Coach Line Has a Unique Opportunity with Moala, Cumberland at Willamette H.S.

College football recruiting in 2025 can be insane—especially for a national recruiting program like Oregon—so having two of your top commitments playing their high school football in Eugene is a definite advantage.

Viliami Moala and Tony Cumberland have blazed a unique trail on their way into Dan Lanning’s program. The defensive line commitments left their home states of Utah and Arizona to finish their prep careers closer to their college home, Autzen Stadium. The two will be playing side by side at Willamette High School this fall, and their head coach knows exactly what it takes to get them ready for life at the University of Oregon, because he was a Duck himself. 

Josh Line played fullback for Oregon from 1999 to 2001, and although it’s been more than 20 years since he played under Mike Bellotti, he believes his Wolverine coaching staff have an opportunity to get Moala and Cumberland ready for life under Lanning. “From a development standpoint, my staff is uniquely qualified to help in this situation”, Line told me earlier this week. “Our ultimate goal when we talk as a staff in developing these two individuals is to make sure they can compete when they get there, we know how competitive that environment can be.”

Moala and Cumberland bring complementary skill sets to the future of the Oregon Ducks defensive line, combining power and speed in a way that should have the Ducks coaching staff eager to make the short 15-minute drive to Willamette on Friday nights this fall. “Both players have a high ceiling, but they’re slightly different types of athletes,” Line noted. “Viliami is a bigger guy who could play the three-technique, while Tony is more versatile—he can line up on the edge or move inside.”

Viliami Moala recently made a strong impression at an Under Armour camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, earning a spot on the roster for the upcoming Under Armour All-American Bowl. Although Moala is rated as a three-star prospect by the On3 Industry rankings, Line consistently praised his impressive strength and physical potential. “He’s incredibly strong for his age—what really stands out is his power,” Line said. “I think he’s a kid who’s going to surprise a lot of people. He definitely has the potential to see the field sooner rather than later.”

While Moala may still be flying under the radar, there’s no mistaking the impact Tony Cumberland is already making. A consensus four-star and Top 150 prospect across all major recruiting services, Cumberland’s explosive first step is a big part of what sets him apart. “Tony is one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen—his athleticism is off the charts,” Line said. “If he continues to work hard, which he has, he has the potential to become one of the top defensive linemen in the country. What really stands out about Tony is his speed and athleticism—he can go from zero to sixty as fast as anyone.”

At 6’4” and 285 pounds, Tony still has room to add some beef before making the short trip to campus in 2026. According to Line, that’s a key focus for Cumberland this offseason at Willamette. “He’s really committed to the weight room. He’s always been athletic, but he didn’t come to us with a lot of power,” Line explained. “He’s worked hard to develop that. Having the chance to train alongside Viliami has been a big plus—not just for Tony, but for both of them. They push each other, and it’s making a difference.”

Moala and Cumberland have demonstrated their commitment to the Ducks by making the unprecedented move to Eugene. With Richard Wesley also in the mix, the future of Oregon’s defensive line looks exceptionally bright.

My full interview with Josh Line from the latest That Show Out West can be seen below.