{"id":226845,"date":"2025-04-10T15:06:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T19:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=226845"},"modified":"2025-04-10T15:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T19:06:11","slug":"2025-nfl-draft-profile-te-moliki-matavao-ucla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/04\/10\/2025-nfl-draft-profile-te-moliki-matavao-ucla\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 NFL Draft Profile: TE Moliki Matavao, UCLA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Moliki Matavao finally found his footing at the collegiate level after transferring to UCLA as a sophomore. His final two seasons helped him develop as a receiver but there are still areas in his game that need improvement. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report on the 22-year-old from Nevada.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025-nfl-draft-profiles\/\" target=\"_self\">More 2025 NFL Draft Profiles<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><b>Overview, Film Analysis, And 2025 Scouting Report Of UCLA<\/b><b> TE Moliki Matavao<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3>Measurables:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>6\u2019 6\u201d<\/li>\n<li>260 lbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2025 NFL Combine Results:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>40-Yard Dash: 4.81 seconds<\/li>\n<li>10-Yard Split: 1.60 seconds<\/li>\n<li>Vertical Jump: 32.5\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Broad Jump: 9\u2019 6\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Player Background:<\/h3>\n<p>Moliki Matavao was ranked as a <a  href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/player\/moliki-matavao-46058528\/high-school-224923\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">four-star recruit<\/a> coming out of Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada. Not only was he the top-ranked player in his state, but he was one of the most sought after tight end recruits in the 2021 cycle. Despite receiving offers from Alabama, Penn State and Georgia, he eventually enrolled with the University of Oregon.<\/p>\n<p>Matavao didn\u2019t make the impact many thought he would with the Ducks. He managed just 19 receptions, 209 receiving yards and two touchdowns despite playing in 26 games over his first two collegiate seasons. The offensive scheme didn\u2019t feature him much and that led Matavao to enter the transfer portal following his sophomore season.<\/p>\n<p>As a <a  href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/player\/moliki-matavao-46058528\/college-262331\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">three-star transfer<\/a>, he committed to the UCLA Bruins and immediately set career highs in receptions, receiving yards and yards per reception. This past season, he led the Bruins with 41 receptions and 506 receiving yards. Matavao totalled 55 receptions, 789 yards and four touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons. The decision to transfer helped him develop at the college level and showcase himself as an offensive weapon.<\/p>\n<h3>Accolades:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>2025 Reese\u2019s Senior Bowl Participant<\/li>\n<li>John Mackey Award preseason watch list (2024)<\/li>\n<li>Honorable Mention All-PAC-12 (2023)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Best Tools\/Pros:<\/h3>\n<p>Moliki Matavao is at his best when working against zone coverage. He settles himself into windows that don\u2019t always force the quarterback to be perfect in terms of accuracy. His initial burst off the line is impressive and gives him the upper hand when working down the seam. He catches defenders off guard for how smooth he is for a player with his size. His footwork is pretty clean and allows him to keep separation while working between zones.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">First TD of the year for Moliki Matavao! <\/p>\n<p>UCLA 35, Stanford 0<br \/>4:56 \u2013 3rd quarter<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa: ESPN<br \/>\ud83d\udcf2: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rTM1Y5UurH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/rTM1Y5UurH<\/a><a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GoBruins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#GoBruins<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2k0xiBV8Yb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/2k0xiBV8Yb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UCLAFootball\/status\/1715956894727352502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 22, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Matavao works incredibly well as a receiving threat working underneath. He has some of the best hands at his position in the draft this year and is quick to transition from the catch to the run. His large frame gives the quarterback a security blanket on third down especially when you consider his hands and high-point ability. He doesn\u2019t struggle with defenders around him and consistently fights to pick up extra yardage.<\/p>\n<h3>Tools to Improve\/Cons:<\/h3>\n<p>Many would expect a player with the size of Moliki Matavao to be a better blocker than he currently is. He isn\u2019t developed as a blocker and was never asked to do much of it at Oregon and UCLA. His inability to latch on to defenders and anchor himself is concerning especially when his power doesn\u2019t show up at all in the blocking game. He\u2019ll need to play lower at the point of attack if he hopes to stay on an NFL field for more than two downs.<\/p>\n<p>There isn\u2019t much explosiveness in the way Matavao runs his routes. He doesn\u2019t explode in and out of his breaks and can struggle to separate against man coverage. While he has the size to be a mismatch in the receiving game, he doesn\u2019t have the athleticism to scare defensive backs or linebackers. With less than 100 career receptions, Matavao isn\u2019t a refined route runner and will need more exposure in an offense to grow as a receiver.<\/p>\n<h3>Potential Team Fits:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/03\/30\/report-saints-host-will-campbell-nfl-draft\/\" target=\"_self\">New Orleans Saints<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/03\/12\/minnesota-vikings-seven-round-mock-draft\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/03\/31\/jets-nfl-draft-armand-membou\/\" target=\"_self\">New York Jets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>NFL Projection:<\/h3>\n<p>If Moliki Matavao can refine his blocking skills, he should be able to contribute at the NFL level as an in-line tight end. He has the potential to be extremely reliable on third down or working underneath. Front offices may see him as a late-round selection that can contribute later in his rookie contract. The production over his last two seasons at the college level is concerning but there is a lot to be desired as an athlete and a blocker.<\/p>\n<h3>Prospect Grade and Comparison:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Early 7th &#8211; UDFA<\/li>\n<li>Jake Butt, Michigan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Film Exposures:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>vs Penn State (2024)<\/li>\n<li>vs Rutgers (2024)<\/li>\n<li>vs USC (2024)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Main Photo: Kirby Lee &#8211; Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moliki Matavao works best as an underneath, in-line tight end. He is underdeveloped as a blocker but could bring a team value in the late rounds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5437,"featured_media":227436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1647],"tags":[32605,7750,33471,7764,6517],"class_list":["post-226845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-draft","tag-2025-nfl-draft","tag-minnesota-vikings-draft","tag-moliki-matavao","tag-new-orleans-saints-draft","tag-new-york-jets-draft"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5437"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226845"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":227437,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226845\/revisions\/227437"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}