Class of 2018 DT Samuela Tuihalamaka Sets Official Visit

After losing the commitment of in-state defensive tackle Israel Antwine just a day before the early signing period in December, Oklahoma State’s top priority ahead of the February signing day was landing a defensive tackle to fill out its 2018 class.

The staff has been hot on the trail with two offers over the last two weeks including to Otito Ogbonnia to fill the spot, and the latest came on Sunday to an under-the-radar talent from California named Samuela Tuihalamaka.

Tuihalamaka is from Mater Dei in Cali and is ranked as a three-star prospect. Before Sunday, his only offers were from Howard, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Idaho State. So it’s no surprise that the OSU offer has already piqued his interest as he’s set an official visit for the weekend of Jan. 19.

“I hadn’t heard anything from them all year,” Tuihalamaka told 247Sports of the sudden OSU interest. “Then on Wednesday they reached out and said they liked my film. Beni Tonga is the coach recruiting me and they went ahead and put out the offer for me today.

“I set up an official visit for next weekend (Jan. 19) and I’m excited to get out there. I’ve been talking a lot with Cal too and they want to trip me in, I just have to take care of a few things first.”

Priority No. 1 with Tuihalamaka is making sure the kid can play at the highest level. So based off the offer Sunday, it seems he checks that box. Next up, though, is making darn sure he will qualify and arrive on campus. OSU doesn’t need to just fill a spot, they need someone who can come in, compete and develop as a young talent at DT alongside the likes of Brendon Evers and Cameron Murray.

The Jan. 19 visit will go a long ways in not only determining where OSU stands in his recruitment, but also where he might stand academically to make sure he’s a qualifier. But by the looks of it with the offer, it seems OSU feels he is up to snuff.