelei and Tuioti are both seniors. In 2027 the edge is there for him to take, and the rest of this season is his audition in Chris Hampton's rotation.
Week 8 at Illinois, Oct 24, 2026
Shared a sack at Illinois, credited with half a sack for 4 yards and an assisted tackle, in a game Oregon's defense had 3 sacks for 29 yards.
Oregon Athletics official box score, Oct 24, 2026
5-Star
Recruiting Rating
2024 class
6-6
Height
285 lbs
5 of 5
Games Played (2026)
Official participation lists
2
Tackles (2026)
1 QB hurry, at Okla. St.
5-Star
Recruiting rating from the 2024 class
6-6, 285. Played in all five 2026 games in the edge rotation behind two senior starters.
thequackreport.com
The Impact
Edge rusher depth wins championships. Uiagalelei and Tuioti cannot play every snap. Rushing is part of the rotation that gives Hampton the ability to keep fresh pass rushers on the field all game, and in the fourth quarter of November games against Ohio State and Michigan, tired legs mean missed sacks. His development is the difference between a good pass rush and a relentless one. Both starters are seniors, so our read is that Rushing is the heir apparent, and everything he does this year is preparation for being the guy in 2027.
Four Games In
Rushing played in every one of Oregon's first five games, through UCLA on Oct 10, per the official participation lists. Boise State (Sept 5): a shared tackle. At Oklahoma State (Sept 12): a shared tackle and a quarterback hurry. Portland State (Sept 18) and USC (Sept 26): on the field, no recorded statistic. For the record, an earlier version of our Week 1 note called him a freshman; he is a redshirt sophomore. Watch his first step off the edge and his hand usage against the offensive tackles. At 6-6 and 285, he has the length to keep blockers at bay, but technique separates good edge rushers from great ones.
The 2024 Class Investment
Rushing was one of the crown jewels of Oregon's 2024 recruiting class, ranked as a five-star edge rusher and one of the most physically impressive defensive prospects on the West Coast. Oregon's investment in pass rush depth gave him something rare: time to learn behind Uiagalelei and Tuioti instead of being thrown into the fire. He made 3 tackles in 2025 and has 2 so far in 2026. The development years are done. The production is the part still missing, and the second half of the season is where a rotational rusher earns more snaps.
Watch List for 2026
1
Snap share: at Oklahoma State, Uiagalelei played 63 of 87 and Tuioti 61. Every snap Rushing takes comes out of theirs.
2
Third-down packages: the fastest way into a bigger role is as a pass-rush specialist on obvious passing downs.
3
Hand usage: technique at the point of attack separates good from great. Watch his hands.
4
Length advantage: at 6-6, he should be able to keep tackles off his frame. Does he use his length?
5
Motor: fresh legs in the fourth quarter are exactly why a rotation exists. Does he finish plays late?
Frequently Asked Questions
Rushing was a five-star recruit in Oregon's 2024 class. He has played in all five 2026 games in the rotation behind starters Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.
No. Oregon's official box scores list Uiagalelei and Tuioti as the starters on the edge in all five 2026 games. Rushing has played in all five as part of the rotation, with 2 tackles and a quarterback hurry through UCLA.
A redshirt sophomore in 2026, listed at 6-6 and 285 pounds, from Oregon's 2024 recruiting class. Both edge starters are seniors, so his role after this season is the one to watch.
Sources: GoDucks.com, 247Sports (2024-2026). This page covers on-field performance and publicly available recruiting data only.