Former Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough, tight end Moliki Matavao reunite with Ducks teammates at Senior Bowl
- Updated: Jan. 31, 2025, 12:49 p.m.
- |Published: Jan. 31, 2025, 12:38 p.m.
Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa intercepts the pass while Brandon Dorlus hits Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough during the second half of the game at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 09, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)Getty Images
MOBILE, Ala. — The last time Jeff Bassa shared a field with Tyler Shough prior to this week, the Oregon linebacker was returning an interception for a touchdown to seal a win over the then-Texas Tech and former Ducks quarterback. The former, though albeit brief, teammates in January 2021 are among the former UO players reuniting during this week’s Senior Bowl.
“He was like, ‘You were the one that picked me off right?’” Bassa said. “I had to shoot it to him straight there. We relived that game, talking about that game as well as full circle thing right when I got to Oregon it was our first offseason workout, Tyler was the first guy to actually (introduce himself). Then the next day he ended up leaving entering the portal, but full circle moment to be going up against him this week.”
Shough, who completed his career at Louisville after spending 2019-20 at Oregon, and UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao are the two former Oregon players to also earn invites to this year’s all-star game. They had dinner earlier this week with former teammates Bassa and Terrance Ferguson as well as former Ducks who came to UO later, Dillon Gabriel, Josh Conerly Jr., Tez Johnson and Jamaree Caldwell.
“We have a little Oregon crew table that we were sitting and eating with just reminiscing about those days was pretty good,” Shough said. “I was one of the first guys to say what’s up with them in the weight room with Jeff and Moliki and Terrance. It was pretty crazy because I was used to seeing them when they were skinny freshmen and now they’re all big and they’re beasts.”
A former four-star prospect and top 150 recruit for UO in 2019, Shough started for UO in 2020 and dealt with injuries for multiple seasons. He ended his career completing 62.7% of his passes for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions this season for the Cardinals this season, all career highs.
“It’s kind of freed me up these past couple of years going out there and having fun and letting it rip and playing free,” Shough said. “A lot of the stuff, freak injuries can happen and all those things but it’s how you respond. I’m really blessed with this opportunity.”
Oregon also got a win over Matavao, who spent the past two seasons at UCLA after two years at UO. He had 41 catches for 506 yards and two touchdowns this season, all career-bests.
Matavao was excited to share the field and meeting room with Ferguson again this week and line up against Bassa, his former roommate, in practice.
“We’ve all grown so much; we’ve all matured,” Matavao said. “It’s been fun seeing how good we’ve all gotten. ... I was 100% confident in my abilities. I knew what I could do and that’s why I ended up moving on.
