Final UW Recruiting Weekend
by John Berkowitz on Jan 30, 2009 10:35 AM PST
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PrintWashington enters the final week of the recruiting season with only 13 firm committments. The new staff has done a little bit of trimming getting out of commitments from OL Grant Cisneros, CB Aaron Grymes, and probably CB Keith Pinkard who hasn't heard from the new staff and hasn't visited.
Sarkisian said he wanted to bring in a full class of 25 but the attainable talent left available in the last two months of the recruiting season doesn't support that goal. With only around 34 to give out over the next two seasons without attrition the Husky coaches need to save room for the 2010 class. The 2010 class has a bumper crop of in state talent led by QB Jake Heaps.
I think the Huskies end up giving out 18-20 total scholarships this season with 18 being the most realistic total. WR James Johnson is a lock to get one of them. The other four are anyone's guess at this point. Positions that that they are looking to possibly fill are OL, CB, DL, and LB.
Sarkisian has done a great job of getting kids who are committed to other programs to visit Washington this year. With only two months to recruit his staff has been running behind since they started. This weekend the list begins with some real JC studs.
- DT Daniel Mafoe JC
- CB David Batts JC (Soft Commit Kansas State)
- CB Brandon Sermons (Soft Commit UCLA)
- DE Ryan Davis JC (Soft Commit California)
- DT Johnny Tivao JC
- P William Mahan JC
If UW went three for five on these guys you could easily say that the recruiting season ended on an up beat note. If you were to add Mafoe, Davis, and Batts you would really be adding some instant talent and competition to the defense if they can qualify.
For those of you asking about punters Mahan happens to be a five start JUCO prospect that would lock down the position for a couple of years.
Sermons is a long shot whose brother Rodney visited Washington when he was a player. UW has about as much of a chance with him as we did Rodney.
As far as past visitors go Hawaii's Stan Hasiak and Simione Vehikite certainly wouldn't have their faxes turned down on LOI day either if they popped in as surprises but I think Hasiak goes to Cal, and Vehikite ends up at USC.
DE James Boyd, WR Delvon Purvis, and S Patrick Hall all cancelled their visits for this weekend. Sources say it was fall out from the LA Times article. Here is another LA Times article that talks about it.
Expect the visit list to at least double in size by Saturday morning when the scouting services find out exactly how many prospects are on campus. I will be updating the list and adding comments through the rest of the day.
Current Husky Commitment List
- LB Tim Tucker (2)
- CB Dominique Gaisie JC (2)
- DT Semis Tokolahi (2)
- TE Kimo Makaula (3)
- SS Will Shamburger (2)
- SS Nathan Fellner (3)
- CB Desmond Trufant (3)
- TE Dorson Boyce JC (2)
- DT Chris Robinson (2)
- DE Talia Chrichton (2)
- QB Keith Price (3)
- TE Marlion Barnett (3)
- DE Andru Pulu (3)
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Good info John
After looking at Condotta’s breakdown of players per class it has become crystle clear that the success of our team the next 3 years will not be based much on recruiting but on how this staff can develope that sophmore class. With 27+ kids in that class it will make or break this program for the next few years.
I agree with that...
We need to get that punter on board but other than the guys you mentioned above I am ok with leaving the class as is. More scholarships for Sark and Co later on with a full year to recruit.
The JC's
I am hoping they sign Batt, Mafoe, and Davis along with the punter.
If they can do that there is a lot more hope for 2009 and 2010 on defense.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 30, 2009 11:21 AM PST reply actions
Stan Hasiak & Simione Vehikite
Word is that both Stan Hasiak and Simione Vehikite are visiting another school this weekend. Don’t be too sure we don’t get both these guys. Why?
Hasiak could become a starter sooner rather then later. Vehikite could see action this season. At Cal and at USC I believe these guys redshirt. SC is loaded at linebacker and the Trojans have a commit from a 5 star MLB so when would Vehikite ever see the field at SC?
I see both signing letters of intent to play for the UofW.
All I saw was purple
Wow
It would be great if it happens but I wouldn’t count on it.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 30, 2009 12:09 PM PST up reply actions
Just remember what I told you
If you keep trying to predict the future and come up wrong, it’s going to make your past predictions look like you got lucky!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
Vehikite
I think USC wants him to play fullback. Could be wrong though.
Holtamania!
Notice anything particular about the list John? Predominently defensive guys. This is not an eye popping class, but it is a dam good class for a program coming off an 0-12 season. Sark and Holt have had a plan since they’ve arrived involving this years late starting recruitment. We are using this late start to get the defense in shape, win a some ballgames next season and go balls to the walls for next years in-state bumper crop. Everything is going to turn out just fine.
Defense wins championships and this is a good start in that direction.
Go Dawgs! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
Defense
The offensive guys go quite early in the process.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 30, 2009 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
Without a doubt.
Completely agree. Most of the best offensive guys were already gone. And since we have decent offensive kids in now, recruiting towards defense on a shortened recruting season was a good move.
I’ve said it before, it is easier to guage a good defensive guy then it is to guage a good offensive guy and it is easier to find sleepers on defense too rather then sleepers on offense. Is Tim Tucker a sleeper? I’m willing to bet this guy becomes something special for us! And if Vehikite signs? This program is not that bad off as Holt mentioned in his press conference. If this program was as bad as we think it is, do we actually beleive two of the most decorated bigtime college coordinators take this job? My gosh think about it. Nick Holt is basically lateralling as a DC from the Pac 10 champ to the Pac 10 bottom feeder. THAT’S HUGE! These guys know something that the average fan doesn’t and I am extremely excited about it!
Go Dawgs! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
Daniel Mafoe
Scout is listing him at OL, although he was listed at DL coming out of high school. Assuming he’s been playing O-line at the JC?
Looks like he had a bunch of offers last year but didn’t sign anywhere… maybe hadn’t finished his degree or something? Anyway, he has no other interested schools this year (again, based on the scout.com database) so I’m kind of wondering what’s up. Anybody know why he’s not generating interest from anybody else, or which position he’s being recruited for at UW?
Interesting
I’m sure I’m not the only one scratching my head at the lack of offensive linemen in this class. I mean, you can only take guys if they’re there, but Mafoe looks like a guy who actually graded better once he switched sides at the JC. If it was even close, I’d expect they’d want him to stay on O to keep this class reasonably balanced.
I think there’s enough young talent on campus already that it’s not critical to grab O-linemen just for the sake of grabbing them, so it’s probably not a huge deal. Hopefully guys like Ikehara and Allen Carroll and all the random freshman and sophomore tackles will step up and provide enough quality for the next few years that the load of guys Sark will surely haul in next year will have plenty of time to mature before they’re needed.
Boyd
Here’s a quote from James Boyd about UW off of the ESPN site.
James Boyd firms up pledge to Trojans
Defensive end prospect James Boyd won’t visit Washington after all, ESPN affiliate Web site WeAreSC.com reports. Boyd is now finished with the recruiting process.
He said, “I wasn’t really feeling Washington, I really didn’t want to go up there and I just decided to commit to USC. I have ended the recruiting process and I am 100-percent committed to USC.”
Is it a little disconcerting that the staff has been able to have visits by players who have committed to other schools and they have not been able to sway any of them? Doesn’t seem like the pitch is working.
Especially looking at Hasiak and Vehikite. Hasiak is again waivering between Cal and UCLA and he was really adamant that he has 100% no interest in UW whatsoever.
Vehikite, Sark was on him before anyone else while Sark was at SC and he was not able to convince Vehikite to follow him to UW.
Keep it in perspective
0-12 vs 12-1. You want these kids to take serious looks then win games which i think we will. It will take time but we will get back to the top of the Pac 10, just be patient.
Sark has already pulled some BIG surprises
Don’t be too judgemental. Nobody thought we’d land Nick Holt except me and BLAMO! All I am saying is don’t count the chickens until they’ve hatched. A verbal means nothing unless it is penciled in.
And I agree with bigdave on this one. We’ve got a brilliant coaching staff that doesn’t seem to tire- we’ll be fine in the recruiting department. Our class is a good one especially coming off an 0-12er.
Go Dawgs! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
I think there will be a couple..
…of surprises that is. Look for next years class to be loaded!
by doubledeucedawg on Jan 30, 2009 7:39 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed
Amongst teams coming off an 0-12 season in the last 10 years, we’re probably doing pretty well. No idea how we’re going to end up in the rankings, but I’d love to see the comparison to similarly terrible teams over the last 10 or so years.
The 4 or 3 star guys from WA we MIGHT have had a chance with earlier in the year were all but gone by the time Sark was even hired (Simone, Kirby Moore, Mooney etc). Poor recruiting year in Washington overall anyway.
A decent record next year will go a long way with recruiting. No doubt about it, the best players want to play for the best teams. Another 0 or 1 win season won’t help us at all with Heaps or any other highly rated recruit.
Be sure though, if Ty was still here we wouldn’t even be getting ANY attention from the likes of Boyd, Hasiak, Vehietke. Sark is doing all the right things. We need wins next year and the recruits will come.
PhinneyDawg Gets it.
Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff know exactly what they are doing. If they didn’t then they’d be looking at a coaching career suicide. Jake Locker is going to be a veteran savvy Pac 10 QB. His athletic ability and a retooled offense will win some ball games for us this year. I have not doubt about it. Furthermore I believe Locker will will us to a few victories just becasue he is Jake Locker.
Again this is a good class for an 0-12er, we got some kids that will fit into Sark and Holt’s systems. We’ve gone after defensive recruits for one reason- competition. That competition will lead to a lot of positive things on both sides of the ball. Next year is the big recruiting payday and I for one belive this class will lead to more positive things to come. How much do you want to bet that this class coming in will be in the Rose Bowl as a senior class? So it has been written … so it will be done.
Go Huskies! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
I think Crazi is actually Nick Holt.
Hi Nick. Could you drop the word “Awesome” a few more times when you post?
"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.
This Place is just AWESOME!
This thing up here in Seattle is going to be AWESOME. Coach Sark hired an AWESOME coaching staff and the kids in the program are all fired up and ready to knock some skulls.- my best Nick Holt impersonation.
Seriously, quit worrying about the recruiting class. We’re going to be fine in that department. I still think their is going to be some nice little surprises come next Wednesday, hint: Husiak and Vehikite as a possibility. Don’t rule it out!
We’ve got a first rate coaching staff- look at it! When have we had this great of a coaching staff at the U? I’m JACKED! It’s AWESOME! And the kids in the program are going to learn very fast what it takes to play bigtime college football.
Awesome post Gekko WOOF!!!!
All I saw was purple
Yep..
..one class doesn’t make it. Last years class was loaded. Next years class will be loaded. I think we’re going to have our earliest commit EVER! with this coming recruiting class. Who was the earliest thus far? Wasn’t it Senio Klemete?
by doubledeucedawg on Jan 30, 2009 7:42 PM PST up reply actions
Already have one
We have Zach Forgeson (sp?) who is a potential top 150 according to ESPN.
I believe...
Zach is the earliest commit ever for UW. I also read on DM that he will probably be ranked as the #1 fullback prospect in the country next year.
Fogerson
Fogerson is probably a four star recruit. Even if you are the top FB in the country that probably doesn’t translate into Top 100.
Heaps on the the other hand looks like he is going to come out as the absolute #1 recruit in the country.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 31, 2009 10:00 AM PST up reply actions
That's right...
…I forgot about him. Pretty good start huh?
by doubledeucedawg on Jan 31, 2009 10:51 AM PST up reply actions
I hope that's true
Because that means that Holt just told me I “get it”. Awesome indeed.
Tim Tucker a Sleeper?
In case you missed this…
"t didn’t take long for big (6-2/240) linebacker Tim Tucker to announce his presence in the game. He made a nice open field tackle on Evans on the opening kickoff, then blew up a blocker to make a tackle on the first play from scrimmage.
Tucker plays the game like he knows he’s the baddest man on the field, and it’s that attitude and toughness that make him so valuable in the middle of Narbonne’s defense. There’s another big linebacker in Southern California that is getting a lot of press in Vontaze Burfict, but if I were looking for a run stopper in college, I could win a lot of games with Tucker manning my defense."
Tuck is going to be a GREAT Husky
Sleeper or not this kid is going to be lights out! I chose to label Tucker as a sleeper only because he is a 3 star kid by many “experts”. I see this kid blowing up belly gaps and I see this kid laterally controlling the L.O.S.
A great class last year, this class is a sleeping giant, and next years bumper crop class will dominate once they become upperclassmen. I’ve never bought into class rankings and I’m not about to now. Ask Mack Brown how many recruiting titles he won before he finally won a national championship. It only matters what you do with that talent and we’ve got a great coaching staff to put something special together. It’s all coming together. I expect our offensive coaching staff will begin putting the offense together after signing day- that is our biggest concern right now.
All I saw was purple
Agree
Recruiting helps, but player development is far more important. Take a look at Charlie Weiss, and Ron Zook, or for the other side of the coin, Oregon State, TCU, Utah, Boise St., …..
I love how hard this coaching staff is working. Hopefully they can get the players to follow their example. I’m tired of the seniors here playing at the same level they did as sophomores.
Crazi
I want to say that I look forward to your energy. I dont always read your long posts all the way through, but I agree with a lot of what you say and this is no exception. Sark and co will be fine in regards to recruiting…not worried at ALL. How they develope the talent, not worried. We have two of the best coordinators in the country getting these kids ready to play. We will be fine. The past couple of years were unfortunate but we are rising from the depths, emerging stronger than ever!
Dawgman
Great article about Wade and how the UW staff recruits….very interesting, good read.
How the University recruits as a team
It isn’t all about fog machines and sirens even though making the trips more exciting is one benefit of having a new coaching staff.
I think a lot of us forget how the University itself sells and presents itself.
The Connibear Center is a huge recruiting tool by the way. It is a really nice play that is simply impressive.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 31, 2009 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
Yes a lot of money was...
…spent on that place. Our facilities aren’t as bad as some would lead you to believe.
by doubledeucedawg on Jan 31, 2009 10:53 AM PST up reply actions
Academics
It was nice to hear that the staff is on the ball in terms of the academic situations of the JC guys they’re bringing in. I’m sure that’s part of the due diligence they go through, but it’s nice to have a reported example where they explain to the kid where he is in terms of exact credits and standing. They’re recruiting guys that they know are going to qualify.
Also, Wade sounds like a pretty sharp kid in terms of having his academic priorities in order. I’d like to think that the UW academic experience would be a strong pull, but a) it sounds like winning is high on his priority list and b) he sounds like he has the work ethic to succeed wherever he goes, so maybe it’s less important how “prestigious” his college of choice is. Hope things turn out well for the kid either way, but I’d love to see him at Washington.
Wade
Chances are slim to none that Wade will go to UW but you have to admire the persistency that yielded a last minute private visit.
Spring Football
This is the most I’ve been anticpating spring football sense the second year of TY. After that the whole Ty aurora kind of took the luster off of the whole Husky experience. It’s great that the information will be open again. I think the open practices alone with all of the stories coming out of them will generate interest for all the local recruits for next year.
GO HUSKIES!!!!
Moving Onward & Upward
The point is we’ve got the right guys in here now. Recruiting is a cut throat business and for some reason Ty didn’t understand that. And his closed door policy doesn’t work in today’s all access arena. Ty’s policies would’ve worked 15 to 20 years ago, but that stuff doesn’t sell well to kids anymore nor towards boosters, alumni, and media.
I think it is crucial that we get a few of these JC kids coming in for a visit. These guys could help us out on defense for the next two years. With or without Husiak or Vehikite we’re going to be okay. Tim Tucker is a stud backer. A guy you can build your defense around- I think this kid is my favorite recruit in 09.
Go Dawgs! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
The point is we’ve got the right guys in here now.
There are some players on the squad to build with if the coahces can get them excited, get them in shape, and build up their skills.
Husky Stadium...
…HAS to get done! I hope all of you loyal Huskies emailed the King County council.
council@kingcounty.gov
by doubledeucedawg on Jan 31, 2009 10:56 AM PST reply actions
Also, for those of you kicking/punting junkies
The place to go for info is Chris Sailer Kicking. The regular recruiting sites don’t pay much attention to the specialists, but this is the top camp for kickers, punters and long snappers. All the top guys are tracked and they do their own recruiting rankings.
Will Mahan is rated as the top punting prospect in the country, so it would definitely be great to get him signed up. It sounds like he has interest from (and/or interest in) a lot of schools, but if he goes somewhere else, the top high school punter in the country, Nick Marsh, still hasn’t declared anywhere. He’s from California, too, and his best listed offer is from UC Davis. He’s also rated as a five-star (17th overall) placekicker.
Anyway, for those of you fretting that Sark hasn’t snagged a punter yet, I think there’s still some good options out there. Also, don’t forget that Erik Folk is still on scholarship as a kicker. He was named one of the “Top 12” performers at the Sailer kicking camp in 2007, so if his back holds up, he’s got plenty of talent to get the job done.
Early Returns
DT Daniel Mafoe JC (Commit to UW)
CB David Batts JC (Undecided)
CB Brandon Sermons (No Word)
DE Ryan Davis JC (Commit to UW)
DT Johnny Tivao JC (Commit to UW)
P William Mahan JC (Commit to UW)
Dawgman reports that Mafoe, Tivao, and Mahan are in the bag. They are waiting to confirm the others but they think as many as five players verballed this weekend. This can all change of course once the fuzziness of the trip wears off.
by John Berkowitz on Jan 31, 2009 11:41 PM PST reply actions
Huge
If this stays true then this was a big weekend for Sark and Co. Signing day cant come soon enough and then Spring ball.
The question will be ...
how many of these JC guys actually make it in. There are at least two there that are rumored to have grade issues. Also it would appear that if all do qualify we are well over the 85 scholarship limit.. This could get interesting.
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