Tag: Washington Huskies Recruiting

Steve Belichick opens up on Washington on Chris Long’s Green Light podcast

The Washington Huskies’ defensive coordinator made his first media appearance following his hire on Chris Long’s Green Light Podcast.

Jedd Fisch made an unexpected, yet intriguing hire by tabbing former New England Patriots outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick as his defensive coordinator. On Friday, Washington’s new defensive play caller made an appearance on former second overall pick and two time Super Bowl champion Chris Long’s podcast, Green Light with Chris Long.

“I worked with Jedd when we were together in New England in 2020 and we got to know each other,” Belichick said when asked why he chose Washington. “He gave me the opportunity and I’m just running with it.”

One of the biggest questions Belichick will have to answer at the college level after spending all 12 years of his coaching career in New England is how he will adapt to the world of recruiting.

“I FaceTimed my first high schooler this week which was a little bit different,” Belichick said. “It’s an adjustment but it’s just part of the business so I’m learning on the fly and as we used to say in New England, ‘Adapt or die.'”

“I’m still trying to learn the difference between NIL and NLI,” he said. “Every day I’m trying to learn and digest everything that’s going on… We had a great recruiting meeting the other day watching a lot of high school guys. You want to see those guys pop and be the best player on the field. Then you start to look at the skillset like can they run? Are they explosive? Are they willing to tackle?”

While he learns the recruiting trail, Belichick will also have to install a new defense and without tipping his hand, it appears he has a few ideas to help bring a few concepts with him from the NFL.

“The scheme has to fit the players,” Belichick said. “I’m not going to rubber stamp what we did in New England, that’s not my job. My job is to put these guys in the best position to win.”

He also doubled down on an earlier statement made by Fisch that his father, eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick will lend some time to helping out the Huskies. As Belichick continue to learn the ropes at the college level, he could prove to be a top-tier hire for Fisch.

Washington reaches into Oklahoma to offer 3-star edge rusher

The Washington Huskies continue to try their hand at a national recruiting approach, extending an offer to a three-star edge rusher from Oklahoma.

Coach Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies are continuing an attempt to expand their recruiting footprint by dipping into Oklahoma to extend a scholarship to three-star edge rusher Josiah Hammond. Defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi made Washington the seventh team to offer the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, who also received an offer from Minnesota on Thursday.

The product of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa appears to be gaining momentum on the recruiting trail after receiving all eight of the offers he currently holds since the start of 2024. Among the other teams showing interest in Hammond are Iowa State, Kansas, and Houston.

He has a projectable frame that should be able to carry between 15-20 pounds after a few years in a college weight room. Combined with solid athleticism, Hammond looks like he could be a name to watch as prospects begin to set official visits.

On film, he displays very good eye discipline as a run defender, never losing sight of the ball carrier. He also possesses a strong motor that helps him never give up on a play, even when the offense runs away from his side of the field.

Hammond lines up all over the formation for his high school team and while he will most likely remain as an edge rusher at the college level, his versatility could be a valuable trait at the next level.

With Washington not set to begin spring practice until April 2, the coaching staff should have plenty of time to prioritize its top targets and attempt to secure an unofficial, and potentially an official visit from Hammond.

Tight End Charlie Crowell could help Washington’s depth

Charlie Crowell, a former Arizona signee, has become a top target for Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies. The Bend, Oregon product could help improve a room hurting for depth.

The Washington Huskies roster has faced severe attrition at many positions but maybe none more glaring than at tight end. Devin Culp and Jack Westover, two veteran leaders from the 2023 season departed for the NFL and the heir apparent to the position, Josh Cuevas, transferred to Alabama.

The team has just three tight ends on scholarship for an offensive staff, led by offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll, who frequently utilized tight ends in the offense at Arizona. This is a need that likely needs to be addressed as soon as possible and the staff will likely look to add some experienced depth when the spring transfer portal window opens in April.

Washington’s current tight ends room is led by senior Quentin Moore along with sophomore Ryan Otton and true freshman Decker DeGraaf. The coaching staff has made the position a point of emphasis since its arrival, pursuing Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett before he opted to withdraw from the portal. Charlie Crowell, a three-star prospect from Summit High School in Bend, Oregon has become the newest target. Crowell had signed his letter of intent with Arizona before being released after the coaching upheaval.

 

Crowell amassed over 500 receiving yards in his senior season, showing his productivity as a primarily inline aligned tight end, which is where he appears to fit best at the next level. The willingness and strength that he shows as a run blocker is an enormous asset for a young player as he tries to gain the trust of the coaching staff. Crowell will need to continue to add strength and mass to his frame as he matures.

As a pass catcher, Crowell will need to do some work before he’s ready to see significant action. It’s unlikely that he will be someone that splits out wide or plays notable snaps in a “big slot” alignment as he fits the inline tight end mold. Working on his catch technique to limit body catches will be necessary going forward. Crowell shows excellent awareness when working in tight spaces and frequently high points the ball while elevating over would be defenders. Refining his route running in order to be a more consistent separator will also allow him to be more consistent as a true pass catcher.

If Crowell does end up committing to Washington, he will give the staff another big body on the depth chart. While he may not be ready to play significantly as a freshman, the staff will value his effort as a blocker and he could play a role on special teams as he refines the rest of his game.

Washington schedules an official visit with top 50 prospect from Alabama

The Washington Huskies were able to earn an official visit from one of the best defensive back prospects in the nation.

The Washington Huskies scheduled an official visit with one of the nation’s top prospects on Thursday, four-star safety Anquon Fegans. On Thursday, Fegans told 247 Sports’ Steve Wiltfong that he has set three official visits for the summer, including a trip to visit coach Jedd Fisch and the Huskies beginning on June 21.

Ranked as the nation’s No. 43 overall player according to 247 Sports, he also scheduled visits to Georgia and Clemson in June. After the Huskies were able to earn a visit from five-star cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. on Wednesday, Fegans’ announcement shows his coaching staff’s commitment to recruiting at a high level after extending an offer to the product of Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama in late January.

While the Huskies are not the leader to secure his commitment at this point, it appears Fegans might not have any aversion to coming to the West Coast. His brother Tre’Quon committed to Alabama out of high school, but the former four-star cornerback transferred to USC before the 2023 season.

On film, it doesn’t take long to see why Fegans holds over 30 scholarship offers and a top 50 overall ranking. He has an elite understanding of zone coverage as a high schooler which when combined with his top-end athleticism, makes him a perfect free safety prospect at the next level.

Thompson isn’t afraid to ask him to play man coverage either and with great eye discipline along with a high football IQ, baiting quarterbacks into making throws, he looks like a potential contributor during his first year on a college campus.

Earning a commitment from Fegans will not be easy, but it appears Fisch, secondary coach John Richardson, and the rest of Washington’s coaching staff is up to the task.

Rising Dawgs: Jedd Fisch’s biggest commit, quarterback Demond Williams

One of the first commitments under new coach Jedd Fisch was quarterback Demond Williams Jr. a talented signal caller who could potentially be the future of Washington football.

The Washington Huskies offense will be bringing in an entirely new group next season and one of those major question marks is at quarterback. The dilemma seems to have been solved, at least in the short term, with the addition of Mississippi State’s Will Rogers. Coach Jedd Fisch didn’t stop there, bringing in two highly-rated freshmen in Demaricus Davis and Demond Williams Jr., both of whom are extremely talented and have the ability to be the future at the position.

Williams was the highest rated commit in Fisch’s final class at Arizona, before he opted to decommit and follow his head coach after making the move to Montlake. His connection with Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll may give him the inside track to the backup job (or at least a leg up on the depth chart) as camp opens, but expect both Williams and Davis to receive significant reps as the coaching staff works out what the position will look like post-Rogers.

Former Arizona tight end commit receives Washington offer

The Washington Huskies extended an offer to a former Arizona commit who was released from his NLI earlier this week.

With just three scholarship players at tight end, the Washington Huskies coaching staff is looking everywhere it can to continue to add to the position. On Wednesday, tight ends coach Jordan Paopao extended an offer to Charlie Crowell, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect at the position from Summit High School in Bend, Oregon.

Crowell had originally committed to Fisch’s staff at Arizona in June but asked to get out of his national letter of intent earlier this week. The three-star prospect was ranked as the No. 11 player in the state of Oregon by 247 Sports and his frame is eerily similar to players Paopao recruited during his first stint at Washington like Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample.

He recorded 32 receptions for 507 yards and 6 touchdowns during his senior season and is a promising player with intriguing potential for Paopao to work with. On film, Crowell displays solid athleticism and soft hands with good speed that allows him to run away from defenders.

As with most high school tight end prospects, he still has some room for development as a route runner and blocker, but during his time at Washington, Paopao displayed that he can help get the most out of his players in both those areas.

Coach Jedd Fisch and staff should be considered the favorites to land a commitment from Crowell at this point, who also held offers from California and Washington State before his initial commitment to Arizona.

Washington could turn to SMU transfers for offensive line help

The Washington Huskies could turn to a few SMU transfers for help along the offensive line.

During his signing day press conference, coach Jedd Fisch said he’s looking for four or five more scholarship offensive linemen to add to the Washington Huskies’ roster when the spring transfer portal window opens in late April.

“I think if we build it the right way there are some great opportunities there for guys to come in and compete to be starters,” Fisch said.

“Guys that are here will have a great opportunity to compete to be starters. We played freshmen… we feel really confident in playing true freshmen and redshirt freshmen… whoever we have will play and we will play the best five or six. There will also be an opportunity for a lot of good players to want to join one of the best teams in the country.”

On Wednesday, one talented option announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal, former SMU left tackle Marcus Bryant. He took to social media to state his intentions to leave the Mustangs to utilize his final season as a graduate transfer elsewhere.

The 6-foot-8, 318-pound left tackle started for three seasons at SMU and was named to the All-American Athletic Conference first team in 2023. He allowed just one sack on the season and would have an opportunity to compete for a starting spot with Washington after tackles Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten departed for the NFL Draft.

Bryant wasn’t the only member of SMU’s offensive line to announce his intentions to transfer either, as center Branson Hickman stated in late January that he will finish his degree and enter the portal in April for his final season.

After suffering a leg injury in December, center Landen Hatchett is expected to miss spring camp which would open up an opportunity for Hickman to fill in while the sophomore continues to rehab. Hickman started 33 games during his time at SMU and was honored on the All-American Athletic Conference second team last season, making him one of the best and most experienced options available at the position.

As Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll continue their search to fill out the offensive line for the 2024 season, Bryant and Hickman appear to be two strong candidates to fill starting roles for the Huskies.

2025 running back Julian McMahan is among Washington’s top targets

The 2025 recruiting class is already heating up with Washington securing a visit from running back Julian McMahan, but what could he offer if he were to commit to the Huskies?

With the 2024 signing day now in the rearview mirror, coach Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies coaching staff have turned its full attention to the 2025 class. The staff secured an official visit from five-star cornerback Dijon Lee Jr., and on Monday, running back Julian McMahan also set his official visit for June 21. Fisch has made it no secret that he is looking to recruit at an elite level, something Washington was missing under former head coach Kalen DeBoer.

The running back room has clearly been an emphasis for the staff, which brought in Arizona transfer Jonah Coleman and earned a commitment from three-star Adam Mohammed. Pairing them with incumbent Cameron Davis makes Washington’s running game a formidable piece of its new-look offense.

McMahan has clearly become one of the top targets for the staff early on as they look to build the foundation of a dominant recruiting class. As a junior at Monte Vista High School in California, he rushed for over 1,100 yards and racked up 19 total touchdowns and will look to build on those numbers as he enters his final high school season.

What can McMahan bring to the Huskies?

McMahan plays on both sides of the ball, taking snaps at both running back and outside linebacker, but he is being recruited as a running back, and for good reason. He dominates high school competition with excellent contact balance and the willingness to put his head down and absorb contact. He is rarely brought down on first contact and easily sheds arm tackles.

Obviously, he will face much stronger, more technically sound tacklers at the college level but McMahan is far from developed from a physical standpoint. Based on his profile, he is somewhat similar to Jonah Coleman.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect could be boxed into an early down role depending on the progression of his development. He wins in a north-south manner and will need to show that he can develop vision and patience if he is to become a full-time starter during his career. Due to a lack of long speed and an extra gear, McMahan will likely not be a player who breaks off a ton of explosive runs in his career. However, he has already shown some ability to be a solid pass-catcher and his high school team is very comfortable using him as a outlet man and on wheel routes out of the backfield.

As the 2025 recruiting cycle heats up it will be important to secure a commitment McMahan so that the staff can feel comfortable about the future of the running back room as it continues to shore up other positions of need.

Washington makes top five for three-star CB Dajon Hinton

The Washington Huskies made the cut for three-star cornerback Dajon Hinton, who cut his list to five on Wednesday.

The Washington Huskies appear to be interested in adding three or four talented defensive backs to the class of 2025 and show up in three-star cornerback Dajon Hinton’s top five, which he announced on Wednesday. Coach Jedd Fisch’s team appeared on the list, which Hinton released on Instagram, along with Tennessee, Oregon, Arizona, and Arizona State.

Hinton is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona who was made an early priority by coach Kalen DeBoer’s staff, which extended an offer to him in May 2022. He was quickly re-offered after Fisch’s staff took over and is ranked as the No. 5 player in the state by 247 Sports while playing on both sides of the ball at Saguaro.

On film, he possesses top-end speed and good footwork as a wide receiver which translates well as a defensive back. Hinton does an impressive job getting clean releases off the line of scrimmage and as he moves to cornerback full-time, his understanding of releases should help him in press coverage.

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Secondary coach John Richardson has shown to be one of the hardest working recruiters on staff and could be working to set up an official visit with Hinton soon. The Huskies have already scheduled official visits with five-star cornerback Dijon Lee Jr., and three-star safety Rylon Dillard-Allen among others and appear to be pushing to pull in a top-tier class of defensive backs.

Hinton’s athleticism would make him a promising addition to the secondary, but it won’t be easy to secure his commitment.

Five-star CB among prospects to set official visit dates to Washington

The Washington Huskies were one of the first to secure an official visit from five-star cornerback Dijon Lee Jr.

June’s final weekend of official visits is once again shaping up to be an important one for the Washington Huskies. Coach Jedd Fisch has scheduled visits from three prospects who have stated their intentions to take an official visit to Seattle from June 21-23.

The first and arguably most important target the Huskies have been recruiting is five-star cornerback Dijon Lee Jr., who also scheduled an official visit with Georgia from June 7-9. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound product of Mission Viejo High School in California took an unofficial visit to Washington for the Huskies’ 36-33 victory over No. 8 Oregon in October and has been very vocal about his interest in the school.

After he cut his list to eight in January, the nation’s No. 24 overall player on the 247 Sports Composite also had a lot of complimentary things to say about Fisch’s staff at Arizona, which was also included among his top schools.

“I’ve been to Arizona three times and they’re one of the schools on me the hardest,” Lee told 247 Sports’ Greg Biggins. “I would say I talk with them and Washington more than anywhere else. [Assistant director of recruiting Armond Hawkins] was the first guy to offer me when he was at Colorado and then he picked things right up at Arizona. I love their defensive backs coach [John Richardson] as well. He’s a phenomenal coach and they always keep it real with me.”

Alongside Lee will be another cornerback, three-star Trestin Castro from Upland High School in California. Upland also produced running back Cameron Davis and former Washington wide receiver Taj Davis and the 6-foot-1, 160-pound defensive back appears to be the school’s next talented prospect.

Castro is ranked as the nation’s No. 591 prospect according to the 247 Sports Composite and also holds offers from Colorado, Minnesota, and USC.

Three-star running back Julian McMahan also scheduled his official visit for June 21 and the nation’s No. 46 running back according to 247 Sports appears to be high on position coach Scottie Graham’s target list. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect holds just nine offers, but the product of Monte Vista High School in Danville, California, looks like he could be a big mover before his senior season gets underway.