Husky Roster Review: No Longer the Biggest, Ale Looks for Bigger Role
As a University of Washington football player, he was known as M.J. Ale before he chose to answer to his given Samoan first name, Ulumoo.
At nearly 370 pounds, he was probably way too big to be his most effective.
As an offensive guard for four seasons, Ale likely was out of position.
Now after changing his name, his body shape and his Husky assignment, this big man from Tacoma by way of Australia and Samoa appears to have everything in order as he approaches his sixth and final college football year in Montlake.
With a full season behind him at defensive tackle, this streamlined 6-foot-6, 318-pound senior emerged from spring practice as optimistic as ever.
"I think it's a huge difference," Ale said of having a season behind him in the newer role. "There's so much movement in the defensive line, I've finally reached a point where it's second nature. It's less thinking and I can play a lot more faster. I'm excited."
Going down the roster from No. 0 to 99, Ale, who wears No. 68 all to himself, is next up in a series of profiles about each of the Huskies' scholarship players and assorted walk-ons, summing up their spring football performances and surmising what might come next for them.
SMALLER PLAYER, BIGGER DEAL
Ale represented the first big personnel change for Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff when it arrived, moving him from offense to defense.
He'd been a 10-game starter over two seasons at left guard on offense, but he'd stepped aside first for Julius Buelow and then Troy Fautana, who replaced him in the opening lineup at the beginning and the end of the 2021 schedule.
DeBoer and his coaches took one look at Ale and his natural massive frame and decided they could make much better use of him tackling people rather than blocking them.
Topping out at 368, he had become the second-heaviest player in the Pac-12. The new staff wanted him more nimble. During the recently completed spring ball, he was a noticeable 50 pounds lighter. He's the third-heaviest Husky behind Nate Kalepo at 323 and Elinneus Davis at 319, and one of 14 300-pounders on the UW roster.
Last fall, Ale appeared in 11 games on defense, starting once against Colorado. However, a sprained knee MCL earlier during 2022 spring ball really set him back and limited him from playing longer stretches and making more of an impact.
"The great thing about M.J. is he's moving the best since we've been here," co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said in March, choosing to call him by his nickname. "I'm just seeing him now at full strength. The other thing I'm seeing out of him is he's playing with a ton of confidence."
Again, that's a ton of confidence, not a ton of body weight as before.
ULUMOO ALE FILE
Service: The big man has appeared in 40 career games for the Huskies, and counts 11 starts, 10 on offense and one last season against Colorado on defense.
Stats: Ale, in his lone season on defense, came up with 11 tackles, one of which was tackle for loss against Oregon State, and he knocked down a pass against Kent State.
Role: The Huskies likely won't unseat either one of the returning starters, Tuli Letuligasenoa and Faatui Tuitele, but Ale easily could slip into the opening lineup if anyone ahead of him gets banged up or falls off some.
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