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3-star TE Kekua Aumua flips from Florida to Washington

IMG_6615by: Blake Alderman5 hours agoBlake_Alderman

The Florida Gators landed a commitment from Kahuku (Hawaii) 3-star tight end Kekua Aumua back in early June. However, things were much different at that time. Aumua was playing high school ball in the Sunshine State at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, and Billy Napier was the head coach in Gainesville. Since then, Aumua transferred back to his home state of Hawaii to play his senior season, and the Gators have moved on from Napier and replaced him with new head coach Jon Sumrall. While UF’s next coach was in limbo, Aumua made official visits to Washington and Auburn, and had a final decision to make during the December Signing Period. That decision came on Friday, with Kekua Aumua flipping his pledge from Florida to Washington.

Aumua’s commitment to Florida has been shaky for months

Florida’s coaching change opened the door for other programs to sway Kekua Aumua away. The Huskies hosted Aumua back in October shortly after Napier’s dismissal. At that time, the wheels started to turn for Washington to eventually get him. An offer from Auburn in September eventually led to the Tigers getting an official visit for the Iron Bowl last month, but they also went through a coaching change.

Washington’s staff has remained intact, and Aumua has a good connection with their tight end coach, Jordan Paopao.

“I had a great visit there,” Aumua said of his time in Seattle. “I’ve been before, but this time my family was able to come out there with me, so I really enjoyed that. 

“I have a good relationship with coach Paopao, and he has developed a lot of really good tight ends. They’re recruiting me hard.”

The loss of Kekua Aumua puts UF at 18 commitments

With Kekua Aumua electing to open the process back up, the Florida Gators sit with 18 verbal commitments in the 2026 class.

Florida’s class is now made up of Frisco (Texas) Lone Star 4-star WR Davian Groce, Tupelo (Miss.) 4-star Edge JaReylan McCoy, Fort Myers (Fla.) 4-star defensive lineman Kendall Guervil, Winter Garden (Fla.) Windermere 4-star cornerback CJ Bronaugh, Duncanville (Texas) 4-star edge Kevin Ford, Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington 4-star WR Marquez Daniel, Brunswick (Ga.) 4-star TE Heze Kent, Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz 4-star WR Justin Williams, Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington 4-star S Dylan Purter, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit 4-star quarterback Will Griffin, Lakeland (Fla.) 4-star LB Malik Morris, Milton (Fla.) 4-star S Kaiden Hall, Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding 4-star OL Tyler Chukuyem, Cocoa (Fla.) 4-star CB CJ Hester, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 3-star IOL G’Nivre Carr, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood 3-star OT Chancellor Campbell, Saint Stephen (S.C.) Timberland 3-star IOL Desmond Green, and Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Central 3-star OL Javarii Luckas.

The Rivals Industry, a weighted average of the three major recruiting services, ranks Kekua Aumua as the nation’s No. 924 overall player.

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