LOS ANGELES — Oregon State football players Matayo Uiagalelei and Keyon Ware-Hudson sat next to each other at media day for the Rose Bowl game. However, in the previous chapter of their football careers, they were part of one of the most high-profile high school rivalries in the nation.
Sophomore linebacker Uiagalelei prepped at St. John Bosco, and defensive lineman Ware-Hudson played at Mater Dei. The Southern California-Oregon recruiting pipeline connects the two states and attracts more talent from the region.
“A lot of kids my age would say this was their dream school as a kid,” Uiagalelei said.
Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is well aware of that and intends to keep the pipeline flowing.
Oregon State has visited Pasadena once earlier this season to face UCLA, but playing in the CFP quarterfinals here on New Year’s Day will only help raise the Ducks’ profile in the region.
“California is a recruiting hotbed for us,” Lanning told reporters. “This is definitely where we want to set up a stand.
“I think playing in a premier game like the Rose Bowl is something kids on the West Coast grow up dreaming of being here, and having that opportunity will certainly help in recruiting. ”
Long Beach Poly product Daylen Austin remembers watching the Rose Bowl on TV as a kid. Saquon Barkley’s performance in the 2017 matchup between Penn State and the University of Southern California stands out in his mind.
“It’s surreal. It doesn’t even feel real,” the Oregon State defensive back said of what it’s like to play in the Rose Bowl. “It’s a great feeling to be back home, close to home, especially with your team.”
Ohio State doesn’t dominate Southern California as much as Oregon does, but two of the four players on Southern California’s roster are from St. John Bosco and Mater Dei.
Uiagalelei believes part of Oregon’s appeal is its distance from Southern California. We offer high-level college football, far enough away for players to experience life outside the region, yet close enough to be a quick flight home.
The players were also willing to follow Lanning’s lead. Uiagalelei and Austin first came into contact when the coach was the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia.
“That’s the kind of relationship I had with him,” Austin said. “During that visit, Oregon State truly felt like home, which ultimately led to my decision to transfer from LSU to Oregon State.”
Oregon State’s aesthetic is one of the first characteristics of the program that could catch the attention of recruits at a younger age. The Ducks are known for their countless uniform combinations and still regularly release new threads, many of which use metallic or neon shades of yellow, green, black, and white.
But at the end of the day, the decision still comes down to meat and potatoes.
“(Oregon) had everything we needed in terms of player development,” Uiagalelei said. “I’m looking to the future of my career and trying to reach my goals in the NFL. The big draw is having all the great things.”
The rivalry born of Southern California high school football lives on at the collegiate level, especially between St. John Bosco and Mater Dei. Rather, it shows just how competitive Southern California players are.
The Braves and Monarchs met twice this season, with Mater Dei winning 31-24 in the second contest to claim the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.
“I watched a little bit, but I didn’t watch the whole (championship) game because I already knew we were going to win,” Ware-Hudson joked. “So I didn’t waste any time on that.”
Rose Bowl Southern California Products
Oregon
DB Daylen Austin: The 6-foot-1, 200-pound redshirt freshman from Long Beach Poly has played in 13 games this season, recording at least a tackle in five of them.
DB Xavier Barksdale (Steel Canyon)
TE Travis Brashear (Lawndale)
OL Bryce Boulton (Palm Desert)
DL Aydin Breland (Mater Dei)
WR Gary Bryant Jr.: A 5-11 product from Corona Centennial High, he transferred from USC to Oregon State in 2023. He missed multiple games this season due to injury, but in 2023 he had 30 catches for 442 yards. He is undecided whether he will return to Oregon State for his sixth season of college football or declare for the NFL in 2025, according to a report from Oregon Live.
DB Solomon Davis (Charter Oak)
DB Jaleel Florence: Florence, a 6-1 Lincoln graduate from Southeastern San Diego, suffered a knee injury in November 2023 and has not played in a game this season.
DB Dakoda Fields (Gardena Sera)
OL Dillon Gresham (San Jacinto)
K. Grant Meadors (Liberty)
OL Lipe Moala (Mater Dei)
ILB Kamal Motudi (Los Alamitos)
WR Ryan Pelham (Millikan)
DB Rodrick Pleasant (Gardena Serra)
WR Jack Ressler (Mater Dei)
OL George Silva (La Habra)
WR Jalen St. Paul (Carlsbad)
OLB Matayo Uiagalelei: The 6-5 St. John Bosco prep linebacker is a former Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and has found success in his second year. He has recorded at least half a sack in nine games this season, and had a season-high six tackles against Washington on Nov. 30.
DT Keyon Ware-Hudson: The 6-2, 305-pound senior has played in 12 games this season for Mater Dei at the University of Oregon, recording 10 total tackles.
ILB Dylan Williams (Long Beach Poly)
DB Peyton Woodyard: The 6-2, 205-pound St. John Bosco graduate had a productive freshman season with at least one tackle in five games.
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DB Glorian Gough (Mater Dei)
QB Julian Sain (Carlsbad)
OL Josh Simmons: Simmons, who prepped at Helix, transferred from San Diego State to Ohio State and spent the past two seasons as the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle. He missed most of the season after suffering an injury in Week 7 against Oregon. The 6-5, 310-pound lineman was declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 4.
LB Court Williams II: The St. John Bosco graduate from Harbor City spent four seasons at Ohio State before retiring this year due to injury. He finished his college career as a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and two-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree.
