Voi Tunuufi has been a revelation for the Washington Huskies in many ways during the 2024 season. Even though the senior defensive lineman has always been a reliable source of havoc in the backfield of opposing offenses, he’s taken it to a new level under defensive coordinator Steve Belichick.
He’s also filled in on the offensive side when needed, setting the tone for the Huskies as a fullback. On Monday, Jedd Fisch awarded him with Washington’s highest postgame honor, naming him the team’s Dawg of the Week.
“It’s somebody that represents this program on and off the field,” Fisch said earlier in the season. “Somebody that has done an incredible job at coming in every day and acting like a pro, behaving like a pro, and preparing like a pro. When we talk about it with our guys and when you get that award, it means you’ve done things outside of the game and inside the playing field.”
That perfectly encapsulates the always enthusiastic Tunuufi, who, when interacting with him outside of the lines, is a respectful personality, always willing to greet you with a fist bump and ask you how your day’s going. But once he steps inside the lines, he turns into a different person.
Against USC, Tunuufi tallied 5 tackles in Washington’s 26-21 win and added 2 pressures on quarterback Miller Moss while lining up in his signature spot along the defensive line, everywhere. He also displayed the toughness that Jedd Fisch said defined his team’s victory.
Early in the game, it looked like Tunuufi might’ve been shaken up after colliding with fellow pass rusher Isaiah Ward while pressuring Moss, but he was able to remain in the game. He has been one of the biggest benefactors of Belichick’s new scheme and has been a vital contributor along Washington’s defensive front all season long, totaling 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2024.
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