Ulumoo Ale Has Changed Coaches, Position, Body and Husky Starting Lineup

Ulumoo Ale is a University of Washington football player with such an interesting given name, he sent his nickname (M.J.) to the sidelines.

He played offense for one coaching staff and now takes his turn on defense for another.

With the season opener a week away, Ale looks to be a new starter for the Huskies at defensive tackle — and the only one who will supplant a previous first-teamer, in this case 18-game career first-teamer Faatui Tuitele. 

Where once he was the Pac-12's second-heaviest player topping 370 pounds, Ale now carries a svelte and taunt 318 on his 6-foot-6 frame.

Somewhat discarded by the Jimmy Lake staff, this sixth-year senior and former offensive guard has been re-energized and reused by Kalen DeBoer's coaches, made to feel wanted and inspired, as if he can do anything.

While his can-do mindset is hardly exclusive to him on this Husky team, and ultimate goals such as a national championship run are shared out loud by many, when Ale makes up his mind to do something, you have to pay attention.

"It really comes down to us," Ale said. "I think we really could go all the way if we wanted to."

He was speaking about a national championship, a heady goal, but something that is not that outlandish of an idea should this man mountain effectively jam up the trenches along with sixth-year senior Tuli Letuligasenoa.

"It's starts with M.J. and Tuli," UW co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said. "I think those guys are going to be as solid as any two defensive tackles in the league. I'm really proud of M.J.'s growth — he's really become a problem."

A year ago, Ale was dealing with the change to defense and a knee injury that turned Dempsey Indoor deathly quiet when he went down in a heap with a yelp, was carted out but ultimately didn't require surgery.

This month, Ale has been a continuous presence with the No. 1 defense, playing ahead of Tuitele. While program newcomers have claimed open jobs and newly healthy veterans have reclaimed old positions, Ale stands to be the only one of the nine new starters this fall who will replace a returning first-teamer such as Tuitele. Either way, both of those defensive tackles are going to play a lot.

"He could be a massive asset for us," Morrell said of Ale. 

Size has never been a problem for Ale, only getting the most out of it has come in fits and starts, especially when he was a 10-game starter on offense over two seasons.. 

"It was just going to take time with him," DeBoer said of Ale's crossover to defense. "He's a guy who can wreak havoc up front."

While more than 50 pounds lighter, Ale still looks huge. The native Samoan by way of Australia and Tacoma, Washington, physically has all of the ingredients to be an overly disruptive player on the defensive line.

Add to that his willingness to adhere to a total transformation in his football world — a name change, coaching change, position change and body remake — makes anything seem possible. Even championship pursuits. 

"It's going to be a daily battle," Ale said. "You have to show up every day. DeBoer constantly reminds us of that. You have to put in the work. When you do that, maybe you can see the outcome that you want."

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