4/4/2022 football Edit

Virginia transfer RB Wayne Taulapapa commits to Washington

Wayne Taulapapa is set to playing his final season at Washington after four years at Virginia where he rushed for nearly 1,200 yards in his career. (Lynne Sladky | Associated Press)

Matt Moreno • TheDawgReport

Recruiting Analyst

Matt began his career at Rivals in 2011 as recruiting editor and then publisher for Arizona affiliate, GOAZCATS.com. In 2022, he moved into an expanded role covering Pac-12 recruiting for Rivals.

Washington continues to add new pieces to the roster under head coach Kalen DeBoer. The latest addition for the Huskes comes from clear across the country as Virginia running back and 2021 team captain Wayne Taulapapa announced his decision to transfer to UW on Monday.

The graduate transfer back and Hawaii native rushed for 324 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 62 carries for the Cavaliers last year. Taulapapa also caught 11 passes for 62 yards receiving and his first career touchdown catch in the 2021 season.

The 5-foot-9, 200-pound running back played in 40 games while in Charlottesville with 27 starts under his belt. In all, he rushed for 1,192 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns during his time at UVA.

His best season came in 2019 when he finished the year with a career-best 473 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

The former Punahou High School standout was the first commit to come aboard at Virginia when former head coach Bronco Mendenhall arrived in Charlottesville. In that time Taulapapa became an important piece to the team and eventually served as one of four captains for the Cavaliers last season.

A member of the LDS Church who served his two-year mission in Nicaragua and was once committed to BYU, Taulapapa announced his plans to leave UVA in December after Mendenhall stepped down as the program's head coach after six seasons.

Taulapapa is the latest notable transfer to join the UW program since DeBoer and his staff took over in Seattle. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (Indiana), receiver Lonyatta Alexander (Arizona State) and linebacker Cam Bright (Pittsburgh) are some of the other notable additions the Huskies have made this offseason.