The Washington Huskies had depth issues at the tight end position to begin the 2024 season, which have since been magnified by senior Quentin Moore‘s injury.
Even before the season began, Jedd Fisch and his coaching staff understood that it was a weakness of the current roster. The team’s approach on the recruiting trail made this even clearer as position coach Jordan Paopao earned commitments from two four-star tight ends as he looks to shore up the position.
One of those two commits, Troy High School product Vander Ploog, received an offer from Alabama on Thursday despite being committed to the Huskies. Recruiting is never over until the player signs, and Fisch knows this as well as anyone.
Alabama, now led by former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, can insert themselves into any recruiting battle and likely have a shot. The Huskies will need to continue to convince Ploog that Washington offers him the best chance to develop as the Crimson Tide and Oregon pursue his services.
https://twitter.com/vander_ploog/status/1831764878203482539
Ploog is immensely talented, and it’s no surprise that other teams are taking an interest in him. Despite being listed at 6-foot-6, Ploog moves like a player much smaller than that.
Teams are always looking for tight ends that can create mismatches in the passing game, and Ploog is an excellent example of that. While he is far from a finished product, getting him into a college program will allow him to develop physically and become a more complete player.
https://twitter.com/vander_ploog/status/1827804311205888040
Fisch and his talent evaluation staff have shown that they were ahead of the curve on Ploog. Since committing to Washington in June, Ploog has received offers from Alabama, Oregon, and Texas A&M.
While Ploog is racking up the offers, there is no indication at this point that any decommitment or flip is imminent. The Huskies still have a major hole at the tight end position and the enormous role that Ploog could play, even as a freshman, is likely something offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll and Fisch have made clear to him.
Make no mistake, keeping Ploog committed to the team will be a major test for this staff’s recruiting chops. Keeping him in the fold for next season will be a huge boost for the offense going forward.
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