Oklahoma State Sees Commitment from Nuku Mafi

STILLWATER – He just got back home in Salt Lake City from the official visit to Stillwater and Oklahoma State this weekend and Salt Lake City West offensive tackle  Nuku Mafi has announced he is committed to the Cowboys. The 6-5, 295-pound standout for the Panthers had a lot of offers and that list was growing but like his teammate Semisi Tonga, Mafi cancelled visits to schools like Nebraska and Arizona and made his decision on OSU.

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Mafi’s Oklahoma State commitment announcement.

Mafi, who also plays some defensive tackle and has 20 total tackles and three sacks this season playing defense and his blocking has helped the Panthers average 237.4-yards rushing a game and protected quarterback I. Su'esu'e so he could average throwing for 276.7-yards a contest. The Panthers earned a bye in the Utah Class 5A State playeoffs and will play either Alta or Highland in the second round on Oct. 27.

Mafi had offers from the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, California, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington State. USC, Alabama, and Ohio State had all shown recent interest.

“I loved it. It was great,” Mafi said of the official visit this weekend. He was recruited by head coach Mike Gundy, offensive line coach Charlie Dickey, director of player development Beni Tonga and offensive line recruiting analyst Zach Allen. Mafi had his parents on the visit. 

“i love the players and they way they are connected. They have a great relationship with the team and the coaches,” Mafi added. 

Watch Mafi on video and you see a pretty mature offensive tackle that has a big frame and long arms. He is powerful and strong and also has good hips and torque so he often can twist his blocking target into the turf. It is impressive to watch. I have not been able to find an opponent on tape that matches him for strength, speed and quickness is about the only way to beat him and few have been able to get far with that approach. 

Mafi becomes the Cowboys 14^th commitment in the 2024 class and he is the third offensive lineman to go along with Caleb Hackleman from Texarkana Pleasant Grove in Texas and Chauncy Johnson from Lonoke, Ark.

It will be interesting to keep an eye on Mafi’s teammate in Semisi Tonga as he too visited officially and had a strong visit weekend.