Esun Tafa, one of the top recruits in the 2026 class, has decided to decommit from the University of Washington (UW) and reopen his recruitment. The four-star offensive lineman from Draper, Utah, made the announcement on social media Wednesday, just days after UW’s offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll left the program. Tafa, who had initially committed to the Huskies on November 25, is now reconsidering his future in light of recent coaching changes within the program.
The decision comes on the heels of Carroll’s departure to join the Las Vegas Raiders, where he will reunite with his father, Pete Carroll. Tafa, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman, was a key part of UW’s early 2026 recruiting class, ranked as the No. 5 prospect in Utah and the No. 15 interior offensive lineman in the country. His decommitment has raised questions about how the change in coaching staff influenced his decision to reopen his recruitment.
Tafa’s decommitment also follows the Huskies’ promotion of Michael Switzer to offensive line coach and the hiring of Jimmie Dougherty as the new offensive coordinator. While these moves are part of UW’s attempt to move forward, it appears that the coaching changes led Tafa to reconsider his initial commitment to the program. His decision to step away from UW indicates that he may want to evaluate how these changes impact the team’s future direction and the development of his game.
The timing of Tafa’s decommitment is significant, coming after he had already visited UW tight ends coach Jordan Paopao on January 31. Despite his initial commitment to the Huskies, it seems that the instability brought on by Carroll’s departure made Tafa reassess his options, leaving the door open for other potential suitors to enter the recruitment process.
As Tafa reopens his recruitment, the 247Sports composite four-star prospect will undoubtedly attract attention from other major programs looking to secure one of the nation’s top offensive linemen. With his impressive physical attributes, including an 80-inch wingspan and advanced technique, Tafa is expected to be a highly sought-after recruit as he explores his options for the next phase of his football career.
