Naki Tuakoi Commits to Stanford University
The Stanford Cardinal secured an elite commitment last month with the signing of 4-star EDGE Naki Tuakoi. The Oakland native had been in high demand, receiving over 17 offers from top-ranked, up-and-coming programs like Notre Dame and Oklahoma, as well as highly competitive Pac-12 rivals USC, Arizona, Oregon and Utah. However, as the No.1 recruit in the San Francisco Bay Area and No. 29 recruit in California, per 247 Sports, he’s staying true to his roots with his decision to bring his talents to Palo Alto.
Standing at 6’4” and 230 lbs, Tuakoi’s rank as the No. 20 EDGE makes him a fearsome match for Stanford’s 2024 recruiting class. In his junior season at Fremont High School, Tuakoi’s raw athleticism and adaptive flexibility meant that he excelled across multiple positions, having played everything from defensive end to running back.
However, considering the combination of his imposing stature and sharp instinct, plus having been named to the Oakland Athletic League’s First Team as a linebacker, Stanford’s decision to recruit him as such makes him a deadly weapon for the Cardinal defense.
Tuakoi’s commitment was an explosive addition to a fiery streak in Stanford’s recruiting timeline, as they landed their three highest-ranked commits, including two other 4-stars, within a single week. Clocking in with the No. 9 recruiting class in the nation, as per 247 Sports, the Cardinal are certainly on the come up, and with Tuakoi on their team in 2024, they’re primed to become the kind of defensive powerhouse that wins championships.
