Washington is the only place where the state’s top prospect, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, belongs. The four-star linebacker, who is ranked as the No. 14 player at his position and No. 111 overall recruit in the country by 247Sports, committed to the Huskies on Monday, completing a long-winding recruitment that started with Washington and ended with them too.
Rainey-Sale initially committed to Washington in January, on the morning of the national championship, but decommitted a week later following Kalen DeBoer’s departure for Alabama.
It seemed that the talented linebacker would take his talents elsewhere, perhaps by following DeBoer to Tuscaloosa or linebackers coach William Inge to Tennessee. Then as he started to set his official visits, it appeared that Jedd Fisch and linebackers coach Robert Bala had kept the Huskies firmly in the mix for his services.
Now, he becomes Washington’s biggest victory on the recruiting trail after choosing to stay home over his other finalists, Florida State and UCLA.
hometown. https://t.co/BJELsaDZI6
— 4⭐️ LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (@ZaydriusS) June 29, 2024
With his second commitment, Rainey-Sale becomes the highest ranked prospect among the 18 in Washington’s class, and the fifth four-star recruit to commit to Fisch’s staff. He also moves the class up to No. 18 in the country and No. 7 in the Big Ten.
On the field, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect has the talent and tools needed to start right away in defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s scheme if needed since the Huskies are graduating four seniors at the position after the 2024 season.
His speed and physicality will play well at inside linebacker and he also has the first step and burst needed to occasionally line up as an outside linebacker and rush the passer.
Fisch’s coaching staff has done an impressive job in the state of Washington, securing three of its top five recruits, and with Rainey-Sale in the fold, the Huskies are hoping to continue that momentum in the coming weeks before fall camp gets underway.
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