The Washington Huskies are in the midst of a hot streak on the recruiting trail and the coaching staff is looking to continue that momentum as the calendar turns to July. Coach Jedd Fisch’s staff is still filling out plenty of positions with a focus on the defensive side of the ball as the team’s current crop of commits is much heavier on offense.
The Huskies do have four-star athlete Jonathan Epperson as the headliner of the defensive class at the moment but are looking to add more defensive backs that can be starters at numerous positions.
One of the targets who fit that profile is Rylon Dillard-Allen, a speedy safety/cornerback who is scheduled to commit at the end of July. Dillard-Allen reportedly runs a 4.29 laser-timed 40-yard dash, a jaw-dropping number for a high school player. Dillard-Allen does have a track background as well so it should come as no surprise that he is able to harness that speed into excellent timing numbers.
With the emphasis that many colleges offenses place on taking vertical shots to stretch the field for the running game and passing game, having a defender that coaches know can keep up with those faster, deep-threat receivers is not a luxury anymore but a major need. That is where Dillard-Allen can come in and earn his keep.
He is a difficult player to slot in currently due to his lack of size, but if he can come to Washington (or one of his other three finalists) and add 15-20 pounds of well-distributed weight it could be a game-changer for him. Based on his current body type, Dillard-Allen has plenty of room to add this weight as his frame is far from maxed out.
In terms of the career he can have, he has somewhat of a similar play style to iconic former Husky Elijah Molden. Dillard-Allen just wants to play downhill and hit ballcarriers. Based on his play style you would have no clue that he is on the smaller side for a defensive back. He is extremely physical but also takes deliberate angles to the ball that allow him to close space quickly.
Another apt comparison that fits well for Dillard-Allen is former TCU cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson who was a Jim Thorpe award winner with the Horned Frogs despite being on the small side for a cornerback.
While he may not yet have developed the same coverage instincts as Hodges-Tomlinson there is no reason why he couldn’t play a similar role. The TCU defender was easily able to cover the slot and drop back into deeper coverage when needed.
The Huskies could feel that Dillard-Allen is a better fit at safety, where his sideline to sideline speed can be better utilized, but may feel his lack of size could cause some struggles adjusting the level of play in college. However, Dillard-Allen’s demeanor on the field is exactly what coaches want and he could quickly become a fan favorite if he were to ultimately choose the Huskies.