UW Recruiting- Offensive Line

After taking a huge class of seven offensive linemen last year, this year’s class is lagging behind with only two current commitments.  Expect that number to grow before signing day, but it just isn’t as good of a year for offensive linemen, it appears.

Offensive Line

Commits

Dexter Charles  6’5″ 270 lbs.  Stanwood HS (WA)

Siosifa Tufunga  6’3″ 288  Jordan HS (Long Beach, CA)

Possibilities

Paulay Asiata  6’5″ 290 lbs.  St. Louis HS (Hawaii)

Akeem Gonzales  6’4″ 250 lbs.  Bishop Alameny HS (CA)

Cyrus Hobbi  6’3″ 285 lbs.  Saguaro HS (AZ)

According to Scout.com, these are the only three uncommitted players at the position currently holding offers from UW.  Hobbi is the highest rated player, but also sounds like the least likely to be a Husky.  The rumors are that Asiata is leaning toward UW, which would be pretty big.  Getting the best lineman in Hawaii is usually a good way to go.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see someone else get offered late.  I imagine the Huskies would like to take at least four linemen in this class.  I would expect at least one more commit for sure, hopefully Asiata.

Overview

I won’t pretend to know anything about any of these players beyond their profiles on recruiting websites.  Charles and Tufunga are middling prospects in the ratings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a lot at this position.  It’s more about attitute and development.  This class doesn’t compare to last year’s, but not many do.  In that class of seven, Colin Porter and Erik Kohler already have starting experience and the other five are excellent prospects as well.  That big class does make it less important to take a lot of offensive linemen this year.  Still, two is a pretty low number.  If they can add Asiata, I’ll feel fine with it.  If they add one more to go with Asiata, it would be hard to be disappointed with this group.  There are also a number of other players in this class who could end up on the O line, such as DT’s Danny Shelton and Maataua Brown.  Interestingly, the best OL prospect in the class is TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who will only move to the line if he can’t keep his weight down enough to play tight end.

-Matthew