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The Washington State Cougars made a big addition both literally and figuratively to their 2022 recruiting class when they announced the signing of defensive lineman Nusi Malani, a transfer from Virginia, on Wednesday.
Malani — who is 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds — comes to WSU with three years of eligibility and a redshirt remaining, but there surely is no plan for him to spend a year developing: Originally a member of the 2020 recruiting class, he played immediately for the Cavaliers as a true freshman in the Covid-disrupted season and played in eight games this past season.
WSU recruited Malani heavily out of Junipero Serra High School in San Bruno, California, where he was a mid-three star recruit. He took an official visit to Pullman but eventually signed with the Hoos over the Cougs, Arizona State, Nebraska, and Arizona. It’s probably notable that WSU’s new running backs coach, Mark Atuaia, spent the last six years on Bronco Mendenhall’s staff in Charlottesville.
Malani’s stats at Virginia won’t blow you away — just six career tackles in 15 games — but interior defensive linemen don’t typically rack up a bunch of stats. It’s also important to remember that he’s still young with developing to do. Size-wise, though, he seems to fit the mold of what head coach Jake Dickert looks for: As a former defensive end who has added 25 pounds since high school, he should be able to be disruptive from the inside and not simply a space eater.
Here’s a little bit of video of him at Virginia from WSU:
A big defensive lineman from California, @JuiceNus joins the Crimson and Gray after playing the past two seasons at the University of Virginia!
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 30, 2021
⬇️#GoCougs | #WA22UNITED https://t.co/qNLw0unPtw pic.twitter.com/6cQecKOORR
Malani, who will enroll in the spring semester and participate in spring practices, is the first defensive line recruit in the 2022 class and the 12th member overall. He’s the second transfer in the class, joining Nevada linebacker Daiyan Henley.
2022 WSU Football Commits
Player | Pos. | 247 Composite | Rating | Measurables | Commit Date | City | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos. | 247 Composite | Rating | Measurables | Commit Date | City | State | Comments |
Cameron Ward** | QB | ✯✯✯✯ | 0.9300 | 6-3/220 | 1/20/22 | West Columbia | TX | Transfer from UIW (4 to play 3), played under OC Eric Morris |
Andre Dollar** | TE | ✯✯✯ | 0.8817 | 6-6/230 | 12/14/21 | Mustang | OK | Flipped from Oregon, 23rd overall TE nationally |
Jordan Lee** | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8800 | 5-11/205 | 1/5/22 | Las Vegas | NV | Transfer from Nevada (1 to play 1) |
Taariq Al-Uqdah* | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8735 | 6-0/218 | 2/24/21 | South Central LA | CA | Selected to All-American Bowl, USC tried hard to flip |
Daiyan Henley** | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8700 | 6-2/220 | 12/20/21 | Los Angeles | CA | All-MWC grad transfer from Nevada (1 to play 1) |
Rashad McKenzie Jr.* | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8647 | 6-4/250 | 3/27/22 | Mission Hills | CA | Offered by Oregon, Arizona State, Nebraska |
Zeriah Beason* | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8614 | 6-0/195 | 4/20/22 | Duncanville | TX | Oregon State transfer (4 to play 3; HS rating listed) |
Djouvensky Schlenbaker** | RB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8607 | 6-0/220 | 6/28/21 | Bellingham | WA | Offers from UW, Cal, Colorado, Virginia Tech, Air Force |
Eric Wilder* | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8527 | 6-5/280 | 6/29/21 | Syracuse | UT | Offers from Cal, UCLA |
Nusi Malani** | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8500 | 6-6/275 | 12/29/21 | San Bruno | CA | Transfer from Virginia (4 to play 3) |
Javan Robinson* | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8464 | 5-11/175 | 10/10/21 | Apopka | FL | WSU only reporterd Power 5 offer |
Hudson Cedarland** | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8449 | 6-4/220 | 6/21/21 | Gig Harbor | WA | 247Sports rates him as a borderline 4-star |
Jakobus Seth* | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8445 | 6-4/280 | 6/28/21 | Lakewood | WA | Rated as a DL, also offered by OSU |
Jaylen Jenkins* | RB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8444 | 5-8/168 | 1/29/22 | Allen | TX | Also offered by numerous G5 schools |
Zack Miller* | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8405 | 6-7/308 | 1/21/22 | Orange | CA | Also offered by Colorado |
Leyton Smithson* | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8403 | 6-2/180 | 11/23/21 | Bellingham | WA | Rated as a WR, headed for safety |
Kendall Williams* | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8396 | 6-3/291 | 1/23/21 | San Diego | CA | Rated as a DL, headed for OL |
Tony Carter* | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8348 | 6-0/195 | 1/29/22 | Jacksonville | FL | Also offered by Maryland |
Bryce Grays* | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8248 | 5-11/190 | 11/17/21 | Richmond | TX | WSU only reporterd Power 5 offer |
David Johnson* | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8227 | 6-2/174 | 2/2/22 | Hooks | TX | Rated as a WR, headed for DB; flipped from UTSA |
John Mateer* | QB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8225 | 6-1/215 | 1/24/22 | Little Elm | TX | Previously committed to Central Arkansas |
Sam Lockett III** | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8171 | 6-1/205 | 12/15/21 | Spokane | WA | Two seasons at Utah State before JUCO (2 to play 2) |
Luke Roaten* | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8167 | 6-5/265 | 1/25/22 | Tomball | TX | Landon's twin, rated as DL, previously committed to Wyoming |
Landon Roaten* | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8148 | 6-5/285 | 1/25/22 | Tomball | TX | Luke's twin, previously committed to Louisana Tech |
Reece Sylvester* | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.7982 | 5-11/180 | 2/2/22 | Houston | TX | Offered by Rice and many FCS programs |
Colton Theaker* | K | N/A | 0.0000 | 6-3/185 | 3/30/22 | Arroyo Grande | CA | JUCO transfer, offered by Mississippi State (2 to play 2) |
Grant Stephens | OL | N/A | 0.0000 | 6-4/302 | 4/6/22 | Missouri City | TX | Grad transfer from FCS N. Colo., offers: Cal, Purdue, Arizona |
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