BYU Cougars bolster offensive line with transfer Paki Finau

Paki Finau, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman formerly of the Washington Huskies, has transferred to the BYU Cougars ahead of the 2026 college football season. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound player has been identified by Bleacher Report as one of the nation’s most underrated transfers, a designation that underscores his potential impact on BYU’s offensive line under head coach Kalani Sitake.

Finau is expected to compete for the starting left tackle position at BYU. His arrival coincides with a period of retooling for the Cougars’ offensive line, a unit that lost key starters in the previous season. Senior offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell highlighted Finau and two other incoming offensive line transfers as significant additions during spring practice, noting that they are already integrated into the film room and learning the offence.

During his tenure at Washington, Finau appeared in 16 games, splitting time between left guard and right tackle. He made four starts during the 2025 season, filling in admirably when called upon. His departure from the Huskies was driven by intense competition for playing time, including a battle for the starting left guard spot with John Mills and potential competition at left tackle from Kodi Greene and Kolt Dieterich.

Finau is not the only Washington offensive lineman to enter the transfer portal recently. Fellow offensive lineman Zach Henning, who started four games last season, has moved to the University of Arizona. The departures of both players represent a loss of depth for Washington, while providing BYU with experienced personnel to strengthen their line.

While projections suggest Finau will start at left tackle, this is based on spring practice performance and Sitake’s current plans. The final roster for the 2026 season remains unconfirmed, though Mitchell indicated that the transfers are on track to see major playing time this year. Finau, a four-star recruit from Oak Hills High School in California, brings a history of reliable performance to his new team.