The Washington Huskies lost a few key pieces of depth along the offensive line to the transfer portal, including redshirt sophomore Paki Finau, who made his way to the BYU Cougars.
Now, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound former four-star recruit, who played in 16 games at Washington between left guard and right tackle, appears in line to start at left tackle for the Cougars as coach Kalani Sitake tries to retool his offensive line. According to Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon, he’s also one of the nation’s most underrated transfers ahead of the 2026 season.
“Those guys are going to be big pieces on this offensive line this year,” senior offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell said of Finau and BYU’s two other offensive line transfers during spring practice.
Aaron Roderick on Paki Finau potentially starting at LT
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“We lost some key starters last year. Everybody is still fighting for a spot at this point. They’ve already been up in the film room, learning the offense. They are right on track to see some major playing time this year.”
Finau, who spent the majority of spring and fall camp in a competition for the starting left guard spot with eventual Freshman All-American John Mills, filled in admirably when his number was called, playing in 12 games during the 2025 season with four starts. He may have been able to battle for a starting job on Montlake, but with the return of Drew Azzopardi at right tackle, which kept Mills on the inside, and the additions of freshman Kodi Greene and Sam Houston State transfer Kolt Dieterich to battle at left tackle, Finau would have been in a heated battle for snaps yet again.
The product of Oak Hills High School in California is one of two depth pieces along the offensive line that left Washington during the offseason for playing time, with center Zach Henning, who started four games last season, also departing for the Big 12, making his way to Arizona.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington Huskies OL named among top underrated transfers
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