Edge rusher Jayden Wayne is a great fit for Washington’s defense

The Washington Huskies have an exciting talent on their hands in sophomore edge rusher Jayden Wayne.

When Jayden Wayne committed to Washington out of the transfer portal in April, it was a big win for coach Jedd Fisch. With a room full of inexperienced edge rushers fighting for a spot in the rotation, Fisch has put the perfect coaching staff in place to help all of them, especially Wayne, thrive.

The former top 100 recruit was one of the most sought-after prospects on the West Coast during his time at Lincoln High School in Tacoma thanks to his 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame and high-end athleticism before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year.

Wayne committed to coach Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes, where he played in 8 games during his first year on campus, starting 1, and recording 13 tackles. When he entered the transfer portal, it seemed like he would have a lot of schools vying for his services after collecting 42 offers out of high school.

After taking an official visit to his hometown school on April 26, he decided to return to Seattle just four days later.

The former four-star recruit still has room to add weight to his frame while retaining the athleticism that makes him such an exciting prospect on the defensive line. If he can play around 260 pounds he could become a three-down defender in defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s scheme as it would allow him to become a strong edge-setter in the Big Ten.

That weight would also allow him to shift further inside when needed, as far down as a 4i alignment which would add to his value as a pass rusher. His long arms and good bend off the edge will play well against tackles, but if he can continue to add power to his repertoire, he could be a threat on the interior at times too after spending some time with defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi.

As he continues to add pass rush moves and counters to his arsenal, Wayne has as high of a ceiling as any edge rusher on the roster and possibly even in the Big Ten. With so much unproven talent in the rotation, he will have an opportunity to establish himself on the depth chart during fall camp, and with his talent combined with Belichick’s scheme and Kaufusi’s coaching ability, Wayne could become the next homegrown star in Seattle.