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Oklahoma State recruiting: Family relents, gives Ofa Hautau blessing to sign with Cowboys

Hautau's family wanted the defensive tackle to stay close to home in Utah. But Hautau got his wish and will play football for Oklahoma State.

BY ANTHONY SLATER | Published: February 6, 2013 Comment on this article

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Good news for Hautau. Better news for the Cowboys.

With the family's blessing, OSU secured its third defensive tackle of the 2013 class, but maybe the one who's most suited to make an immediate impact.

Hautau was a 6-foot-1, 290-pound junior college brick wall.

“He's kind of a quiet, humble kid,” Snow College coach Scott Larsen said. “But the first thing you'll see on the football field is violence. He's so strong, rag-dolls people around. He'll stand out, with his hair waving out of his helmet and blowing up plays inside, making people say, ‘Who is that guy?'”

Gundy echoed that positive sentiment, seeming a bit relieved OSU was able to pry Hautau from his home state for a stint in Stillwater.

“When he visited here a couple weeks ago, he was convinced this was the school for him,” Gundy remembered. “It was just the matter of him breaking away for a couple of years from home. But he's a very physical, strong body to put inside. Has really good lateral movement and his motor runs well. Great personality. Will bring a lot to our team.”

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