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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jamora UW’s new sack artist

Bob Condotta Seattle Times

SEATTLE – The similarities are so eerie, Hau’oli Jamora’s Washington teammates don’t even bother to try to be subtle about it.

Jamora, a freshman defensive end for the Huskies, is simply called “Daniel Te’o” by teammates because he reminds them so much of former Washington defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim.

“He doesn’t like it,” laughs defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu. “He takes it as a compliment with the way he plays, but he wants to be his own player.”

It hasn’t taken long for Jamora to make that happen.

Just seven games into his career, Jamora is emerging as the pass rusher off the edge the Huskies haven’t had since, well, Te’o-Nesheim graduated after last season.

When Te’o-Nesheim took his UW-record 30 career sacks to the NFL, even Huskies coaches wondered who would replace his production.

And for the first few games of this season, consistent pressure off the edge was sorely lacking.

But lately it’s been evident in increasing regularity.

Jamora had 1 1/2 sacks against the Oregon State Beavers, teaming with Cameron Elisara for a key second-down sack late in the third quarter after OSU had driven to the UW 5-yard-line. OSU QB Ryan Katz threw an interception on the next play as UW maintained a 21-21 tie.

“We are starting to come,” said UW defensive line coach Johnny Nansen. “Obviously we wanted it so much earlier, but I think they are starting to get comfortable, guys are starting to understand things better and we are not shuffling (personnel) so much and they are getting comfortable with their positions, and that’s the reason they are showing. Saturday was a good indication of what is to come.”

Especially from Jamora, who got his first start Saturday night in Tucson against Arizona, replacing Talia Crichton, who will be out 2-3 weeks with a knee injury.

Jamora, however, has already produced, ranking seventh on the team in tackles while rotating with Crichton.

“He’s coming faster than what I thought a freshman should come,” said Ta’amu. “He’s learning quick. He’s not playing like a freshman anymore.”

Nansen and UW defensive coordinator Nick Holt first saw Jamora – who attended Kahuku High in Laie, Hawaii – two years ago while initially scouting a different player.

“We were like, ‘who is that kid?’ ” Nansen said. “He stood out the way he outworked every other kid on the field. When we were there he was the first one on the field and the last one to leave.”