Moliki Matavao is down to a half dozen programs.
On Sunday, the four-star tight end from Henderson (Nev.) Liberty revealed a top six of Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA and Washington.
Matavao, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound prospect who ranks No. 4 at his position nationally according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, hopes to be able to take some trips before arriving at a decision but tells 247Sports he won't drag out the process much longer as he aims to come off the board by the end of next month
Ultimately I would love to hit the road and take official visits, but based on how it's looking and the fact that it might not be for a while, I'll probably be making a decision sooner rather than later," Matavao said.
The Huskies currently hold the lone vote in the 247Sports Crystal Ball but that might not be reflective of where things stand at the moment. [/b]The Bulldogs signed the top prospect in the Las Vegas area last cycle -- Darnell Washington -- and are rumored to be the front-runner for Matavao now. UGA assistant coach Todd Hartley is also in heavy pursuit of the West region's No. 1 tight end Brock Bowers, so it should be interesting to see how the dominoes fall.
"We have built a great connection with Georgia over this break, actually, and we really enjoyed the visit there last year," Matavao said. "I've had a lot of Zoom meetings with the coaches and we also did a virtual tour with my family, so that helped my mom out to see everything."
The Ducks were the recipient of the Top247 prospect's most recent visit as Matavao made it up to Eugene for the program's junior day event before the start of the current recruiting dead period.
"I could tell that coach Mario Cristobal has brought a total change to Oregon football and it's very intriguing," Matavao said. "Everyone has bought in and they recruit really well. Coach Cristobal talks to me a lot, probably more than any other head coach."
The Nittany Lions have also been making a hard push for a long time.
"I love the tradition there; it's hard-nosed football but the tight ends are used, too, in that offense," Matavao said. "Coach Tyler Bowen knows how to develop tight ends very well and I know he's going to be there for a while."
The Volunteers might be the surprise inclusion on this list but it's a clear indication of the type of impression the program made during his stop in Knoxville a year ago.
"I talk most with coach Nanumi Lolohea and I've also been in constant contact with coach Joe Osovet, who has been hitting me up a lot more since taking over for coach Brian Niedermeyer who made the move over to defense," Matavao said. "They have an open depth chart and it's been great to build a relationship with coach Jeremy Pruitt."
The Bruins also hosted Matavao last year and have remained a strong suitor throughout the process.
"Coach Chip Kelly uses the tight end, it's now back-to-back years they have had a tight end drafted," Matavao said. "They use very attractive personnel and everything I would love to see in an offense. They haven't had the best records, but I could see them turning things around if they get the players they need."
The Huskies went to Liberty two cycles ago to sign offensive lineman Troy Fautanu and Matavao said he continues to remain highly interested in following him to Seattle despite a coaching change at his position.
"They have had a successful tight end room there for a while and coach Derham Cato has been a great guy to get to know," Matavao said. "We have bonded really well and coach Jimmy Lake I can tell is going to keep the same high standards for the program that coach Chris Petersen had."
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Matavao is the nation's No. 144 overall prospect and No. 1 in the state of Nevada for the 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite. In 13 games as a junior last season, he was credited with 46 receptions for 718 yards and seven touchdowns to help Liberty to a state championship.
On Sunday, the four-star tight end from Henderson (Nev.) Liberty revealed a top six of Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA and Washington.
Matavao, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound prospect who ranks No. 4 at his position nationally according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, hopes to be able to take some trips before arriving at a decision but tells 247Sports he won't drag out the process much longer as he aims to come off the board by the end of next month
Ultimately I would love to hit the road and take official visits, but based on how it's looking and the fact that it might not be for a while, I'll probably be making a decision sooner rather than later," Matavao said.
The Huskies currently hold the lone vote in the 247Sports Crystal Ball but that might not be reflective of where things stand at the moment. [/b]The Bulldogs signed the top prospect in the Las Vegas area last cycle -- Darnell Washington -- and are rumored to be the front-runner for Matavao now. UGA assistant coach Todd Hartley is also in heavy pursuit of the West region's No. 1 tight end Brock Bowers, so it should be interesting to see how the dominoes fall.
"We have built a great connection with Georgia over this break, actually, and we really enjoyed the visit there last year," Matavao said. "I've had a lot of Zoom meetings with the coaches and we also did a virtual tour with my family, so that helped my mom out to see everything."
The Ducks were the recipient of the Top247 prospect's most recent visit as Matavao made it up to Eugene for the program's junior day event before the start of the current recruiting dead period.
"I could tell that coach Mario Cristobal has brought a total change to Oregon football and it's very intriguing," Matavao said. "Everyone has bought in and they recruit really well. Coach Cristobal talks to me a lot, probably more than any other head coach."
The Nittany Lions have also been making a hard push for a long time.
"I love the tradition there; it's hard-nosed football but the tight ends are used, too, in that offense," Matavao said. "Coach Tyler Bowen knows how to develop tight ends very well and I know he's going to be there for a while."
The Volunteers might be the surprise inclusion on this list but it's a clear indication of the type of impression the program made during his stop in Knoxville a year ago.
"I talk most with coach Nanumi Lolohea and I've also been in constant contact with coach Joe Osovet, who has been hitting me up a lot more since taking over for coach Brian Niedermeyer who made the move over to defense," Matavao said. "They have an open depth chart and it's been great to build a relationship with coach Jeremy Pruitt."
The Bruins also hosted Matavao last year and have remained a strong suitor throughout the process.
"Coach Chip Kelly uses the tight end, it's now back-to-back years they have had a tight end drafted," Matavao said. "They use very attractive personnel and everything I would love to see in an offense. They haven't had the best records, but I could see them turning things around if they get the players they need."
The Huskies went to Liberty two cycles ago to sign offensive lineman Troy Fautanu and Matavao said he continues to remain highly interested in following him to Seattle despite a coaching change at his position.
"They have had a successful tight end room there for a while and coach Derham Cato has been a great guy to get to know," Matavao said. "We have bonded really well and coach Jimmy Lake I can tell is going to keep the same high standards for the program that coach Chris Petersen had."
[/b]
Matavao is the nation's No. 144 overall prospect and No. 1 in the state of Nevada for the 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite. In 13 games as a junior last season, he was credited with 46 receptions for 718 yards and seven touchdowns to help Liberty to a state championship.
