Finding top-tier defensive tackle talent on the West Coast hasn’t just been a struggle for the Washington Huskies, its been a struggle for all teams on the West Coast. Coach Jedd Fisch and director of player personnel Matt Doherty have had to take a different approach to reel in talent on the interior, and have opted to wade into the South.
The Huskies signed two defensive tackles in the 2025 class, including three-star Caleb Smith, a product of Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Traditionally, the Huskies haven’t made much of an impact on the recruiting trail anywhere in the South, but Smith, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 133 defensive lineman and No. 38 prospect in Alabama by 247Sports, may signify a shift in the school’s approach to recruiting defensive tackles.
“We made a concerted effort to dip into the start of Alabama and look for body types,” Doherty said during Washington’s signing day press conference. “That area of the country produces a disproportionate amount of long, athletic bodies that wind up being fairly successful contributors on a lot of defensive lines around America.”
That search led Washington’s coaching staff to Smith, who chose to make the long journey to Seattle over 21 other offers, including Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Oklahoma State, and Purdue.
“We watched a lot of tape on him, we watched a lot of camp workouts on him, and we were fortunate to have him reciprocate that interest in us,” Doherty continued. “He’s just scratching the surface of what he’s capable of doing. I would say of anybody I might predict, I don’t want to put any undue pressure on the kid, his ceiling is extremely high and what he did at the high school level is impressive, but it’s not anything close to what I believe he can become from a physical standpoint.”
While the Huskies appear to be looking to add multiple high-impact defensive tackles in the transfer portal, Fisch’s staff is excited about the long-term potential at the position with Smith’s addition.