Since we are in the bye week and everyone is a bit down because of the teams performance over the last couple of weeks I think it is a good time to take a look at exactly how this team has been constructed over the past five years.
When it is all said and done solid top 20 recruiting and steady player development over the years is what it takes to build a solid football program.
2005 Class Recruiting Class - Willingham - National Class Rank - 55
Most fans gave Tyrone a mulligan for his first class. Truth is he didn't really hit the pavement too hard because he spent his first three weeks as Husky coach in vacation in Hawaii. Only five players remain from that first class with four of them being current starters.
This was a strong in state class as you can see below but Willingham gave it barely a sniff and decided to wait till next year.
Notable In State Misses: RB Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), RB Leon Jackson (Nebraska), RB Taylor Rank (South Carolina), DB Jordon Carrey (Oregon), OL Adam Grant (Arizona), OL Mat Webb (Oregon), OL Kenny Alfred (WSU), LB Anthony Felder (Cal), LB Adam Leonard (Hawaii).
OG- Morgan Rosborough - Depth
WR- Marlon Wood - (JC) Showed promise till injured
OT- Ben Ossai - 4 year starter
CB- Qwenton Freeman - (JC) Did not qualify
DE- Daniel Te'o-Nesheim - All Pac 10 Quality Player
RB- J.R. Hasty - Dismissed from team
LB- EJ Savannah - Two year starter
TE- Tim Williams - TE Quit team
DE- Darrion Jones - One year starter
DE- Tyrone Davis - Did not qualify
LB- Chris Stevens - Backup
QB- Johnny DuRocher - Backup
PK- Ryan Perkins - Retired due to injury
2006 Recruiting Class - Willingham - National Class Rank - 35
Tyrone picked up the top player in Washington who really never considered seriously going anywhere else. He didn't show a lot of aggressiveness on the recruiting trail and that cost him Taylor Mays (UW) and Steve Schilling (Michigan). Mays whose father and uncle played for UW said that he had nothing against UW but Pete Carrol seemed a lot more fun to play for. TB James Montgomery was an early commit but defected to Cal late in the process leaving Willingham without a top RB in the class. Ty tried to fill in some holes with JC talent but that didn't work out. He did pick up a top transfer named Michael Houston from Texas but a wild night at Ricks in Lake City followed by a hijacked cab ended his brief career at UW without a single carry.
Notable In State Misses: DE Kevin Kooyman (WSU), OT Steve Schilling (Michigan), DT Alex Linnenkohl (OSU), S Taylor Mays (USC), CB Brandon Jones (Cal)
QB- Jake Locker - All Pac 10
FB- Paul Homer - Three Year Starter
WR- Marcel Reese (JC) WR Occasional starter who was out of shape
WR- D'Andre Goodwin - Leading receiver for two years
RB- Leilyon Myers - Did Not qualify
RB- Michael Houston (T) Dismissed from team
OG- Ryan Tolar - Three year starter
OT- Aaron Mason (JC) - Never played quit the team
DS- Danny Morovick - Four Year Deep Snapper
OT- Cody Habben - Two Year Starter
OT- Brandon Jefferson (JC) - Did Not Qualify
DT- Cameron Elisara - Two Year Starter
DT- Derek Kosub - Quit the team
LB- Anthony Atkins - (JC) Never played quit the team
LB- Donald Butler - All Pac 10
LB- Matt Houston - Depth
CB- Jordan Murchison (JC) - CB Kicked off the team
CB- Matt Mosley - Has spot started and is now on the spot team
S- Ashley Palmer (JC) - Did not qualify
S- Jason Wells (JC) - S One year starter- Injured since second year
S- Jake Merrill - Quit after first practice
2007 Recruiting Class - Willingham - National Class Rank 29
WR Devin Aguilar and LB Mason Foster seem to be the only players in this class with star potential after three seasons.
Notable In State Misses: QB Kellen Moore (BSU), TE Trey Henderson (USC)
QB- Ronnie Fouch - Backup who started last season when Locker was injured
TB- Brandon Johnson - Quit school
TB- Willie Griffin - Depth
TB- Curtis Shaw - Depth
WR- Devin Aguilar - All Pac 10 Talent
WR- Alvin Logan - Scout team safety
WR- Anthony Boyles - Scout Team
TE- Chris Izbicki - Backup
OG- Scott Shugert - Scout Team
OT- Tyler Fancher - Probable starter in 2009 till injured
OG- Mark Armelin - Scout Team
OT- Imeka Eweka - OT Did not qualify
DT- Tyrone Duncan - Back Up
OG- Nick Wood - Surprise starter afte rmoving over from defense this year.
DE- Kalani Aldrich - Back up
FB- Austin Sylvester - Back up
LB- Mason Foster - All Pac 10 talent
CB- Marquis Persley - Scout Team
CB- Byron Davenport (JC) - Injured lost of his career
CB- Vonzell Mc Dowell - Spot starter
CB- Quinton Richardson - CB Starter
S- Nate Williams - Two year Starter
RB- Brandon Yakaboski - Likely retired because of injuries
S- Victor Aiyewa Backup Safety
PK- Kevin Folk - Overcame injuries to have a very good 2009 so far
P- Jared Ballman - (JC) Punted for two years
2008 Recruiting Class - Willingham - National Class Rank 14
This was Tyrone's finest class at Washington and he was aided by signing 11 players from the state of Washington. It is a fine class that is performing well in year two despite above average attrition (6).
Chris Polk obviously is the star of this strong class. Kavario Middleton, Jermaine Kearse, Alameda Ta'amu, Senio Kelemete, Everrette Thompson, Justin Glenn, Adam Long, and Mykena Ikehara All have very gright futures.
What is notable though is that Ty whiffed on three in state players that could be starting right now on the offensive and defensive line which are very depth challenged.
Notable In State Misses: OL Nick Cody (Oregon), OL David DeCastro (Stanford), DL Trevor Guyton (California)
QB- Dominique Blackman - Did not qualify
QB- Luther Leonard - Scout Team WR
RB- David Freeman - Grades
RB- Terrance Dailey - Grades
RB- Chris Polk - All Pac 10 Talent
WR- Cody Bruns - Backup
WR- Jordan Polk - Backup
WR- Jermaine Kearse - Starter
TE- Kavario Middleton - Starter
OT- Terrance Thomas - Probably career ending injury
OT- Drew Schaeffer - Backup
OG- Mykena Ikehara - Backup
OG- Allan Carroll - Grades
DT- Craig Noble - Retired due to congenital heart condition
DT- Alameda Ta'amu - Starter
OG- Senio Kelemete - Starter
DT- Everrette Thompson - Spot Starter
LB- Bradley Roussel - Grades
LB- Kurt Mangum - Scout Team
S- Justin Glenn - Starter till injured this season
CB- Anthony Gobern - Scout Team
CB- Adam Long - Current Starter
S- Vince Taylor - Injured
S- Greg Walker - Backup
RB- Johri Fogerson - Started at safety last year and is the primary backup at RB this year
2009 Recruiting Class - Sarkisian - Class Rank 66
Sarks first class got off to an extremely late start. Like Willingham before him he was picking up the pieces of a coach who was fired early in the season and stopped recruiting in September.
The difference though is rather than go to Hawaii and golf for three weeks Sark hit the recruiting trail within an hour of his first press conference and that visit yielded a player with NFL potential in CB Desmond Trufant.
Another immediate star was WR James Johnson who moved into a starting job in his first game. Sark did visit Hawaii but rather than spend his time golfing he brought back three players.
To be fair S Nathan Fellner, TE Marlion Bennett, DE Andru Pulu, all committed under the previous regime.
Sarkisian gambled by bringing in six late qualifying JC's. Three of them qualified and only two are on the current roster.
Notable In State Misses: WR Gino Simone (WSU), WR Kirby Moore (BSU), OL Grant Enger (OSU), DT Deandre Coleman (Cal), Jamal Atofau (WSU), DB Casey Locker (WSU), CB Nolan Washington (WSU)
QB- Keith Price - Scout Team RS
WR- James Johnson - Starter
TE- Marlion Barnett - Scout Team RS
TE- Dorson Boyce (JC) - Backup
FB - Kimo Makaula - Scout Team RS
OL - Daniel Mafoe (JC) - Did not qualify
DT- Chris Robinson - Injured RS
DT- Johnny Tivao - Did not qualify
DT- Semisi Tokolahi - Special teams
DE - Talia Chrichton - Backup
DE - Andru Pulu - Special Teams
LB- Jordan Wallace - Special Teams
LB- Tim Tucker - Scout Team RS
CB- Desmond Trufant - Starter
CB- Dominique Gaisie - Did not qualify
CB- David Batts - Dismissed from team
S- Nathan Fellner - Spot Starter
S- Will Shamburger - Injured RS
P- Will Mahan - Starting Punter