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Washington transfer Paki Finau participates during spring practice drills. March 10, 2026

Aaron Cornia, BYU Photo

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BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods runs a drill during practice in Provo on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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Establishing connections can play a big role in attracting top talent to any organization, and doing as much certainly played big in bringing Paki Finau to BYU.

Finau had just completed his second season in Washington and was looking to transfer after seeing action in 16 games over his first two years in Seattle. The 6-foot-5, 310 pound lineman, who is originally from Hesperia, Calif., had several trips scheduled although he made certain to make a trip out to BYU the first on his list, mostly due to who was coaching the offensive line.

“I established a really strong connection with TJ Woods when he was recruiting me to UNLV back when I was coming out of high school,” Finau related. “So when he showed interest after I decided  to transfer immediately made BYU the first team on my list. I knew BYU was the first school I wanted to visit and was really the top school, although I hadn’t yet made up my mind.”

Finau’s mind did arrive to the point where his mind was made up after spending just two days in Provo while establishing connections with the coaches and players currently within the program. And although he had other visits scheduled after, including one to Arizona State the week after his BYU visit, he decided to preempt all of them.

“There was really no reason to visit anywhere else,” Finau said. “I wanted to be straight up with all the other schools recruiting me, and didn’t want to lead anyone on or waste their time because I knew BYU was where I was going during my visit there. There was no doubt.”

Turns out Finau’s first impressions of BYU were validated almost immediately after his decision, and was made pretty apparent during the midway point of spring practices.

As offensive coaches began to mention Finau’s performance as being initially impressive, interview requests began to roll in from the media. Upon his first interview, around half of the offensive linemen on BYU’s roster made certain to stand around just off-camera, making faces and other antics in an effort to make Finau crack up, which he eventually did several times despite trying his best to retain a serious demeanor.

“Oh man, they all knew I was getting interviewed and they knew I was nervous,” Finau recalled. “So I knew it was coming, and man, I couldn’t keep from laughing. They got me. But that’s how it is. Those are my brothers and that’s the kind of things brothers do, you know?”

Indeed Finau has found that the initial connections he found on his initial visit to Provo have only grown stronger since he arrived as an official part of BYU’s program.

“I remember there was an early team activity where we were put in teams to compete for a dinner, and my team won,” Finau recalled. “I had just gotten here, so I didn’t really feel I should go to the dinner and all that, but I remember LJ Martin came right up to me and insisted that I go with them. And it was great. It made me feel part of all of it right away, and that’s how just about everyone is here.”

Fortunately for all involved, Finau’s play has matched his promise as a strong candidate to fill the starting left tackle position vacated by the graduation of Isaiah Jatta last season. Finau saw almost exclusive reps with the first-team offense throughout spring, and although he stands as a strong possibility to start the season, the competition is still very much open.

“I’m still battling and trying to earn my spot,” Finau said. “It’s definitely still a competition and I have to make sure I’m improving every day I’m out there.”

Finau’s chief competition is being provided by senior Trevin Ostler, although freshmen such as Bott Mulitalo and Siosiua Latu-Finau could rise up and be in the mix as well. Regardless of how the offensive line shakes out, Finau believes the group will prove a strong one come the start of the season.

“Having guys like Sonny (Makisini) right by me, and then Bruce (Mitchell) right next to him. And then you have Kyle (Sfarcioc) and Andrew (Gentry) — we’ve got some great players who all help me with their play and their knowledge,” Finau said. “They’ve all been a big help to me and they’re all my brothers.”