Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has quickly made his mark on the recruiting trail. On Thursday, three-star defensive lineman Tufanua Ionatana “TI” Umu-Cais, a standout from Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado, announced that he had received an offer from Walters, the former head coach at Purdue.
The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Umu-Cais is ranked as the nation’s No. 36 defensive lineman and the No. 2 player in Colorado. He has become a sought-after recruit, holding 22 offers from top programs such as Auburn, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and USC.
Umu-Cais is also the sixth-highest-ranked defensive tackle west of Texas, a position that has become increasingly difficult to recruit on the West Coast. Three of the five players ranked ahead of him have already committed to Oregon, making him a top target for Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch and his staff.
His game tape backs up his high ranking. Despite his size, Umu-Cais is an impressive mover. He has explosive power and speed off the line of scrimmage, often getting into the backfield quickly. He also demonstrates solid hand usage, and while he’s still developing a full repertoire of pass-rush moves from the interior, his technique suggests significant potential at the next level.
Washington’s coaching staff has done well recruiting edge rushers locally, but they’ll need to add a few impactful defensive tackles, and Umu-Cais is likely to become a top priority for the Huskies moving forward.
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