Former Ohio State offensive lineman Enokk Vimahi commits to Washington
COLUMBUS — Enokk Vimahi is headed to the Pacific Northwest. The former Ohio State offensive lineman, who entered the transfer portal last month, committed to Washington Monday, according to Vimahi’s NIL management group.
Vimahi spent five years at Ohio State. His second career start came in last year’s Cotton Bowl against Missouri when the Buckeyes benched starting center Carson Hinzman. Right guard Matthew Jones slid over to the center, and Vimahi got the nod at right guard in AT&T Stadium.
The new-look Buckeyes offensive line struggled mightily. Ohio State’s quarterbacks were pressured on a combined 14-of-27 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, in the 14-3 loss. And the Buckeyes ran for only 56 yards on their 28 carries with five O-Linemen, per Sports Info Solutions.
Vimahi wasn’t the only reason why. But he didn’t make a case for why he should start in 2024, either, notably allowing two pressures in the defeat.
Vimahi was the No. 2 recruit in the state of Hawaii, and No. 120 overall prospect in the 2019 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was a four star coming out of Kahuku High and Intermediate School, which has produced several NFL players. Vimahi went on to play in the Army All-America Bowl and Polynesian Hall of Fame Bowl.
As a true freshman at Ohio State, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Vimahi appeared in three games before redshirting. The next year, in 2020, he logged only 20 offensive snaps, per PFF. He started to see more playing time in 2021, when he piled up 76 total snaps, playing 15 or more against four different opponents.
In 2022, he one-upped that snap total, surpassing the century mark for the first time in his Buckeyes career with 118 offensive snaps. He made his first career start against Michigan, while filling in for an injured Matthew Jones, but Josh Fryar ultimately took the bulk of the snaps at right guard that day.
Vimahi knocked on the scarlet and gray door of Ohio State’s starting offensive line, but when he got his foot in that door, he didn’t deliver convincing performances. Now he’s joining Washington, last year’s runner-up, for his final year of eligibility.
Except, the Huskies will look vastly different in 2024. For one, they have a new staff. But also they said goodbye to 10 eventual NFL Draft picks, not to mention their transfer portal departures. So Vimahi will have a chance to earn a spot up front in training camp and play more than he ever did with the Buckeyes.
Vimahi rounded out his Ohio State career with 375 offensive snaps, per PFF.
