The Washington Huskies and tight ends coach Jordan Paopao are looking to make a major splash at the position in the 2025 recruiting class. One of Paopao’s top targets is four-star tight end Vander Ploog from Troy High School in Fullerton, California.
Ploog, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 14 TE by 247Sports took his official visit to Washington over the weekend for the team’s spring game and is set to take trips to Utah, California, and Arizona State this summer before making his decision. Washington needs to add multiple bodies at tight end and the 6-foot-6, 210-pound prospect is a promising developmental prospect.
An impressive athlete who runs very well but certainly needs to add weight, he has the potential to be a big factor in coach Jedd Fisch’s offense, which loves to utilize its tight ends. He has a lot of experience running routes as a wide receiver and has shown he can make plays in traffic.
As he continues to develop a more extensive route tree, add weight, and refine his run blocking technique, Ploog has shown that his ceiling is as high as anyone’s at the position. Paopao has shown to be one of the nation’s best developers of talent, placing 10 tight ends in the NFL since he started coaching the position in 2013.
Washington TE Coach Jordan Paopao has been one of the best position coaches in the country. He’s coached 10 Tight Ends that have made the NFL:
ASJ
Will Dissly
Drew Sample
Cade Otton
Devin Culp
Tanner McLachlan
Jack Westover
Joshua Perkins
Darrell Daniels
Hunter Bryant…— WestCoastCFB (@WestCoastCFB) April 28, 2024
Ploog has as much upside as anyone Paopao has coached at the position and with Fisch’s strong emphasis on pulling in what he called the “best class in school history,” Ploog has become a priority target for the coaching staff and would be an intriguing add to the 2025 class. [lawrence-related id=3277]