Alameda Ta'amu, the 6-foot-4, 330 pound four-star offensive guard from Rainer Beach High School in Seattle, Wash., now says there's a "70 percent" chance that he'll end up at Washington.
"They are doing way better than people thought they would," Ta'amu said. "They seem to be working together and just looking like a confident team. Coach Tyrone Willingham is a great coach and they've got some great leaders on the team."
Ta'amu, ranked the No. 6 offensive guard in the country by Scout.com, has already attended two Washington home games (against Boise State on Sept. 8 and Ohio State on Sept. 15), and says the Huskies are recruiting him the hardest. "They call weekly and I've gotten to know the coaches and players well because I've been to several of their games already."
The Huskies have always been in the lead for Ta'amu and his other favorites are now Hawaii and Oregon State. All three have offered and Ta'amu says he has about six total.
The only official visit that Ta'amu has set up is to Hawaii on Dec. 1, when the Warriors take on the Huskies. "I would be rooting for Washington because they are the local team, but I'll be on the visit for Hawaii, so I guess I'll be neutral," Ta'amu said. "Hawaii is a little far away, but they have a lot of Polynesians, so I think I'd feel at home there. When we fly to Samoa we've stopped in Hawaii before and it's a nice place."
Distance is a main reason why Oregon State has made Ta'amu's cut as well. "It's only like a one hour thirty minute plane flight," he said. "Plus, I like the offense at Oregon State too.
"I'd really like to stay on the West Coast and I'd prefer to stay close to home, so I can take care of my parents," Ta'amu said.
"I'll make my decision after my visit to Hawaii. I want to take my time and see how the season goes," he said. "I want a coaching staff that knows how to have fun, but it serious about football. I want coaches that really care about the team and about making their players better."
Rainer Beach is still winless (0-2), but hope to change that this week when they take on Nathan Hale High School (also from Seattle, Wash.)
He reports a 3.2 core GPA and a 1170 three-part SAT, which he will retake in the fall.