ASU football gets commit from JUCO DL Kirtland Vakalahi for growing 2026 class

JUCO defensive lineman Kirtland Vakalahi has committed to Arizona State football for the 2026 season, the player announced via X on Saturday.

The 6-foot-5 and 260-pound native of Australia played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute and had visited ASU on Nov. 14 after being offered a scholarship on Oct. 22, according to 247 Sports.

Vakalahi also logged campus visits to Cal on Friday and Utah on Nov. 21 before officially announcing his commitment to being a Sun Devil.

All Glory to God.
Activate the Valley! pic.twitter.com/SQug1bfivl

— Kirtland Vakalahi (@k_vakalahi) November 30, 2025

He racked up 35 total tackles (13 solos) in 15 games for the Broncos.

The DL was ranked by 247 Sports as the third-best in JUCO at his position and the eight-best overall JUCO player.

Vakahali upped the ASU 2026 commitments to 19 so far, as he joined two other defensive lineman in Oklahoma Santa Fe High School’s Landen Anderson (Oct. 12) and Waco University’s Ronald Derrick (June 8).

These players will be filling a coming need, as ASU is graduating most of its regular rotating defensive ends in Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah, Elijah O’Neal and Justin Wodtly.

The Sun Devils’ current commit class is ranked No. 37 by 247 Sports and No. 38 by Rivals.

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