Top-rated center in college football?

The Oregon Ducks were too much for the hard-pressed UCLA Bruins as they controlled the game from end to end and cruised to a 34-13 victory. Center Iapani Laloulu and the offensive line's return to form from the last two seasons have been a catalyst for the Ducks' recent success. For his outstanding play, Laloulu, also known as “Poncho,” has received several national awards.

After the UCLA win, Laloulu was named the best center in the country by Pro Football Focus in Week 5: The 86.1 grade is one of the highest for an offensive lineman this year regardless of position. PFF's algorithm focuses specifically on each player's impact on the game from snap to snap.

Laloulu moved from guard to center to guard and now back to center to begin his career as a Duck. After a first All-American season as a guard last season, Laloulu has found a home as the starting center.

“Wherever the coach needs me to play, I will play. Whether it's center back, right back, center back or left back, I can play wherever the team needs me to perform at my best or the team I'm going to play against “To help,” Laloulu said as he described his willingness to help the group succeed.

After a less-than-stellar start to the 2024 season on offense, Laloulu and the Oregon big men haven't allowed a sack in their last two games combined against Oregon State and UCLA. The stability at the top goes hand in hand with Laloulu's final move to the middle position and the offensive's subsequent two games of the season in terms of consistency.

“Obviously we have changed the lineup there at times and are trying to find the right group to go into battle with. I think we have more than a few who are capable of playing. But we managed to move. “They were on the front foot tonight, and that's why we were able to have some success,” coach Dan Lanning said at the start of the bye week.

After the UCLA competition the tune was similar,

“I think any time you can protect the quarterback and run the ball effectively, that's usually a good night,” was coach Dan Lanning's message.

Laloulu and the Ducks' offensive line will be tested again this Friday when they host the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium. The Big Ten match will be televised by Fox and kickoff will begin at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.