UW defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe has been recruiting Voi Tunuufi since the East High School defensive lineman was a freshman with zero scholarship offers.

At the time Malloe was entering his third season as the Huskies defensive line coach. Over the next couple of recruiting classes Washington signed two of Tunuufi’s teammates at East, three-star rush-end Jordan Lolohea and four-star defensive lineman Sam Taimani.

With a strong relationship established on several fronts Malloe came to Tunuufi recently with a proposal. Based on the scholarship numbers for the 2021 recruiting class and UW recently adding a commitment from three-star Kamehameha HS defensive tackle Kuao Peihopa there was room for one more spot.

The Huskies made it clear they wanted Tunuufi in the fold and sought a decision from the three-star product out of Utah. He sat on the deal for five days before informing head coach Jimmy Lake on Sunday that he had made his decision to commit to UW.

“I had a lot of time, a few days, to think the decision over and at the end of the day it was a no brainer,” Tunuufi told TheDawgReport Sunday night after tweeting out his decision.

UW was one of the first schools to offer the three-star product out of Salt Lake City, Utah back in May 2019. Shortly thereafter Nebraska, LSU, Wisconsin and several other Power Five programs joined the list for Tunuufi.

However, the Huskies had their eye on Tunuufi long before the offer finally came through last year. Malloe first noticed a three-star East product during a spring practice when the UW assistant was out on the recruiting trail back in 2018.

Prior to Malloe’s arrival that spring he had already become well versed on campus at East High School. UW signed four-star two-way lineman Sam (Taki) Taimani in the 2018 class and three-star rush-end Jordan Lolohea in the previous classs.

Taimani appeared in all 13 games for Washington last season after playing in just one as a true freshman. Lolohea enrolled this January at the school after serving a two-year mission in Detroit, Michigan.

While Tunuufi only had the opportunity to play with Taimani in high school he noted that it also played a factor in his decision to choose UW.

“They were just telling me how the team is like a family and how the bond with their teammates were crazy strong,” he said. “For me, that’s something I want to be a part of. That’s something that’s real and has real love with coaches like Ikaika.”

UW moved up seven spots in the Rivals’ team rankings with the addition of Tunuufi to the 2021 class, up to No. 25 with five verbal commitments. While ranked a defensive end the three-star recruit said the main strength to his game is versatility.

“I don’t have a preference. I kind of like the 3-technique on the inside. But I can play both,” Tunuufi said. “I can be on the line. I can most likely play linebacker if it comes down to it. It’s something I’m truly blessed with and I’m grateful for the ability I’m blessed with.”

Tunuufi is ranked as the No. 2 prospect from the state of Utah in the 2021 class by Rivals and the No. 18 ranked defensive end.