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The most highly-rated recruit to sign with the Washington Huskies since Shaq Thompson is officially on his way to Montlake, as the Dawgs have received four-star defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele’s letter of intent to enroll at the University of Washington.
Faatui Tuitele is ALL DAWG.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) December 19, 2018
Washington welcomes DL @tuitele87 from Honolulu, Hawaii.#PURP1EREI9N pic.twitter.com/17jYcu0jBp
247 Sports lists Tuitele as the No. 46 prospect in the 2019 class, and has him ranked as the No. 4 defensive tackle. He committed to the Huskies over offers from college football powerhouses such as Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas and Ohio State, among many others. At 6-3 and 300 lbs., he brings a physicality that should allow him to go toe-to-toe with Pac-12 offensive linemen as a true freshmen if he sees the field in 2019. In November, 247 Sports recruiting analyst Blair Angulo called Tuitele “a versatile weapon for Chris Petersen and that defensive staff:”
He carries 300 pounds very well [and is] very athletic, very flexible. ... He’s just so strong at the point of attack. He has really quick feet. He uses his hands well. He has long arms. He’s flexible. He’s athletic. I think he’s got tremendous upside, and probably one of the highest upsides of any defensive-line prospect out west in this cycle.
Check out Tuitele’s junior year highlights below, and stick around UW Dawg Pound for more coverage of the early signing period throughout the day.