The Washington Huskies are officially in the mix for a top 2026 recruit in the state of Utah.
Offensive lineman Esun Tafa, the No. 5 player in the state in 2026 and a four-star recruit in the 247Sports rankings, named the Huskies to his top five schools on Wednesday. The Corner Canyon High School star also included Oregon, Miami, Utah, and BYU on his shortlist.
Tafa stood out over the summer at Utah’s Under Armour Next Camp while working at right tackle, but most recruiting analysts think the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder will move to the inside in college. With a wingspan reportedly nearing 80 inches, however, it’s possible that he could stick on the outside for a team in need of tackle help.
The current high school junior was among Washington’s visitors for a big upset win over Michigan earlier this year but has also seen Oregon beat Ohio State and Texas A&M close out LSU in recent weeks.
He fits Washington’s profile on the line, as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Brennan Carroll has emphasized versatility and size in the trenches so far on Montlake. Most of the Huskies’ offensive linemen are in the 320-pound range, which Tafa could easily get to with a college strength and conditioning program, and can play at least two positions.
A plan similar to that of freshman Paki Finau, who took first-team reps at guard in the spring but has been mentioned as an option at tackle due to injuries, could be in the cards for Tafa as well.
Tafa would be the first recruit from Utah to commit to Jedd Fisch at Washington and just the third commitment in the 2026 class, with running back Ansu Sanoe and kicker CJ Wallace already in the fold.