Popo Aumavae has not played this season, but Oregon is confident the sixth-year defensive lineman will get a seventh year from the NCAA if he applies for one.

During his Monday evening press conference, head coach Dan Lanning hinted that not only would the Ducks feel confident in receiving a waiver from the NCAA, but that Aumavae is leaning toward taking that route and trying to return for a seventh season.

“I know Popo wants to and I know we certainly want him to back. We feel very confident that he is going to be able to do that,” Lanning said.

The 6-foot-3 defensive tackle enjoyed a breakout season for the Ducks in his fifth year with the program in 2021, playing in 13 of Oregon’s 14 games. He posted a career-high 36 tackles and three tackles for loss on his way to being named a First Team All-Pac-12 performer by the AP and Pro Football Focus. He was an honorable mention selection from the league coaches as well.

Aumavae led all Pac-12 interior defensive linemen last season with an 81.3 overall defensive grade from PFF.

Lanning announced in early September that an injury would sideline Aumavae for the entire season. He’d missed the spring recovering from an injury that kept him out to end the 2021 season as well.

Oregon has enjoyed a veteran offensive line this season. Next year, the Ducks could see the same kind of strength on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Brandon Dorlus, Taki Taimani, Keyon Hudson-Ware, and Treven Ma’ae are all eligible to return next year as well, so adding Aumavae to the group could mean good things for Lanning and his staff.