Cal Offensive Lineman Kahlee Tafai Finds What He's Looking For In Berkeley
The young offensive lineman bounced from Washington to Minnesota before landing in the best fit he could see for himself in Cal.
Kahlee Tafai has taken a winding road to Berkeley, but standing on the other side of it, the destination makes perfect sense.
“I’m back home, six hours away from LA, get to put on for one of the greatest states ever, in my opinion. Got a great coach and staff, got the O-line coaches that I’ve prayed for, and I’ve got it. My experience has been great.”
The academic standard at Cal carried its own weight in the transition.
“Cal, that’s what everybody dreams to come to, one of the top public schools in all of the world. The standard they have in the classroom, they hold on the field as well. It was difficult, but luckily I have a great coaching staff that won’t hold my hand, but will hold me accountable and walk me down the way.”
He actually lined up against some of his future teammates last season, when Minnesota traveled to face Cal. That game turned out to be more than just a game.
“The feeling was just surreal. I’m back home. I was in the Midwest, so you never imagine you’ll come to the west coast and play football again. It’s wild how life does a whole 360 and now I’m here.”
After the final whistle, Tafai went looking for Jayden Wayne, a former Washington teammate who had found his footing at Cal.
“I went up to Jayden Wayne because I had to go against him a couple times, and I was like, hey, man, how do you love it here? He’s like, I love it, this is everything I wanted. Jayden Wayne is a special person. He holds a special place in my heart. I don’t feel like I’d have the success that I had the season I started without him.”
Tristan Dunn, another former Washington teammate now playing safety for the Bears, made his presence known a little differently.
“Tristan surprised me from the back and pushed me, was roughhousing a little bit. That’s my guy. I watched Tristan from Washington work his way up, and now to see him get his opportunity at California, as a brother, that means everything to me.”
Cal had actually been recruiting Tafai for years before he finally arrived. His O-line coach Famika Anae had the receipts.
“When I stepped foot on campus, I scrolled all the way up and you just see a long text thread between me and him. He was like, you finally decided to come, and I’ve been texting you for two, three years now.”