Tag: Washington Huskies Recruiting

Belichick breaks out Super Bowl rings for Washington’s official visitors

The Washington Huskies defensive coordinator broke out his NFL hardware for Washington’s official visitors.

Since he arrived in Seattle, Jedd Fisch has been branding the Washington Huskies as the “33rd NFL team” and hired former New England Patriots playcaller Steve Belichick as his defensive coordinator to hammer the point home.

With Washington’s coaching staff hosting 16 official visitors over the weekend, Belichick sent the ultimate message about his credentials as he prepares for his first season at the college level.

Multiple current Husky players and official visitors took to social media wearing Belichick’s Super Bowl rings as the Huskies pulled out all the stops in an attempt to add to the 2025 class. All five of Washington’s commits are on the offensive side of the ball, and the coaching staff will need to add a significant amount of pieces to the defense, expecting a large turnover in 2025.

Six of the nine four-star recruits on campus are defensive prospects, headlined by five-star cornerback Dijon Lee, four-star linebacker Matai Tagoa’i, and four-star corner Daryus Dixson, who are all ranked inside 247Sports’ top 100.

Even though Washington has yet to receive a commitment from the weekend, making a strong first impression on a lot of these recruits that are set to visit some of the nation’s other top programs in the coming weeks is very important and there are few better ways to do that than with the most coveted prize in football.

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Four-star CB Trestin Castro reschedules Washington official visit

The Washington Huskies rescheduled four-star USC commit Trestin Castro’s official visit.

Cornerbacks coach John Richardson has strongly emphasized recruiting the position in the 2025 class. Among his top targets is four-star prospect Trestin Castro, who committed to coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans on April 2.

That hasn’t stopped numerous coaching staffs from recruiting the product of Upland High School, which also produced Husky running back Cameron Davis and wide receiver Taj Davis in the 2019 class. He was still set to take an official visit to Washington on June 21 following his commitment but has rescheduled for June 7.

Ranked as the nation’s No. 24 cornerback and No. 218 overall player by 247Sports, the 6-foot, 170-pound Castro is also set to visit the Trojans on June 21 and the Texas Longhorns on June 14.

“He has a natural instinct in coverage, quick reaction and timing when breaking on the ball, and ball tracking skills that are highly developed,” Huskies Wire’s Camber Michelle said. “He is also solid against the run with his speed and tackling ability, which could lead to some teams viewing him as a safety.”

Richardson will continue to prioritize Castro and three-star LaRue Zamorano along with May 31’s top-100 visitors Daryus Dixson and Dijon Lee, the latter of which is set to commit on June 28 in a class that could see the Huskies take three cornerbacks.

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Film Room: Washington visitor Dylan Robinson could star at numerous positions

The Washington Huskies will be hosting a vast number of potential recruits this weekend, one of them is the versatile Dylan Robinson who has experience on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

The Washington Huskies are kicking off what is being considered the most important recruiting weekend for the program in some time. 16 high-profile recruits will take their official visits to Seattle, which will set the tone for Jedd Fisch’s first full class with the team.

Securing a headliner like the nation’s No. 4 cornerback Dijon Lee could go a long way to putting together one of the top groups in the country. But it isn’t all about the flashy five-star recruits.

For a team like the Huskies who were decimated by NFL departures and the transfer portal in the offseason, depth will be crucial to rebuilding all over the field. One player who could help at multiple positions in that rebuild is four-star athlete Dylan Robinson who has numerous positional landing spots at whatever school he ends up at.

As a high schooler, Robinson, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 8 athlete by 247Sports, has experience playing both corner and wide receiver, but defense seems to be his most natural fit. He’s an excellent ball tracker (something that allows him to star on offense) and thrives with his length and physicality as a defender. He also has a slighter frame, but isn’t afraid to come downhill and work against screens when needed.

There are quite a few traits in his game that point to a future as a safety. Robinson is a bit limited in his straight-line speed and doesn’t always show the best flexibility, two areas that are needed for success at corner. This doesn’t mean that he can’t find a future at corner if that’s where Washington’s staff views him. As a press man corner, he could easily use his length and physical play style to antagonize receivers.

Much of his final landing spot could depend on how the team he chooses views both his upcoming senior year of high school and its own needs at each position.

For the Huskies, cornerback is crowded at the moment and there is a potential opening at safety next season. Freshman Peyton Waters and Robinson could form a formidable backend duo should safety be his eventual landing spot.

That said, cornerbacks coach John Richardson has shown that he prefers long, lanky corners, a profile that Robinson also fits.

The first step before this can be considered will be getting Robinson to commit to Washington, something Richardson and safeties coach Vinnie Sunseri will be working tirelessly for over the weekend.

Washington re-offers All-American bowl standout wide receiver

The Washington Huskies extended an offer to St. John Bosco standout Kamryn Jones on Friday.

Wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings has established strong relationships with some of the best prospects in the 2025 class and is hosting three on official visits over the May 31 weekend. However, that didn’t stop him from extending an offer to three-star wide receiver Kamryn Jones on Friday.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect transferred from St. John Bosco to Rancho Cucamonga High School and is ranked as the nation’s No. 193 receiver by 247Sports and has one of the most intriguing offer lists for his ranking.

In 2022, he received scholarship offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, and Tennessee, and one from Kalen DeBoer’s staff. Then in the summer of 2023, he added Texas A&M and Michigan to that list.

After his transfer to Rancho Cucamonga, he could be in for a big senior season which started at the All-American Bowl’s national combine in January, where Rivals’ Adam Friedman named him one of the top performers at the event.

“Jones was lost in the depth of a loaded St. John Bosco receiver corps this past season but if his performance at the combine is any indication of what we can expect from him next year, we could be looking at a prolific wide receiver,” Friedman said.

“Showcasing impressive route-running skills, Jones consistently made it easy for quarterbacks to get him the ball. It wasn’t often that defensive backs were able to stick with him thanks to his quickness out of his cuts.”

With four-stars Andrew Marsh, Chris Lawson, and Phillip Bell on campus, three-star Raiden Vines-Bright committed, and the interest of four-star Donovan Olugbode, Jones could end up being a deep sleeper in the 2025 class if Cummings chooses to prioritize him later in the cycle.

Four-star OL Douglas Utu includes Washington in top 6

The Washington Huskies are among the six finalists for four-star OL Douglas Utu.

Four-star offensive lineman Douglas Utu is among Washington offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll’s top targets in the 2025 class as the Huskies look to rebuild their front after the departure of all five starters from the 2023 Joe Moore Award-winning unit.

Utu, who is ranked as the No. 4 interior offensive lineman and No. 101 player in the country by 247Sports, took an official visit to Washington for the spring game and on Thursday, announced the top six schools that he’s focusing on moving forward in his recruitment.

The Huskies found themselves among the Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and Tennessee Volunteers in the competition for Utu’s services.

At 6-foot-5, 300-pounds, the product of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, understands the position at a very high level and is extremely technically proficient. Thanks to his size and athleticism that go along with his high IQ, Utu has a chance to play early on in his college career, even along the offensive line which is certainly one of Carroll’s biggest selling points.

Utu is set to take an official visit to Michigan on Friday and has yet to schedule a date with any of the other schools in his top six, signaling that Washington could be in a good spot with the coveted offensive lineman.

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Four-star DL Smith Orogbo sets official visit to Washington

The Washington Huskies are hosting one of Texas’ top defensive linemen on an official visit on Friday.

Four-star defensive lineman Smith Orogbo is traveling from deep in the heart of Texas to Seattle on Friday for his official visit with the Washington Huskies. The Houston native is one of the nation’s most sought-after defensive linemen after accumulating 39 offers over three years of high school football.

Orogbo is ranked as the No. 22 defensive lineman and No. 171 overall prospect in the 2025 class by 247Sports and has Washington as one of his top four teams along with Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech.

The 6-foot-4 inch, 220-pound recruit displays elite speed in all areas of his game.

He has a fast get-off from the line scrimmage and impressive closing speed along with superb pass-rushing abilities. His athleticism gives him a very high ceiling that defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick could work with if he were to commit to Washington.

During his junior year, he tallied over 100 tackles and 9 sacks. An impressive number for someone who didn’t start playing football until he got to high school.

“I was a basketball and track athlete before I started playing football my freshman year,” Orogbo told VYPE Houston. “I’ve loved the sport once I started, and I love the feeling of dominating on the field.”

With all the success he’s seen in such a short time, it seems he made the right choice with football. Now, Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff will do what it can to get him to choose Washington.

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Three-star DT Chace Sims to visit Washington on May 31

The Washington Huskies added three-star Chace Sims to their growing list of official visitors on Friday.

Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch has put together what could be called a “super recruiting” weekend, set to begin on Friday when his staff will host 16 official visits for recruits from all over the country.

One position that has to be among the highest priorities for his coaching staff is defensive tackle following the departure of seniors Ulumoo Ale, Tuli Letuligasenoa, and Faatui Tuitele. On Tuesday, the Huskies added three-star defensive tackle Chace Sims to Friday’s list of visitors, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman from Richmond, Texas, to help fill the gap they left in the middle of the defense.

Washington is the second stop on Sims’ schedule after visiting SMU on May 17. He is also set to visit LSU, Kansas, and Texas Tech in June. Playing time appears to be very important to the product of Randall High School, which could give the Huskies the upper hand on his recruitment with seniors Sebastian Valdez and Jacob Bandes set to graduate after the 2024 season.

That could end up as a selling point for defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and defensive line coach Jason Kuafusi during his visit.

He had a breakout season during his junior year with 86 tackles, 18 for loss, and 11 sacks thanks to his ability to shed blocks quickly and impressive eyes, as it appears he always knows where the ball is.

He plays with impressive strength and has a quick first step that allows him to put pressure on the quarterback, easily disrupting the passing game.

That strength translates across multiple sports, as Sims is also a track and field star, where he excels in the shot put, posting a personal best of 47 feet – 3 inches in February.

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Five-star Washington CB target Dijon Lee sets commitment date

Following his official visits, five-star cornerback Dijon Lee has set a date for his college commitment.

Five-star Dijon Lee, the nation’s No. 4 cornerback according to 247Sports, has set his commitment date for June 28. Lee has narrowed down his choices to Washington, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas and will take official visits to all five before his decision.

Lee received his offer from the Huskies in February 2023 from Kalen DeBoer’s coaching staff and Jedd Fisch’s staff has made it a priority to keep Washington in the running.

He was in attendance for Washington’s spectacular 36 -33 victory over Oregon in October and will return on May 31 for his official visit, accompanied by his Mission Viejo High School teammate, four-star wide receiver Phillip Bell.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound recruit is also a standout track athlete who has won back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation triple jump championships. As a junior he tallied 55 tackles, 3 for loss, along with 13 passes defended, 2 interceptions and 1 sack.

On Tuesday, at the On3 Elite Series in Nashville, Tennessee, Lee was asked by ScoopDuck’s Max Torres why he wanted to focus on the group of schools that have made his top five.

“All five schools have great coaches, great cultures at all the places,” he said. “I feel like if I go to any of those schools I will get the best coaching in the nation.”

He continued, describing his toughness and physicality as two of his greatest strengths, along with his tackling ability. Lee excels in press coverage and can get in and out of breaks very quickly player of his size.

Lee finished his chat with Torres with a strong declaration of his talents.

“I feel like you’re getting the best corner in the nation in me.”

 

Washington gets crystal ball prediction for four-star LB

The Washington Huskies received a crystal ball prediction for one of their top targets in the 2025 class.

The Washington Huskies are gearing up to host four-star prospect Christian Thatcher, from Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Tuesday morning, 247Sports released a crystal ball projection that their No. 29 ranked linebacker will commit to Washington.

Thatcher, who wants to make his decision before his senior season, was set to visit Washington on May 31 but recently changed his schedule. He will now visit coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes that day, wrapping up his schedule, which also includes Utah on June 7 and Kansas on June 14, with coach Jedd Fisch’s Huskies on June 21.

“I wanted Washington to be my last visit and this fits my schedule a little better,” he told Huskies Wire on Tuesday.

Fisch has been pursuing the speedy, three down linebacker since his freshman year, and continued the relationship going after arriving at Washington.

“I love coach Fisch. I love how he treats his people and his entire staff,” Thatcher said to Huskies Wire’s Roman Tomashoff in March. “I have a great relationship with [linebackers coach Robert] Bala, and I think I have the best relationship with any coach at any school with [defensive quality control coach] Aaron Van Horn, who has been recruiting me since his time at Arizona.”

“I’m so thankful for the relationship that I’ve been able to build with coach Fisch and his staff. The fact that we’ve been talking since my freshman year and that they’ve always been so good to me is so important moving forward and is something that has put Washington really, really, really high on my list.”

It appears that the star may be aligning for him to make his commitment to the Huskies soon thanks to the strong relationship he has developed with Fisch’s staff combined with the fact that Washington will lose four senior linebackers following the 2024 season, which could lead to Thatcher seeing playing time sooner rather than later on Montlake.

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Washington’s perfect 2025 front seven class

In order to compete in the Big Ten, the Washington Huskies will need a high-level front-seven recruiting class in 2025. In a perfect world, this is what it w

Coach Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies are preparing to host 16 prospects on official visits over the weekend and one of his biggest points of emphasis in the 2025 class is in the front seven. The Huskies have five 2025 prospects committed, all on the offensive side.

As Washington moves from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, upgrading the defensive front will be one of the most important things Fisch will need to worry about while building his roster. Between defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi, linebackers coach Robert Bala, and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the Huskies have a great staff to help develop their front. Now, it needs to close on some of its top targets.

If the staff can secure all of those top targets, this is what its class could look like.

May, a prospect from Highland Home High School in Alabama took his official visit during Washington’s spring game and appears to be very high on the Huskies. The former Notre Dame commit has impressive athleticism and a very high ceiling, and at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, fits the profile of long-armed pass rushers the Huskies covet.

The product of Oaks Christian High School in California is another exciting athlete with lots of potential who could thrive in Belichick’s scheme. Set to visit on June 21, Fisch’s coaching staff has been in pursuit of Lowe’s services for a while and he would mesh very well with defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi.

“Lowe is extremely refined for just a junior in high school, he can occasionally win with true pass-rush moves rather than simply being a better athlete than everyone else on the field,” Huskies Wire’s Ben Glassmire said. “His quickness off the snap and when evading blockers is routinely one of the more impressive parts of his game.”

Onyeagoro had racked up sacks at a historic pace at the high school level, tallying 21 during his junior season at King Drew Medical Magnet in California. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound pass rusher has developed a strong relationship with Washington’s coaching staff and said that he followed the way it developed prospects at Arizona closely.

“The scheme fits my play style very well,” he told Huskies Wire in February. “The staff are all amazing genuine people and people who look like me, who are looking to develop guys and not just feed from the transfer portal.”

The 6-foot-5, 295-pound, one-time Washington commit is by far the highest-rated defensive tackle on the West Coast, displaying impressive potential on film, including a surprising pass rush arsenal for a high school prospect. After taking an official visit to Washington in April, he has trips set to Texas and Alabama before his decision.

Hammond is one of the more intriguing defensive line prospects in the country. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound product of Will Rogers High School in Oklahoma plays with an extremely high motor and has a promising skillset for Kaufusi to work with.

His frame and athleticism make him a promising prospect for the college level, which is why the Huskies are among the nine teams to offer him following just one year of high school football.

Another former Husky commit, the top prospect in Washington has the potential to be an impact player as a freshman all over the defense. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound product of Bethel High School lines up as both an inside linebacker and edge rusher and thanks to his elite speed, is one of the most coveted prospects on the West Coast.

Scheduled to take his official visit at the end of June, Rainey-Sale would be an impressive get for Bala and Fisch’s coaching staff.

One of Arizona’s top priorities during Fisch’s tenure, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect from Arbor View High School in Nevada came close to committing to the Wildcats while Fisch was there and is very interested in joining him in Seattle. Another rangy linebacker who plays with great speed and can stay on the field for all three downs, Thatcher is one of the nation’s most coveted prospects at the position, holding 34 offers.

“I’m so thankful for the relationship that I’ve been able to build with coach Fisch and his staff,” he told Huskies Wire. “The fact that we’ve been talking since my freshman year and that they’ve always been so good to me is so important moving forward and is something that has put Washington really, really, really high on my list.”

Iheanachor has been high on Washington for a long time and the product of Narbonne High School in Los Angeles would be an exciting addition to Bala’s class. A fluid athlete with a high IQ and great vision, like Washington’s other prospects at the position, he would have a good chance to get on the field early since the Huskies have four linebackers set to graduate at the end of the 2024 season.