In 2019, Washington signed its best recruiting class of the modern era. The backbone of that historic group — which featured several future stars who helped the Huskies reach the College Football Playoff championship game in 2023 — was built in Hawaii.
Three of the top five players in the state committed to the Huskies.
Enokk Vimahi wasn’t among them.
Vimahi — a 6-foot-4, 310-pound interior offensive lineman — was the No. 2 prospect in the state during the 2019 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports composite ranking. He signed with Ohio State and spent the next five years playing for the Buckeyes. On Monday, Vimahi announced he will transfer to join the Huskies according to a post by NILX Group, his NIL management group, on social media.
A highly touted four-star prospect out of high school, Vimahi prepped at Kahuku High School on the North Shore of Oahu. He was a teammate of former Washington linebacker Miki Ah You, who signed with the Huskies during the 2019 recruiting cycle.
Vimahi was the No. 7 interior offensive lineman and the No. 124 player in the country according to 247Sports industry-generated composite ratings. Only former Washington defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele was considered a higher-rated prospect in Hawaii, and 247Sports’ own rankings considered Vimahi the No. 1 player in the state above Tuitele.
His prep career at Kahuku landed attention from schools across the country. He took official visits to Oklahoma, USC and Notre Dame, but a late offer from Ohio State swayed Vimahi to choose the Buckeyes.
Vimahi played in two games as a true freshman before redshirting. He appeared five times during the COVID-impacted 2020 campaign, nine times in 2021 and played 12 games in 2022. Vimahi saw action in eight games during the 2023 season and started Ohio State’s 14-3 Cotton Bowl loss against Missouri. He entered the portal shortly before it closed on April 30.
Preparing for his sixth season of college football, Vimahi will likely compete for a starting position at one of the guard spots.
UW lost both of its starting guards from the past season to the same school. Right guard Nate Kalepo and left guard Julius Buelow — the No. 4 player in the state of Hawaii during the 2019 recruiting cycle — both departed for Ole Miss during the past season, despite helping Washington win the 2023 Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line unit in the country.
Without Kalepo and Buelow, Washington’s interior offensive line depth was tested during spring practices. UW was also missing sophomore Landen Hatchett, one of the front-runners to start at center in 2024, as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in December.
The Huskies mainly relied on true freshman early enrollees Paki Finau and Michael Watkins. Finau is a former four-star prospect who decided to stay at UW after initially committing to Kalen DeBoer’s staff after a brief stint in the transfer portal. Watkins committed to Jedd Fisch at Arizona and then transferred to UW in time for spring practices.
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai also got some time inside later in the spring, and junior Gaard Memmelaar is also an option as he recovers from a season-ending injury suffered before the 2023 season. UW landed a commitment from interior offensive lineman D’Angalo Titialii, too. He spent the past three seasons playing guard and center Portland State after starring at Eastside Catholic High School.
If Hatchett can return in time for the beginning of the season, which offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Brennan Carroll hinted at after practice on April 4, redshirt freshman Zachary Henning is also an option. He primarily played center during the spring, filling in for Hatchett.
One in, one out
Vimahi’s commitment to Washington coincided with the departure of offensive tackle Chris Adams, the former Old Dominion transfer who initially pledged to join the Huskies on Wednesday.
Adams posted a video on his Instagram account on Monday, announcing he was committing to Memphis. Vimahi’s arrival and Adams’ exit means Washington currently has 13 scholarship offensive linemen. Carroll has stated he’d ideally like to have around 15 scholarship offensive linemen before the 2024 season begins.
“Fully vested, Tigers nation!” Adams wrote in the post.
An experienced tackle who started all 13 games for Old Dominion in 2023, Adams was slated to compete for a starting tackle role. The Monarchs surrendered 62 sacks in 2023, more than any other Sun Belt team. However, Adams had more experience than any other offensive tackle currently on Washington’s roster.
Former San Diego State transfer Drew Azzopardi has six starts in the Mountain West to his name, while redshirt freshmen Soane Faasolo and Elishah Jackett did not appear for the Huskies in 2023. UW is also adding true freshman tackles Davit Boyajyan and Justin Hylkema but the group is lacking any real collegiate experience.
Adams’ departure to Memphis is curious, too. The Tigers play in the American Athletic Conference, not one of the Power Four. But Memphis also received a massive injection of NIL capital from FedEx, which promised to provide $5 million per year for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and other sports on April 19.
FedEx founder Fred Smith grew up in Memphis, Tenn. and the company is still based there.
Who can snap?
Questions about which offensive linemen can play center recurred throughout spring practices, but the Huskies have other questions about snapping, too.
UW lost starting long snapper Jaden Green, who declared for the NFL despite still having eligibility remaining. The Huskies landed his potential replacement Monday after receiving a commitment from Colorado transfer Cameron Warchuck.
The former Buffaloes long snapper handled all their special-teams snaps in 2023 and is entering his junior season with two years of eligibility remaining. Sophomore walk-on Caleb Johnston is the only other long snapper on the roster. He had a successful spring game with no errant snaps, but Warchuck offers a more-experienced player to compete at the position.
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