How Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei is leading Washington Huskies’ resurgent run defense


Washington defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei prepares for a snap against Colorado State during a game on Aug. 30, 2025, in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson / AP)
By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter
For the first three seasons of his college football career, Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei has been unable to answer one simple question. What position does he play?
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive lineman spent three years at Arizona — including two playing for Jedd Fisch’s staff — trying to figure it out. According to Pro Football Focus, Uiagalelei played 1,197 snaps on the defensive line between 2022-24. Around half — 56.3% — were spent as an edge rusher lined up over or outside of an offensive tackle.
“He’s big enough to be a (three-technique defensive tackle),” UW defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said. “But he’s fluid, almost like an end.”
But this season, Uiagalelei’s first at Washington and his first with Walters, he finally has an answer. The Costa Mesa, Calif., native is — definitively — an interior defensive lineman. And the positional stability has helped him produce one of the most impactful seasons of his college career.
“I feel like a lot of stuff has been clicking,” he said. “Just been able to get comfortable out there, just really play my game.”
UW’s defensive line has assembled a strong first half of the season. Washington is allowing just 83.2 yards rushing per game this season, the No. 8 run defense in the country and behind only Iowa in the Big Ten. The Huskies (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) have surrendered just 3.12 yards per carry and only five touchdowns rushing through six games.
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Only No. 1 Ohio State and Rutgers have tallied more than 90 yards rushing against Washington this season.
It’s a far cry from their performance against the run a season ago. Washington, under former defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, ranked 87th nationally in run defense during the 2024 campaign after giving up 161.8 yards per game, 20 touchdowns rushing and 4.56 yards per carry.
Washington’s run defense has been particularly impressive the past two weeks. It held a pass-heavy Maryland team to just 55 yards rushing during the 24-20 win Oct. 4. The Terrapins virtually abandoned running the ball during the second half, preventing them from bleeding the clock and allowing the Huskies enough time to complete their improbable fourth-quarter comeback.
Rutgers seemed to solve UW’s rushing defense early after running back Antwan Raymond ripped off a 51-yard carry on the second play from scrimmage of the game.
“There were times during the game when I was as frustrated as I’ve ever been,” Walters said. “So there’s always room for improvement. The first run that got out, there were a couple mental errors on that play. It’s a routine play, so that’s frustrating. So yeah, there’s always room for improvement.”
But Washington’s defensive line stymied the Scarlet Knights rushing attack for the rest of the game. Outside of Raymond’s big run, Rutgers totaled 56 yards rushing on 26 carries — or 2.15 yards per attempt.
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Raymond, who had rushed for 161 yards against Minnesota during Rutgers’ most recent game before facing Washington, finished the game with 89 yards on 15 carries. Meaning he only averaged 2.43 yards on his 14 other attempts.
Speaking after the Maryland game, Fisch credited the defensive line’s depth as the key factor behind the unit’s resurgence. He added UW and Walters can now tailor their interior defensive line rotation to their opponents, something Washington was unable to do in 2024 because of a lack of contributors.
No matter the opponent, Uiagalelei has always been involved. He’s played 232 of the team’s 402 defensive snaps according to PFF, more than any other interior defensive lineman. He’s lined up over a tackle just 33 times and outside a tackle only seven times.
It’s the first time Uiagalelei has exclusively played one position during his four seasons of college football. At Arizona, under both Fisch and current coach Brent Brennan, Uiagalelei was praised for his versatility.
During the 2024 season, Uiagalelei played 279 snaps over or outside of an offensive tackle and 267 lined up in the A or B gaps, an almost even split. It led to his most statistically productive campaign. Uiagalelei made 35 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks — all career-high numbers.
But after transferring to UW to reunite with Fisch and defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi, Uiagalelei moved inside. Walters said the Huskies felt comfortable with an edge rusher rotation of fifth-year senior Zach Durfee, sixth-year senior Deshawn Lynch and juniors Isaiah Ward and Jacob Lane. Uiagalelei, Walters said, was the best option to slide over because of his physicality and skill set.
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“I felt comfortable embracing that challenge,” Uiagalelei said. “I already knew I had the tools and capabilities to go out there and play. I just had to show everybody.”
Through six games, Uiagalelei has 11 tackles including 2.5 for a loss. He registered his first sack of the season during the second quarter against Rutgers, bringing down quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis on third down inside the UW 20-yard line to force a field goal with 36 seconds before halftime.
His impact, however, has gone beyond the simple counting stats. Uiagalelei has enjoyed his best tackling season, missing just 15.4% of his attempts after being above 25% during his previous two seasons. Walters praised his consistency, and said Uiagalelei’s speed has been a good complement to the rest of the interior defensive line rotation.
“He’s got fast hands,” Walters said. “He’s got a natural hesitation move that allows him to transition from the run to the pass. Happy with the way he’s playing and how he’s producing.”
Most important, Uiagalelei has generated interior pressures. While UW’s run defense has been productive, its pass rush has been a mixed bag.
Washington ranks 72nd nationally in team sacks with 12 through six games. Walters said UW’s pass rush is trending in the right direction after registering three sacks against Rutgers, but Washington has missed Durfee, who led the team in pressures through four games, after he was sidelined by an elbow injury suffered against Ohio State Sept. 27.
Uiagalelei has quietly been one of UW’s best pass rushers since Durfee’s injury. He registered three pressures against Maryland, all hurries, and added three more against Rutgers, including one quarterback hit and another hurry along with his sack according to PFF. Uiagalelei currently ranks second on the team with 15 pressures this season, behind only Lane.
It’s a remarkably high number of pressures for a defensive tackle. Senior Anterio Thompson is second among UW interior defensive lineman with nine pressures this season. Uiagalelei ranks 16th nationally in pressures by defensive tackles. Akron’s Julien Laventure and Navy’s Landon Robinson currently lead the nation with 21, though Laventure has already played seven games.
Uiagalelei credited the preparation and game planning by Kaufusi, who is also the team’s run-game coordinator, and defensive quality control coach Korey Rush for putting him in the best positions to make an impact.
“All that preparation led to me playing more free,” he said. “Playing more comfortable. Playing my own game, but playing within the defense.”
Washington will need Uiagalelei at his best when it heads to Michigan for a 9 a.m. kickoff Saturday. The Wolverines (4-2, 2-1) are averaging 216.3 yards rushing per game, the No. 19 rushing offense in the nation. Running back Justice Haynes has 705 yards rushing this season, fifth among FBS tailbacks. Michigan has allowed only eight sacks all season.
“You know what you’re getting with Tai every day in practice,” Walters said. “What you’re going to get in the game. Just does a great job doing his job and using his skill set to his advantage.”
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes .com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.