Led by head coach Jedd Fisch, the Washington Huskies have scored some in-season commitments at the start of the year, most recently from North Dakota offensive lineman Jack Shaffer, who flipped his pledge from Iowa State.
Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and Washington’s entire staff have long been interested in four-star safety Ladarian Clardy, who will announce his commitment on Saturday, September 21.
Clardy, a product of Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida, and the nation’s No. 15 safety according to 247Sports, is being pursued by high-power programs Ole Miss, Florida State, and LSU ahead of his decision.
Like with four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh, Washington will need a major push to the finish as the staff looks to earn a pledge from the 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back.
The Huskies are hoping that if Clardy commits, he can roam the backend of the defense with ease, something he has done with great success at the high school level. He is an exceptional athlete with great short-area explosiveness, and his ability to break on the ball in an instant could be a great addition to the roster.
Clardy routinely displayed his receiver background, picking off four passes as a junior and hauling in four touchdowns on offense. His ability to high-point passes and make catches through aggressive contact will serve him well on the defensive side of the ball.
As a smaller safety, Clardy has done a good job playing bigger than his size to this point, but at the college level, things may get a bit tougher for him as he adds weight to his frame.
His tackling does leave something to be desired at this point, as he doesn’t always take the best angles, and the all-or-nothing approach he tends to employ will frustrate coaches if he starts missing key tackles as the final line of defense.
Belichick could see Clardy playing the role that Sacramento State transfer Cameron Broussard has played in Washington’s non-conference slate.
Getting a player of Clardy’s athletic caliber and natural coverage ability could elevate the defense, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to why the staff will be anxiously awaiting his commitment.
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