The Oregon Ducks start the 2024 season Aug. 31 at home against Idaho. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Ducks whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.

Today, No. 45: Defensive lineman Matt Toeaina.

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Matt Toeaina

Bio: The Ducks recruited Toeaina out of Samoana High School. At UO, he became a three-year starter.

Key statistics: Toeaina redshirted in 2002, played in 13 games the following season, and once again operated as a backup in 2004.

Toeaina became a full-time starter in 2005 when the Ducks went 10-2.

At defensive tackle, he had 30 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss, and three sacks while playing next to Haloti Ngata. Toeaina also broke up four passes, second on the team.

As a senior, Toeaina had 36 tackles with three for loss.

NFL: The Cincinnati Bengals selected Toeaina in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He ended up playing six seasons with the Chicago Bears, appearing in 36 games with 24 starts.

PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS

No. 46: Linebacker Michael Clay

No. 47: Linebacker Kiko Alonso

No. 48: DL Saul Patu and LB Rodney Hardrick

No. 49: Defensive end Nick Reed

No. 50: Defensive tackle Popo Aumavae

No. 51: Offensive lineman Jeff Kendall

No. 52: Linebacker Tom Graham

No. 53: Defensive lineman Igor Olshansky

No. 54: Three champion linemen

No. 55: Centers Hroniss Grasu and Jake Hanson, plus linebacker Casey Matthews

No. 56: Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman

No. 57: OL George Dames and 1957 Rose Bowl team

No. 58: Defensive end Kenny Rowe and center Jackson Powers-Johnson

No. 59: Offensive lineman Ian Reynoso

No. 60: Center Max Unger

No. 61: Lineman Steve Barnett

No. 62: Offensive lineman Matt Pierson

No. 63: Defensive lineman Vince Goldsmith

No. 64: Lineman Dave Wilcox

No. 65: Offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius

No. 66: Defensive lineman Taylor Hart

No. 67: Offensive lineman Jack Patera

No. 68: Offensive lineman Shane Lemieux

No. 69: Offensive lineman Bo Thran

No. 70: Fullback Bob Sanders

No. 71: Offensive linemen Mark Lewis and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

No. 72: Offensive lineman Adam Snyder

No. 73: Offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby

No. 74: Offensive linemen Kyle Long and Tom Drougas

No. 75: Offensive tackle Jake Fisher

No. 76: Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr

No. 77: Offensive lineman Carson York

No. 78: Offensive linemen Alex Forsyth and Cameron Hunt

No. 79: Mark Asper, offensive line

No. 80: Wide receivers Lavasier Tuinei, Greg Moser and Ray Palm

No. 81: Wide receiver Bob Newland

No. 82: Wide receiver Lew Barnes and tight end Blake Spence

No. 83: Tight end Ed Dickson and wide receiver Patrick Johnson

No. 84: Tight end Justin Peelle, linebacker Anthony Trucks, and Cam McCormick

No. 85: Pharaoh Brown, Tim Day and Matt Evensen.

No. 86: Wide receiver Paul Burleson.

No. 87: Wide receiver Greg Specht

No. 88: Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford and defensive lineman Brandon Bair

No. 89: This team ended a 25-year drought

No. 90: Tight end Josh Wilcox and defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg