Tag: Washington Huskies Recruiting

Treston Kini McMillan will provide insurance for Washington’s QB room

Treston Kini McMillan brings fascinating upside for the Washington Huskies at quarterback.

Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch was extremely proactive in lining up a succession plan for the team upon his arrival, with the Michael Penix Jr. era coming to an end. He convinced Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers to stay with the team after the fifth-year senior committed to Kalen DeBoer’s staff and brought in former four-star recruit Demond Williams Jr. to solidify the long-term outlook at the position.

Both moves paid off immediately, as Rogers has helped stabilize a team facing an incredible amount of turnover while Williams starred in spring camp, securing the backup spot while also reassuring offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll that the team doesn’t need to worry about the position for at least the next three seasons.

The issue at this point is the lack of depth behind Williams and Rogers. The team dealt with some transfer portal attrition but made sure to bring in reinforcements in the form of former North Colorado signal caller Shea Kuykendall to provide extra depth.

Recruiting was another area where the team was active in looking for a quarterback. With Rogers likely departing after this season, getting a player who could potentially push Williams and back him up was key. After adding Mater Dei quarterback Dash Beierly, the Huskies earned a commitment from one of the top players in Hawaii, Treston Kini McMillan, giving the 2025 class two signal callers.

Hawaii has become a fertile ground for quarterback recruits, with players like Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa, and Dillon Gabriel coming from the state in recent years.

The Huskies will be hoping that Kini McMillan, who will compete alongside Beierly, can follow a similar track to those players and become a star if Williams isn’t able to continue his development in the coming years.

For many coaching staffs across the country, it’s very easy to pass over quarterbacks because they don’t fit the traditional height thresholds that are set for quarterbacks. However, digging deeper into quarterbacks who don’t fit into those thresholds has paid off for Fisch.

In 2023, he oversaw the emergence of Noah Fifita at Arizona, and now, he’s turned his attention to Kini McMillan, who is listed at 5-foot-10 but possesses many exciting tools that any coach would be excited about.

Kini McMillan is able to throw an excellent fastball when needed. He’s very willing to rip it across the middle and insert passes into extremely tight windows. While he has impressive velocity, it’s just as valuable for a quarterback to be able to take the heat off of some throws and layer the ball over defenders or along the sideline, something he also does extremely well.

Carroll knows that Arizona’s offense last season was able to thrive when Fifita went off-schedule and made plays. This is arguably Kini McMillan’s biggest strength, as he is an excellent athlete with good explosiveness and speed.

However, he can run a little recklessly at times and will need to learn to get down and not take hits, especially at his size.

Heading into college, his height will be his biggest concern. At the college level, he will be playing with much taller offensive lineman, so being able to effectively read the middle of the field could become a challenge at times.

Luckily, he does have a solid arm, but generating torque can come at the expense of a longer release, which can hinder throwing lanes for some quarterbacks.

The bigger keys to success for Kini McMillan will be adapting to a more complex offense and staying in structure more often. He tends to get jumpy in the pocket and, at the college level, could try to play hero ball too much.

All of that said, having a player with Kini McMillan’s skillset alongside Beierly as potential backup plans to the extremely talented Williams should excite quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty.

Three-star Washington DB commit Ramonz Adams bolsters strong cornerback room

The Washington Huskies are bringing in speedy corner Ramonz Adams as part of their 2025 class and while he may not contribute right away, his athleticism could earn him a role sooner rather than later.

Under head coach Jedd Fisch, the Washington Huskies have not only been ultra-successful in their backyard, but they’ve also ventured into recruiting hotbeds across the country to build out their roster.

One of the nation’s largest hotbeds is Texas, where the Huskies earned a commitment from three-star cornerback Ramonz Adams after he decommitted from Texas Tech. The Huskies are still working to add players to the defensive side of the ball in the 2025 class but with players like Adams on board along with high-caliber prospects like four-star linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, the team’s future looks to be in good shape.

When Adams arrives on campus, he will join one of Washington’s stronger position groups. However, depending on how players like Ephesians Prysock and Elijah Jackson perform in 2024, the group could need new contributors if the pair both decide to leave for the NFL.

This doesn’t mean that Adams should be expected to earn a significant role as a true freshman, and at the very least, his first season on Montlake should get a strong education from cornerbacks coach John Richardson.

On film, Adams immediately pops as the best athlete on his high school team, and his coaching staff exploits it however it can, deploying him in all three phases of the game. He makes an impact at quarterback, wide receiver, safety, kick returner, and finally at cornerback, where his future will ultimately lie.

Speed is a huge asset for successful corners, and Adams has plenty of it. In addition to his speed, his twitch and explosiveness allow him to go from 0-60 in an instant.

To complement his athleticism, Adams displays elite ball-tracking skills on both offense and defense. In high school, where errant passes are frequent, he’s able to adjust and make plays on the ball whenever it arrives in his general vicinity. His offensive background shines through when he is making a play on the ball on defense.

While Adams has the raw skills, he’s still going to need time at the college level to grow into his frame, he’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 160-pounds, and develop his technique. Luckily, he will be joining forces with a coaching staff that has had plenty of success developing cornerbacks.

He doesn’t show the footwork or coverage instincts for the college level yet, as this is mainly due to his ability to live off his athleticism in high school and is something Richardson can fix with a redshirt season.

His commitment to the cornerback position alone will also go a long way to his development. Being such an important cog for many aspects of the team can hinders a player’s ability to develop full at one position and focusing on one position could be extremely beneficial to his long-term future.

Under Richardson’s guise, the Huskies are hoping that Adams can make quick strides to potentially compete in the cornerback room during his second year.

[lawrence-related id=4784,4602]

Oregon offers four-star Washington TE commit

Oregon is attempting to circle back around to a Washington commit.

Four-star tight end Vander Ploog is currently the No. 4 ranked prospect in Jedd Fisch’s 2025 class. The current Washington commit is rated as the nation’s No. 13 tight end and No. 240 recruit in the country by 247Sports.

He committed to tight ends coach Jordan Paopao in June and, if he can continue to add weight to his 6-foot-6, 223-pound frame, has the potential to play a role in Fisch’s offense even as a true freshman. But in recent months, other programs have been making a run at his services.

After Texas A&M extended an offer to him in late July, coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks followed suit on Thursday. Washington’s arch-rival has pulled in the No. 11 recruiting class so far in the 2025 cycle but has dealt with a few decommitments, especially at tight end.

The Ducks lost four-star tight end Da’Saahn Brame, who decided to flip from Oregon to Tennessee in late July, and since then, the Ducks have been looking for another option at the position ahead of its first season in the Big Ten after the Huskies also earned a commitment from four-star TE Baron Naone, the top player in Oregon.

While Ploog seems to be rock solid on his commitment to Washington, especially since Lanning’s coaching staff appeared to prioritize other prospects ahead of him, its relentless pursuit of players it wants is something to monitor until signing day.

[lawrence-related id=4784,4268,3287]

Washington commit Dash Beierly named CIF Southern Section’s top QB

Washington football has an exciting quarterback prospect in Dash Beierly.

Three-star Washington Huskies quarterback commit Dash Beierly is a talented prospect who was prioritized early in the 2025 recruiting cycle by Jedd Fisch and became the head coach’s first commit in January.

Since flipping from Arizona to Washington, Beierly’s star has done nothing but rise. He transferred from Chapparal High School, where he threw for 4,782 yards and 41 touchdowns while running for 929 yards and 16 scores, to Trinity League powerhouse Mater Dei, the No. 1 team in the country according to MaxPreps.

The best team in the country needs a talented quarterback at the helm. If Beierly’s production wasn’t enough, local fans have now named him the top quarterback in California’s Southern Section over some stiff competition.

In a poll conducted by Sports Illustrated, Beierly won a resounding 90.8 percent of the vote, blowing out five-star Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet, four-star UCLA commit Madden Iamaleava, and four-star 2026 Florida State commit Brady Smigiel.

Ahead of his senior year, Beierly is surrounded by a star-studded cast of future Power 4 players that should help him push for a high school national championship ahead of his arrival on Montlake in January to enroll in the winter quarter.

Four-star WR Andrew Marsh chooses Michigan over Washington

The Washington Huskies made a strong push for Andrew Marsh, but it didn’t pay off.

The Washington Huskies made an extremely strong push for the services of four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh ahead of his commitment, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough, as the nation’s No. 10 player at his position and No. 66 overall prospect in the 2025 class ultimately chose coach Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines.

“Michigan is just somewhere I feel really comfortable,” Marsh told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “Close to the coaches over the years. We stayed in really good contact. It’s somewhere that wins every year and somewhere I feel I can be developed and get to the next level.”

Although it didn’t pay off this time around, the late push from Jedd Fisch, wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings, and the rest of Washington’s coaching staff should be taken as an encouraging sign for the future of the school’s recruiting under Fisch’s leadership as the Huskies move into the Big Ten.

Even with Marsh going to Ann Arbor, Washington’s 2025 class isn’t short on talented receivers. Cummings has secured pledges from four-star Chris Lawson, along with three-star Raiden Vines-Bright, Deji Ajose, and Dezmen Roebuck. The Huskies are also one of the remaining teams in the mix for four-star prospect Phillip Bell, who’s set to announce his commitment in the coming weeks.

Top-100 CB RJ Sermons confirms second unofficial visit to Washington

The Washington Huskies appear to be in a good position with four-star CB RJ Sermons.

The Washington Huskies appear to be getting solid early returns on the recruiting trail from the 2026 class. Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff has already earned two commitments from running back Ansu Sanoe and kicker CJ Wallace and is looking to add a few more by the end of the year.

Although he might not be making his commitment by the end of the year, cornerbacks coach John Richardson has developed a strong relationship with Rancho Cucamonga High School product RJ Sermons, who told On3’s Chad Simmons that he’ll be taking his second unofficial to Montlake during the season.

Sermons took a trip to Washington for the coaching staff’s Luau At The Lake in July and will be making the rounds to visit the West Coast’s top programs again this fall.

“What caught my attention [at Washington] was the facilities, the coaches, the people there, and the environment outside of football,” Sermons told Simmons. “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.”

Along with unofficial visits to both USC and Oregon, the 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 51 overall prospect and No. 5 player at his position by 247Sports, said he will take his next trip to Seattle for the rematch of the 2023 national championship when the Huskies take on the Michigan Wolverines on October 5.

Washington offers four-star QB from Jedd Fisch’s home state

The Washington Huskies dipped into Jedd Fisch’s home state to offer a four-star QB.

Jedd Fisch’s Washington Huskies coaching staff understands that as part of the school’s move to the Big Ten, it needs to extend its reach all over the country since the conference now spans from coast to coast. On Monday, quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty dipped into the farthest reaches of the new conference to offer four-star quarterback Derek Zammit.

Zammit, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 17 quarterback and No. 220 overall player in the 2026 class, plays for DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, New Jersey, which is less than 15 miles away from where Fisch was raised in Livingston.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect holds 13 other offers, including Boston College, Mississippi State, and one of Washington’s new Big Ten foes, Rutgers.

On film, Zammit displays all the traits of a prototypical quarterback for Fisch’s system. He possesses impressive arm talent both in and out of the pocket, with the ability to deliver the ball from multiple arm slots with accuracy and velocity to all three levels of the field.

He also has the mobility and vision to make plays with his legs when necessary. Fisch’s coaching staff has now extended 13 offers to quarterbacks in the 2026 class, and 7 of them have already made their commitment, which could turn Zammit into a priority target for the Huskies.

Four-star S Ladarian Clardy sets new commitment date

Four-star safety Ladarian Clardy has set his commitment date…again.

The Washington Huskies are still in hot pursuit of four-star safety Ladarian Clardy, who was originally slated to commit on August 3 but decided to postpone. Now, he’s set to make his announcement on September 21, a day after his brother’s birthday.

“I am working on my schedule now to take some visits before I commit,” Clardy told On3’s Chad Simmons.

That schedule could include another trip to Washington after the four-star product of Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida, took an unofficial visit to Seattle for Jedd Fisch’s “Luau At The Lake” on July 26. Along with the Huskies and his lead recruiter, Vinnie Sunseri, he’s also looking heavily at Florida State and Ole Miss.

“What’s most important to me is the school that can develop me on and off the field. I also want to be part of a team that’s a brotherhood,” Clardy said. “And the main thing is I’m looking for a school that can help me get to the next level.”

With a month to go before his announcement, all the recruiting services seemed to be aligned, projecting him to land in the SEC with coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, but don’t count Washington out just yet.

If the Huskies can get Clardy on campus for a game, Fisch and Sunseri are going to give him a hard sell on early playing time and the versatility he can play with in defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s scheme.

[lawrence-related id=4976,3518]

Washington offers top 2026 offensive tackle out of Texas

Washington extended an offer to four-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo, a quickly rising recruit, on Thursday.

Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies are continuing to put in work on the recruiting trail for the 2026 class.

After extending offers to four-star edge rusher Elijah Golden and four-star offensive lineman DJ Jones in recent days, Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll also sent an offer out to four-star offensive lineman Felix Ojo from Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas, becoming the No. 38 Division I school to extend a scholarship to the 6-foot-6, 285-pound tackle.

It was a whirlwind spring for Ojo, as schools began to flood in with offers for him in April. That attention also propelled him up the recruiting rankings, where he currently sits as the No. 8 offensive tackle and No. 7 player in all of Texas, along with the No. 60 player in the nation, according to 247Sports.

Fisch has shown that his staff is going to recruit the whole country, earning commitments from 10 different states in the 2025 class. That strategy has carried over to the 2026 class – Ojo is from Texas, Jones hails from Florida, and Golden is originally from Virginia.

Ojo’s offer list is littered with the nation’s elite programs: Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, and USC have all shown interest in him.

Washington will have to put the full-court press on and rather quickly to emerge from that pack.

Washington offers highly coveted four-star Florida OL

The Washington Huskies offered a promising four-star offensive lineman from Florida on Saturday.

Four-star offensive tackle Johnnie Jones looks like he will be one of the most coveted offensive linemen in the 2026 class. Ranked as the nation’s No. 11 offensive tackle and No. 136 overall player by 247Sports, Jones picked up scholarship offer No. 20 on Saturday from the Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll.

Jones, who plays for Berkley Prep in Tampa, Florida, holds an impressive offer list from some of the nation’s best Big Ten and SEC schools, including Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Penn State.

His offer signifies that under Fisch’s leadership, the Huskies are going to continue to attempt to tap into some of the country’s largest talent pipelines in Florida and Texas, which haven’t typically been very kind to Washington.

As the Huskies prepare for their first season in the Big Ten, they should have some more influence across the country, which Fisch is trying to take advantage of in his first year on the job by getting in early with the 6-foot-6, 260-pound tackle, who has picked up nine offers since the beginning of May.