Offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai becomes Washington's 19th 2023 commit
Washington has put together one productive summer on the recruiting trail. The latest addition to the class came as more of a surprise than the other recent commitments, but he is another important pickup for Kalen DeBoer and the Huskies. California offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai is headed to Seattle next year announcing his pledge to UW on Wednesday.
The three-star offensive lineman from Lawndale-Leuzinger took official visits to Oregon State and Arizona in June, but an unofficial visit to UW in the spring left a lasting impression on him. He had plans to take leave his last official visit open for the Huskies no matter what happened in his recruitment, but ultimately decided to make his choice now over waiting any longer.
Throughout the process Tafai has been able to build a connection with offensive line coach Scott Huff in addition to director of player personnel Courtney Morgan. Those two relationships helped pave the way for his commitment Wednesday evening.
“My relationship with them is amazing,” he said. “Coach Scott Huff and Courtney Morgan have been heavy with their recruiting when it comes to me. When I say heavy, I mean I call them, they call me to check up on me. I sent coach Huff some video of my 5v5s, and he’s already helping me with the things I need to fix up and planning what it would look like for me to be there. Who I’d be working with.”
Tafai’s relationship with DeBoer goes back to Fresno State where the two crossed paths creating the initial connection for both the future UW offensive lineman and the current Huskies head coach.
“Coach DeBoer, I met him at Fresno one time at the Fresno camp. He liked the way I looked then, and he loves the way I look now,” Tafai said. “For a head coach to be active in your recruiting that’s something big. That lets you know how much they really want you, and coach DeBoer has been really big in my recruiting.”
Arizona and Oregon State both left a strong impression on Tafai after his official visits to both schools. He raved about both trips, but what he was ultimately looking for in his future college he was able to find at UW.
Some other connections helped Tafai build his positive impression of the Huskies after hearing about the program from cornerback Elijah Jackson. Both Jackson and fellow defensive back Makell Esteen are from Lawndale giving Tafai some more insight into the program from the perspective of players who know his own path.
“For me, I stress to every coach and every recruiter that I’m not big on logos or facilities,” he said. “I’m really big on loyalty, family and development. Usually I say love, but family is really what I’m big on because if you truly love me and are willing to develop me the way you say you are, I’ll do anything for you. That’s both on and off the field. I get that vibe from them.
“Especially spending time with EJ, who’s from Lawndale. He gave me the truth about that place. They’re building that sense of family and really trying to lock in the family-oriented look and vibe.”
Tafai already has familiarity with the Huskies and UW’s campus, but he still is eager to see what a game day looks like on Montlake. He will now use an official visit on a return trip to Seattle this fall giving him that opportunity.
“I wanna see them in a game atmosphere, because I’ve taken an unofficial without the football and everything,” he said. “I wanna see what they’re like during football season. I wanna see what they’ve built so far. I wanna see what how far they’ve come to know what I’m gonna be a part of.”
Tafai is now the 19th commitment in the 2023 class for the Huskies and the 15th since June 20. UW now ranks 19th overall in the Rivals team recruiting rankings and only trail USC in the Pac-12 recruiting rankings as the Huskies have moved ahead of Oregon with their recent pickups.
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