Tag: Washington Huskies Recruiting

Oaks Christian High School defensive back Davon Benjamin has the ability to choose any college program in the country. Ranked as the nation’s No. 4 safety and No. 47 overall player by 247Sports, the 6-foot, 170-pound prospect has become one of the most sought-after players in California.

He’s received 22 scholarship offers from plenty of the nation’s elite programs and on Sunday afternoon, he narrowed his future options down to eight. Benjamin included coach Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies alongside Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, USC, and UCLA.

At the college level, he could make the move to cornerback thanks to his fluid athleticism, as according to 247Sports’ Greg Biggins, his high school team plays him at safety to make sure he’s involved on every snap.

“Plays a lot of safety for Oaks to keep him more involved and allow him to make more plays and could end up at either spot in college,” Biggins said in his evaluation. “As a corner, he shows physicality at the line, can flip hips, change direction, break on the ball, has excellent closing speed, and can run with anyone.

“He plays a physical game, is tough in run support, and will lay guys out. Explosive with the ball in his hands…and is strong in the return game as well. Really strong all-around game, true cover guy who can make the big play and has a high athletic ceiling.”

According to On3’s recruiting prediction machine, Fisch’s coaching staff has some work to make up to secure his commitment. The recruiting website has the Huskies in third for his services behind USC and Oregon. Coach Lincoln Riley’s Trojans have a sizable lead with 43.1 percent of the predictions to secure the talented defender.

Washington Huskies wide receiver signee Dezmen Roebuck has had an impressive high school career at Marana High School in Arizona. After being named Arizona’s Gatorade State Player of the Year, he was also given the state’s top honor, the Ed Doherty Award, on Saturday.

Roebuck set a state record with 352 receptions over his career at Marana and finished No. 2 all-time with 4,239 receiving yards and joined a prestigious group that includes Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson to earn the award.

“It means a lot to me coming from a small town that wasn’t really known my freshman year,” Roebuck told All Sports Tucson’s Javier Morales. “It’s a big award. Not a lot of people get to be in a position that I am in. I’m just blessed.”

When he committed to Washington in June, Roebuck was a little-known prospect who didn’t hold many other major offers, but Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff has shown that it has an eye for talent and trusts extremely productive players from Arizona. In 2024, that was running back Adam Mohammed and Roebuck is looking to make his mark on the Husky program once he arrives on campus.

“I’m very excited to get up there and play with Demond Williams Jr. who was just here at Basha [High School],” he said. “I’m just excited to get up there and go to work.”

In a dominant win that has almost become routine for the Mater Dei Monarchs, the Southern California powerhouse cruised to a 37-15 victory in the CIF Open Division state championship over De La Salle High School thanks in large part to the performance of two future Washington Huskies.

Quarterback Dash Beierly and wide receiver Marcus Harris, who both signed with Jedd Fisch’s team as part of the 2025 class, turned in strong efforts in the victory. Beierly completed 18 of his 27 passes for 355 yards and 3 touchdowns, which included a 90-yard touchdown pass to receiver Gavin Honore.

The two Husky signees, who are expected to arrive in January, gave a preview of what’s to come on Montlake as Harris hauled in 6 catches for 92 yards.

“We knew how good they were, that’s why they’re ranked as high as they are,” Beierly told Steve Galluzzo of the Los Angeles Times. “The biggest thing for us was to overcome adversity when we faced it. We saw some matchups we liked and tried to take advantage of them. I have great receivers…they make the plays for me. To have Marcus going to the same place as me is really cool, especially being on the same side of the ball.”

Beierly, who was the first player to commit to Washington after Fisch took the job, transferred to Mater Dei for his senior season and accomplished every goal he could before the college level.

“This is the best week I’ve had in my life,” he said. “This team mostly ran where Bosco passed on us more, but we can adapt to any style. To end my high school career like this doesn’t get any better!”

One of the nation’s top defensive backs made an early commitment on Friday when four-star cornerback RJ Sermons announced his decision to stay home and commit to coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans on Friday. The 6-foot, 185-pound prospect from Rancho Cucamonga High School in Southern California announced his top five schools on December 10 and made his commitment just three days later.

It appears his father Rodney’s legacy may have played a role in the recruitment of the nation’s No. 51 overall prospect and No. 4 cornerback by 247Sports’ rankings, as he played running back for the Trojans in the late ’90s.

“I have been around the Trojans since I can remember,” Sermons told 247Sports’ Blair Angulo. “Being a legacy I have been able to be around them from the beginning. The academics and football they have to offer are amazing and everything I look for in a school.”

Jedd Fisch’s 2026 class consists of six commits, but position coach John Richardson has yet to secure a cornerback after adding three high-ceiling players in the 2025 class. The Huskies have extended offers to 20 corners in the 2026 class and are also looking to bring in a few high-caliber safeties, including five-star Bralan Womack.

The Washington Huskies added five freshmen wide receivers in the 2025 class and position coach Kevin Cummings hasn’t stopped there. After adding local three-star speedster Terrance Saryon to the 206 class, he’s been hot on the trail of St. John Bosco pass catcher Daniel Odom, who announced his top six schools on Thursday.

The 6-foot-1, 178-pound product of the Southern California powerhouse who is ranked as the nation’s No. 192 overall prospect and No. 33 wide receiver by the 247Sports Composite narrowed his 20 offers down to Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.

“He has all the physical tools to be a dominant outside receiver at the college level,” 247Sports’ Greg Biggins said in his evaluation. “Quick off the line and has very good releases. He can beat press [coverage] and uses his body well to create separation. Strong kid who can bully opposing corners and picks up a lot of yards after contact. Shows good top-end speed and can routinely get behind a defense. Strong hands, dominant in the air, and catches the ball well through contact. Really nice all-around game and has a high ceiling with the talent to play at the high Power 4 level.”

Washington has gotten off to a hot start on the recruiting trail for the next cycle, as coach Jedd Fisch’s 2026 class, which holds six commits, currently ranks No. 14 according to 247Sports.

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The Washington Huskies hosted one of the top 2026 quarterbacks, four-star prospect Brady Smigiel, on an unofficial visit during the spring and according to Rivals’ Adam Gorney, he’s set to return to Montlake over the December 13 weekend for a second visit.

Now committed to Florida State, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Smigiel is ranked as the nation’s No. 61 overall prospect and No. 5 signal caller in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite. He’ll also be joined by his teammate, three-star wide receiver Shane Rosenthal, a member of the 2025 class and Princeton commit.

Smigiel put together a very impressive junior season, completing over 65 percent of his passes for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns while throwing just 3 interceptions, adding 435 yards and 11 scores on the ground.

Jedd Fisch and quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty made their interest clear during their stint at Arizona, when they became one of the first schools to offer him a scholarship.

“I really like coach Dougherty a lot,” Smigiel told 247Sports’ Greg Biggins before his first visit in the spring. “We’ve been talking forever and he’s been to our school and to basketball games. I’ve never been to UW before, this will be the first time but I’m excited because it’s a great offense and I want to see how I fit in there.”

Fisch and Dougherty have struck out on the majority of the quarteback prospects they’ve extended offers to, as seven of the 13 signal callers they’ve shown interest in have committed elsewhere. That could lead to the coaching staff turning up the heat on Smigiel in hopes of securing a flip.

The Washington Huskies have a long history of developing tight ends and getting them to the NFL, which has resonated with four-star prospect Caleb Tafua. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound recruit from Lakewood High School in California cut his list of 27 offers down to four on Wednesday, and included coach Jedd Fisch’s team alongside California, Texas A&M, and USC.

Ranked as the nation’s No. 11 tight end and No. 193 overall player in the 2026 class by 247Sports, Tafua is set to make his commitment on December 21 and would be a significant addition to position coach Jordan Paopao’s room.

“[Tafua is a] late bloomer who has really made a nice jump as a prospect over the last year. Smooth pass catcher with strong hands,” 247Sports’ Greg Biggins said in his evaluation. “He’s probably more quick than fast but can make plays down the field and does a nice job tracking the football. He has the multi-sport background we like and is a former hooper/volleyball player with a nice all-around skill set.

“He’s a willing blocker who has a nice edge to him and knows how to use his body to create separation. Lean frame but plenty of room to add good weight and should have no problem carrying 230-240 pounds or so at the college level. Runs well, good after the catch, and is just scratching the surface of where we think his game will be in a few years as he gains size and strength.”

Adding Tafua would be a perfect way for Paopao to mitigate the loss of Quentin Moore, who is set to return for the 2025 season after missing the majority of 2024 with what Fisch called a “substantial” MCL injury. Depending on how the transfer portal plays out, the Huskies could be looking to only take one tight end in the 2026 class after adding two high school prospects in the 2025 class.

Washington’s 2026 class currently ranks No. 14 in 247Sports’ rankings with six prospects, headlined by four-star offensive lineman Esun Tafa, and adding Tafua to the mix would be a big boost for the Huskies.

The Washington Huskies are looking to make a statement on the recruiting trail in the 2026 class, and securing a commitment from four-star cornerback RJ Sermons would be a great way for Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff to do just that.

On Tuesday morning, the 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback from Rancho Cucamonga High School in Southern California announced his top five, including Washington alongside Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and USC. Ranked as the nation’s No. 33 overall prospect and No. 2 cornerback, it won’t be easy for position coach John Richardson to secure his commitment, but the Huskies are making a strong push.

“What caught my attention [at Washington] was the facilities, the coaches, the people there, and the environment outside of football,” Sermons told On3’s Chad Simmons in August. “It’s a super nice town, and the coaches are super knowledgeable. [Defensive coordinator Steve] Belichick and coach J-Rich are super smart football guys.”

He took an unofficial visit to Washington on October 5, taking in the Huskies’ 27-17 win over the Michigan Wolverines after attending the coaching staff’s “Luau At The Lake” in July. Sermons is one of the most promising recruits on the West Coast thanks to his impressive athleticism, highlighted by his 10.48 wind-aided 100-meter dash time, but the Huskies may have an uphill battle to win his services.

Sermons’ father, Rodney, played running back at USC from 1994-1997, and On3’s recruiting prediction machine gives him a 96.9 percent chance of picking the Trojans.

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Jedd Fisch appears to be trying to turn Northern California powerhouse Archbishop Riordan High School into a pipeline for the Washington Huskies. After signing four-star wide receiver Chris Lawson and three-star offensive lineman Peter Langi in the 2025 class, the Huskies are attempting to bring in another crop of stars from the program.

That search has led them to three-star wide receiver Cynai Thomas, who announced his top five schools on Friday: Boise State, California, Oregon State, Utah, and Washington.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, Thomas narrowed down his list from 19 offers and is a borderline four-star prospect, ranking as the nation’s No. 413 overall player and No. 64 receiver by the 247Sports Composite.

The Huskies originally offered him in May 2023, when Kalen DeBoer’s staff was still at the helm, but Fisch and wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings reoffered him shortly after they arrived in Seattle.

“Washington is an amazing college,” Thomas told 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman. “I got a chance to watch many of their games and my two teammates are committed there. Coach KC is a great guy. He develops his guys and he’s down to earth.”

Cummings already has one wide receiver committed in the 2026 class in local three-star Terrance Saryon, and after adding five players at the position in 2025, he may not have many spots open. Due to his film and production at the high school level, posting 46 catches for 713 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, and when he received his offer, Thomas should be considered a priority for the coaching staff and would be a strong addition for Washington.