Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT Oregon: 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Aumavae-Laulu was a four-star JUCO recruit from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas in the class of 2019
Oregon’s most exciting offensive prospects are returning to the program for 2023, but starting right tackle Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu is heading to the NFL. The JUCO product has an intriguing frame that should attract the interest of teams in the late rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more updates and previews of the 2023 NFL Draft Guide.
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT Oregon: 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt senior right tackle from Hilo, Hawaii
Background: Aumavae-Laulu was a four-star JUCO recruit from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas in the class of 2019. He previously attended Liberty High School in Henderson, Nev. where he failed to receive a star ranking from 247Sports upon graduating with the class of 2017. Aumavae-Laulu was the No. 5 JUCO transfer according to 247Sports’ JUCO Composite board and No. 4 for On3.com. He was the No. 4 JUCO product for Rivals. Aumavae-Laulu was the No. 14 JUCO recruit for ESPN with an 81 grade out of 100. He committed to Oregon over offers from Alabama, Baylor, Florida State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Utah, and other Power Five programs. As a high school junior and senior, Aumavae-Laulu earned Second-Team All-State honors. He was a First-Team All-Northwest League selection as a junior and a First-Team All-Southeast League selection as a senior. During his two years at Navarro College, Aumavae-Laulu contributed to an offense that averaged 465.2 yards per game in 2017 and 464.4 yards per game in 2018. In his second season with the program, Aumavae-Laulu earned Honorable Mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors.
2022 Production: 13 games, 2 sacks allowed, 10 penalties committed
2021 Production: 14 games, 0 sacks allowed, 8 penalties committed
2020 Production: 6 games, 1 sack allowed, 1 penalty committed
2019 Production: 2 games, 0 sacks allowed, 1 penalty committed (Redshirt Year)
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed one game in 2020
Awards: 2020 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12, 2022 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12
Pros: Experience playing right tackle and right guard, nearly 34-inch arms, ideal size, mass, and wingspan for a tackle, adequate initial speed in his kick step and slide, steps to take the air out of the pass rush occasionally, decent bend in his knees, diagnoses and exchanges defenders on stunts, maintains a consistent base, feet remain active and don’t get stuck in the ground, strength to seal or cave in the playside defensive end, possesses enough speed for pulling duties
Cons: Age, committed 18 penalties in past two years, allows defenders into his chest, hands are late to engage, doesn’t maximize his arm length, takes too long to clamp down on the defender, hand placement is poor and lacks firmness, guilty of oversetting and opening interior rush lanes, wish his kick slide has a step faster, anchor against power is suspect, lacks reactionary agility to handle quickness in small spaces, lunges into contact (and occasionally whiffs) as a run blocker, beat across his face by Nolan Smith (2022) in the run game, gets tunnel vision as a run blocker, ended up on the ground a lot against Georgia (2022), looks unbalanced climbing to the second level, doesn’t mirror defenders in the open field as a lead blocker, gets top heavy and unbalanced when on the move
Overview: Aumavae-Laulu stood 6052 and weighed 322 lbs. with 33 7/8-inch arms and an 83 1/2-inch wingspan at the Shrine Bowl. His frame offers ideal size and mass for an offensive tackle. Aumavae-Laulu has experience playing right tackle and right guard, but it’s unlikely he will kick inside at the next level because of his build. The redshirt senior offers adequate initial speed in his kick step and slide, but he needs to play a step faster at the next level. He’ll step to take the air out of the pass rush occasionally, but this also leads to oversetting and opening interior rush lanes. Aumavae-Laulu has decent bend in his knees, but there are instances of him surrendering leverage on extended plays. He is quick to diagnose and pass off defenders on stunts. Aumavae-Laulu maintains a consistent base, and his feet remain active throughout the play. He has the strength to seal or cave in the defensive end on run plays. Aumavae-Laulu’s speed allows him to handle duties as a pulling offensive lineman, but he looks unbalanced climbing to the second level. The All-Pac-12 honorable mention doesn’t mirror defenders in the open field, and his limited agility makes him a poor fit for gap schemes. Aumavae-Laulu is top-heavy and unbalanced on the move. He lunges into contact in the run game, which occasionally leads to him whiffing on blocks. The Hawaii native ended up on the ground a lot against Georgia (2022), which supports concerns regarding his balance and power. In pass protection, Aumavae-Laulu is late to engage his hands and allows defenders into his chest. He doesn’t maximize his arm length and has poor hand placement. The right tackle takes too long to clamp down on defenders and his punches lack the firmness to dent a pass rush. Aumavae-Laulu doesn’t have a high-end anchor. There are instances of power rushers overwhelming him. He lacks the reactionary agility to handle quick edge rushers on an island.
Overall, Aumavae-Laulu possesses an intriguing frame with decent arm length and mobility, but his hand usage in pass protection and agility aren’t up to par. Aumavae-Laulu projects as a late Day 3 pick or priority UDFA.
Role & Scheme Fit: Right tackle in an inside or outside zone scheme
Round Projection: Mid Seventh to UDFA
Player Comparison: N/A
Submitted: 02-08-23