Tag: Washington Huskies Recruiting

Four-Star RB Jordan Washington has a bright future on Montlake

The Washington Huskies secured a huge commitment on Sunday in former Arizona running back Jordan Washington whose electric speed will immediately impact the team.

After Washington’s spring game on Friday, Jedd Fisch mentioned that the Huskies are close to the 85-man scholarship limit, suggesting a few players hadn’t committed publicly.

One of those players is former Arizona running back Jordan Washington, the Wildcats’ highest-rated commit in the 2024 class. Washington, who committed to the Huskies on Sunday, is a speedy running back who finished second in California in the 100-meter dash, with a personal best 10.24 time in the event. While running back wasn’t necessarily a need for the team, the potential future pairing of fellow freshman Adam Mohammed and Washington was too much to pass up.

A top-200 player in 2024, Washington will immediately step into the running back competition in some capacity. He also racked up 50 catches during his senior year to go with his 800 rushing yards for an average of over 10 yards per carry. This tremendous production should translate into efficiency at the college level.

On the field, Washington was a complete mismatch for any high school player. His ability to accelerate is unmatched, as being able to reach his top speed so quickly when taking a simple swing route out of the backfield creates problems for a defense.

He can outrun any linebacker that is matched up against him, and his productivity as a receiver gives him a high floor entering the college level. Despite his smaller size, he could easily carve out a role as a dangerous weapon out of the backfield.

Currently, Washington is much more of a playmaker than a true running back, but that isn’t a bad thing. As just a true freshman, Washington will have plenty of time to develop his game.

Running backs coach Scottie Graham should help him focus on utilizing more lateral cuts as his speed won’t allow him to win the same way in college. Developing his vision will go a long way to improving his game as well. Getting to the outside will be a large part of his winning formula where stretch runs and pitches will be his friend in Seattle, while adding weight to become more serviceable between the tackles will drastically increase the likelihood that Washington can be a three-down back.

Washington is a rare freshman that would very easily compete for a hefty role on most teams. That is not necessarily the case with the Huskies, as the ultra-talented duo of Jonah Coleman and Cameron Davis are on top the depth chart. Even behind them, Mohammed has impressed this spring and has likely earned carries this season. That said, the talent that Washington brings is going to be tough for Fisch and company to keep off the field for long.

Arizona transfer Jordan Washington brings elite speed to Washington’s backfield

The Washington Huskies added an exciting transfer to the running backs room in former Arizona signee Jordan Washington.

The Arizona Wildcats brought in three four-star recruits in the 2024 class. After running back Jordan Washington announced his commitment to Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies on Sunday, all three have followed him to Montlake.

Washington, who enrolled early, stayed in Tucson through spring practice before making the move to Seattle, where he becomes the tenth player from Fisch’s 2024 class to follow him and will round out running backs coach Scottie Graham’s room.

Even though he might not see the field for more than four games during his freshman year, Washington should quickly gain a reputation as one of the most exciting ball carriers in the Big Ten. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound running back was ranked No. 17 at his position in the 2024 class and brings game-breaking speed to the Huskies’ backfield.

Washington was also one of California’s top track athletes during his time at Jordan High School, clocking a personal-best 10.31 100m dash, but he doesn’t just possess straight line speed. He also brings impressive vision to the table and can accelerate in an instant, as he doesn’t need much space to break into the second level of the defense.

If he can add 10-15 pounds to his frame while retaining his speed and athleticism, Washington and fellow freshman Adam Mohammed have a chance to be one of the best combinations of running backs in the Big Ten. [lawrence-related id=3143]

Old Dominion transfer Chris Adams is a promising tackle prospect

The Washington Huskies made a major move to bring in more offensive line help with transfer Chris Adams. What can the team expect from him this upcoming season?

The Washington Huskies have had a major need along the offensive line since the moment the 2023 season ended. The team has now lost all five starters and is looking to break in an entirely new group. As spring practice winds down, only one spot is truly locked down with San Diego State transfer Drew Azzopardi managing right tackle.

The coaching staff has made it clear that it planned to tap into the transfer portal again to bolster the group and did so on Wednesday when Old Dominion transfer Chris Adams announced his commitment to Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff.

Adams didn’t receive much hype when he entered the transfer portal but was quietly one of the more experienced players available after starting 13 games last season.

At a listed 6-foot-6 and 286 pounds, Adams is not the ideal size for a tackle weight-wise, but that isn’t to say that he doesn’t have promising tools for offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll.

If he can manage to add good weight to his frame, he should be more than capable of standing up to Big Ten edge rushers. The ability to bring in a junior who has the level of experience that Adams has is a rare opportunity that the coaching staff has to be thrilled about.

Adams has little tape against non-Sun Belt competition and began last season at right tackle, where he looked extremely uncomfortable at times. Balance was a key reason for his struggles, as he wasn’t able to maintain blocks effectively and was often knocked to the ground. Adams did show promising flashes of potential, displaying that he could climb the pass-rush arc effectively with good initial power from his hands.

It’s rare to witness the change that occurred for Adams when he transitioned from right to left tackle, where he will likely fit in for the Huskies. He blossomed in the nine games he played on the left side, looking much more comfortable sitting back in his stance in pass protection, controlling the rep rather than being thrown off balance so early on.

While he doesn’t produce a ton of push in the run game, he can at the very least maintain the integrity of lanes for an adequate amount of time. The running game will definitely be an area of focus as he develops at Washington, one of the reasons it’s very important that he bolsters his frame.

Maintaining the level of play Adams displayed during the latter half of the season against Big Ten competition will be the main driver of his success next season.

At the very worst, Adams will give the coaching staff a depth option at left tackle as redshirt freshmen Soane Faasolo and Elishah Jackett have both struggled at times during spring practice.

In an ideal world, Adams will be able to claim the starting left tackle spot during fall camp and never look back. The more likely outcome is somewhere in between, as he may struggle as he faces a higher level of competition, but should get better as the year progresses.

Washington sets spring game official visit with top 5 offensive lineman

The Washington Huskies are bringing one of the best offensive linemen on the West Coast in for an official visit during their spring game.

The Washington Huskies have set an official visit with one of the nation’s top offensive line prospects, four-star Douglas Utu from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ranked as the nation’s No. 98 prospect and No. 4 interior offensive line prospect, Utu holds 24 offers from some of the nation’s best programs and appears to be very high on Washington.

Even though he holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State among others, he has only scheduled an official visit with coach Jedd Fisch and the Huskies.

He will replace three-star Peter Langi on the visit, who appears to have canceled his trip to watch Washington’s spring game and should reschedule for a later date.

Offensive line coach Brennan Carroll has done a very good job building relationships with some of the nation’s top prospects since he arrived in Seattle and will have a chance to secure commitments from two of his top targets over the weekend.

Utu will be joined by four-star offensive lineman Champ Taulealea as the coaching staff attempts to reel in a top-notch offensive line class that already holds three-star Jake Flores and is looking for three or four more bodies.

Washington hosts multiple top DL prospects on official visits

The Huskies hosted multiple official visitors that could be big additions to the defensive line over the weekend.

In an effort to bolster the defensive line, the Washington Huskies hosted multiple high-caliber prospects on official visits over the weekend.

The coaching staff secured a visit from Washington native Jayden Wayne, who began his career at the University of Miami but opted to enter the transfer portal after his freshman season. As a high school prospect at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after transferring from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wayne was ranked as the nation’s No. 14 edge rusher by 247Sports.

During his first year with the Hurricanes, Wayne played in 8 games, starting 1, and recorded 13 tackles, including a 0.5 sack. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound edge rusher has immense upside and athleticism and would be an intriguing developmental prospect for defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi.

The Huskies also hosted the best defensive tackle prospect on the West Coast for his official visit, four-star Josiah Sharma. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound product of Folsom High School in California committed to Washington in January, but backed off after Kalen DeBoer’s coaching staff departed for Alabama.

Coach Jedd Fisch is looking to add depth and talent at the position in 2025 and Sharma appears to be far and away the most important high school prospect at the position for his staff. It won’t be easy to reel him back in though, as he has also set trips to visit Alabama and Texas over the summer.

The coaching staff pulled out all the stops to try and earn some commitments over the weekend, as the defensive tackle posted photos of himself on social media wearing what appeared to be defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s Super Bowl rings.

Four-star PG Zoom Diallo reaffirms his commitment to Washington

The Washington Huskies retained the services of their top commit, four-star point guard and Tacoma native, Zoom Diallo.

The Washington Huskies were able to retain the services of their top signee from the 2024 class, four-star point guard Zoom Diallo, who reaffirmed his commitment to coach Danny Sprinkle earlier this week. The product of Curtis High School in Tacoma, Washington played his senior season at Prolific Prep in Napa, California, and is ranked as the nation’s No. 35 player by 247Sports.

“I was this close to going somewhere else, very close. I just stayed with my gut, stayed with my work, and I just trusted myself,” Diallo told Kim Grinolds of Dawgman.com. “I was going back and forth with Washington and another school but I knew it was going to be Washington three or four days ago.”

Diallo had privately changed his decision on his future school on a few occasions while deciding if staying with Washington after coach Mike Hopkins, whom he had originally committed to, was let go.

Retaining his services is a big win for Sprinkle’s offense, as the new head coach has rounded out his backcourt in recent days after adding commitments from four-star Jase Butler and Butler transfer DJ Davis to go along with Rice transfer Mekhi Mason.

On the floor, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Diallo is a true point guard who can be relied upon as both a passer and consistent scorer. While he’s not a consistent shooter at this point in his development, he will be a focal point of the offense.

“I’m a dude that is going to go out there and go get it,” he said. “I have a winner mentality. Do everything to win. My leadership is going to show to others. I’m going to be a positive spirit and be everything that a point guard is.”

Washington basketball adds Butler transfer DJ Davis

The Washington Huskies solidified their guard depth with Butler transfer DJ Davis, who committed to coach Danny Sprinkle’s team on Wednesday.

The Washington Huskies and coach Danny Sprinkle are starting to get settled in on the recruiting trail, as the team landed its third commitment from a guard this offseason, as Butler’s DJ Davis announced his intentions to join the Huskies on Wednesday.

Sprinkle has a lot of work to do to rebuild Washington’s roster, but adding Davis to a backcourt that already includes Rice transfer Mekhi Mason and four-star recruit Jase Butler gives him some very solid building blocks.

After starting his career at UC Irvine where he averaged 11.4 points and 1.6 assists per game over three seasons, Davis transferred to Butler before his senior year.

Against a higher level of competition in the Big East, Butler was up for the task. He improved on all his numbers from his previous stop, averaging 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest with the Bulldogs.

Now in his final year of eligibility, Davis should be expected to step in and start for the Huskies, providing veteran leadership and stellar touch from beyond the three-point line. He is a career 36.8 percent shooter from deep and appears to be a seamless fit for the offense that Sprinkle wants to install during his first year at the helm.

Washington basketball earns commitment from four-star, top 100 G

The Washington Huskies earned a commitment from a four-star guard who had previously pledged to Illinois.

Coach Danny Sprinkle and the Washington Huskies were in dire need of some good news on the recruiting trail when former Illinois signee Jase Butler announced his decision to flip to join UW.

Butler is ranked as the nation’s No. 13 combo guard and No. 97 player by 247Sports and is a much-needed addition for Sprinkle. In recent weeks, the program has seen guard Koren Johnson commit to Louisville and 2024 signee Casmir Chavis opt out of his national letter of intent after the backcourt appeared to be the strength of the team when the offseason began.

“From the moment Coach Sprinkle reached out, I immediately knew he was someone that I could see myself playing for,” Butler told 247 Sports’ Travis Branham. “It became clear to me that he is a winner—and winning is my main priority. He understands my game and values what I’m able to bring to the program—versatility, shooting, and playmaking ability as a big guard.”

The long, athletic guard has promising upside with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor and should fit well in Sprinkle’s offense. He projects as a bench piece that can provide instant offense in his first year and should be a reliable option on Montlake for the foreseeable future.

“I look forward to coming in and competing from day one and making my teammates better,” he told Branham. “Washington has a rich history of producing elite guards and winning. I’m humbled and beyond excited for this opportunity to join the Husky family.”

Former Arizona State star receiver visits Washington

The Washington Huskies appear to be turning to a former Arizona State Sun Devil to bolster their wide receivers.

The Washington Huskies are looking for reinforcements all over the roster and are turning to the transfer portal in search of another wide receiver, as former Arizona State Sun Devils star Elijhah Badger.

ASU beat writer Anthony Totri reported that Badger was visiting Washington on Monday afternoon, which the former four-star recruit confirmed on his Instagram story.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Badger has led the Sun Devils in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons and tallied 142 receptions for 1,640 yards and 10 touchdowns over his four years in Tempe. He added 3 rushing touchdowns to his total and would be an intriguing piece for coach Jedd Fisch’s offense.

A versatile player, Badger can line up in the slot or on the outside of the formation and would give the Huskies an extremely exciting group of receivers for the upcoming season. If he were to commit to Washington, he would likely be asked to start in the slot alongside sophomore Denzel Boston and California transfer Jeremiah Hunter.

Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll would also find significant roles for senior Giles Jackson and redshirt freshmen Keith Reynolds and Rashid Williams, who have all turned in solid performances so far during spring practice, which could create one of the better groups of receivers in the Big Ten.

If the coaching staff can secure a commitment from Badger in the coming days, he would round out Washington’s receiving corps and allow the coaching staff to focus on the offensive line, which is still in need of extra help.

Washington adds transfer lineman Logan Sagapolu from Miami

The Washington Huskies added another transfer along the offensive line on Monday morning, a former member of both the Miami Hurricanes and Oregon Ducks.

Both head coach Jedd Fisch and quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty told the media after Saturday’s practice that help was on the way for the Washington Huskies along the offensive line. On Monday morning, former Miami offensive lineman Logan Sagapolu announced his commitment to Washington, however, he is rumored to make the switch to defensive tackle on Montlake.

According to 247Sports’ Scott Eklund, Sagapolu is expected to flip sides of the line like former Washington defensive tackle Ulumoo Ale.

After spending the first two years of his college career with the Oregon Ducks, Sagapolu followed coach Mario Cristobal to Miami, where he played in 10 games along the offensive line over his two seasons with the Hurricanes.

The product of Skyridge High School in Lehi, Utah, has two years of eligibility remaining, and the 6-foot-2, 340-pound lineman should add much-needed depth for defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi at nose tackle. Washington lost three defensive tackles after the 2023 season, with Ale and Tuli Letuligasenoa out of eligibility, while Faatui Tuitele chose to medically retire.

Sagapolu gives defensive coordinator Steve Belichick a promising option to deploy in the middle of the defense and also allows the Huskies to pursue another player at the position, like Louisville transfer Jermayne Lole, who also visited UW over the weekend.