Husky Commit Bulabalavu Is Off to Torrid Pace, Piling Up Sacks

When the three-star defensive lineman committed to Washington in June, Ratumana Bulabalavu was an unknown prospect who had done nothing but produce at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California.

During his sophomore and junior seasons combined, Bulabalavu recorded 41.5 sacks and was honored as the Sunset League's Defensive Player of the Year following the latter.

Through the first four games of his senior campaign, he's showed no signs of slowing down. Bulabalavu has 12.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for a loss and a collective 31 tackles. It's evident why the Husky coaching staff is so high on Bulabalavu.

Army and Navy's coach Nehemiah Brunson called him a disruptive force who plays fluid and athletic in an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune.

247 Sports ranks Bulabalavu as the country's 906th overall prospect and, if he's able to maintain his pace of 3 sacks per game, he should continue to rise before signing day in December.

While Army and Navy has him listed as an edge rusher, Bulabalavu most likely will be asked to move inside at the college level.

“He has great speed with an excellent first step,” Brunson told the Union-Tribune. “And people say he has the frame to carry 30 pounds without losing a step.”

Bulabalavu is explosive off the snap and able to beat offensive linemen with both power and speed while playing at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds. Under the tutelage of UW strength coach Ron McKeefery, he could turn into an impactful pass rusher at defensive tackle while weighing in at closer to 290 pounds.

Defensive-line coach Inoke Breckterfield and edge-rusher coach Eric Schmidt have done an exemplary job of building Washington's defensive line class and getting Bulabalavu is a big part of it.

He probably won't play as a true freshman for the Huskies, but Bulabalavu has the potential to be a playmaker from the interior of the defensive line.

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