This will go down as either the class that helped Steve Sarkisian and the Washington Huskies turn the corner toward being among the Pac 10's elite or it will be the class that mires them in a mediocrity that he will never recover from. When you bring in thirty athletes in one class you are cementing your future one way or another in the era of only 85 scholarships.
The early returns suggest that this will be the class that pulls Washington back to the top of the Pac 10. Scout rates it as a top ten class and the other rating services also have it highly ranked. Ratings of course are for fun and are very subjective. It is pretty hard to tell how any class will pan out on signing day. Rick Neuheisel's last top ten class ended up being a semi bust. Keith Gilbertson's only class which was highly rated also fared poorly.
The key of course is how the coaches develop these kids over the next 4-5 years. One look at the roster of a Boise State or Oregon State will tell you how much more important it is to find the right kids to fit your system rather than relying on only star ratings to judge the quality of a class.
Quarterback
Jake Heaps was the top QB in the country according to those in the know. He didn't do much to dispel that during his senior season or in post season games. Husky fans felt let down when he picked BYU over Washington but only a few days later the Huskies scored big in garnering the commitment of Nick Montana (****).
While Heaps is a kid who can probably nail down the starting job as a true frosh at BYU next season Montana is going to need some time before he does it at Washington. He isn't as physically developed as Jake is at this point but all the tools are there. The one thing he really has going is the head on his shoulders. The kid is a leader, a playmaker, and he is still growing.
A year spent studying film, growing, learning, and getting stronger while Jake Locker competes for a Heisman Trophy should set him up nicely for the rest of his career at Washington. The only real knock on him at this point is arm strength but that is coming. He will never throw it as hard as John Elway but most think he has a pretty good chance of imitating his father who by the way won more Super Bowls.
Nick Montana earned first-team All-CIF Southern Section Northwest Division quarterback ... named to the Los Angeles Daily News all-area team ... passed for 2,636 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior ... went 27-1 as the Lions' starting quarterback ... helped team to a 13-1 record and the Tri-Valley League crown as a senior ... led team to the championship game of the 2009 CIF Southern Section Northwest Division ... as a junior, passed for 2,404 yards on 133-of-241 passing, with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions ... won the Northwest Division title with a 63-28 win over Serra in the title game in 2008 ... named the L.A. Daily News' newcomer of the year as a junior ... teamed with fellow UW signee Erik Kohler at Oaks Christian ... played in the Under Armour All-America game following his senior season ... began high school career at De La Salle High ... named to the "Dream Team" and ranked the No. 34 prospect in the country by PrepStar ... named to calhisports.com's all-state (medium schools) first team ... listed as the No. 42 prospect in California by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 13 quarterback in the nation by Tom Lemming ... rated the No. 300 overall prospect in the nation (all positions) and No. 19 quarterback in the nation by scout.com ... ranked by rivals.com as the No. 22 QB in the nation and the No. 25 recruit in California ... son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana ... played under coach Bill Redell at Oaks Christian.
Running Back
According to Scout Washington had a top five RB recruiting class this year. They picked up arguably the best RB in California and perhaps the best FB prospect in the country too.
Deontae Cooper (****) may have been the best back on the West Coast at the end of last season. Pete Carroll commented that he made a mistake by not focusing in him earlier. By the time Pete noticed him he was a firm commit to Washington. Cooper is currently enrolled at Washington and will get plenty of playing time in the absence of Chris Polk who is recovering from shoulder surgery. the only knock on Cooper was it was hard to judge how good he was because of the competition his HS played against. This spring thise questions will be answered pretty quickly when he runs against the Husky defense.
Cooper finished his high school career with 7,450 rushing yards and 107 touchdowns ... 7,450 yards were second in Inland Empire history, behind only Toby Gerhart, the 2009 Heisman Trophy runner-up ... rushed for 2,863 yards and 34 touchdowns on 316 carries as a senior at Citrus Hill ... named the offensive MVP of the Mountain Pass League in 2009 ... earned Inland Empire all-area ... named first-team all-state Division II by maxpreps.com ... helped lead Citrus Hill to a 38-1 record over his final three seasons (he also played as a freshman), including an area-record 38-game win streak that was broken in the Hawks' final game of 2009 ... in a 49-36 win over San Jacinto in 2009, carried the ball 53 times for 388 yards and four touchdowns, winning the league title that night ... rushed for 200 or more yards in eight of 11 games as a senior ... ran for 412 yards and four scores on 59 carries in a win over Great Oak ... rushed for 236 yards and four TDs on only nine carries against rival Perris ... carried 44 times for 342 yards and three scores against Heritage ... finished his career having scored a TD in 31 straight games ... as a junior, rushed for 2,948 yards on 275 carries (10.6-yards per carry), with 42 touchdowns to lead the state in rushing yards ... ran for 1,212 and 18 TDs on 102 rushes (11.8 yards per carry) as a sophomore ... helped team to 14-0 records and section championships as both a junior and sophomore ... as a junior, rushed for over 100 yards in all 14 games and for over 200 yards in eight games ... ran for 372 yards and four TDs in a win over Palm Desert as a junior ... also broke the 300-yard mark with 301 yards and four scores vs. Rim of the World ... scored at least two touchdowns in every game of his junior year, with a high of six TDs against Beaumont ... also played defensive back for the Hawks ... named a PrepStar All-American ... listed on the calhisports.com all-state first team ... rated the No. 28 prospect in the state by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... received votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best in the West" poll ... ranked as the No. 10 running back in the nation, the No. 29 player (any position) in the state of California and the No. 154 player in the nation by rivals.com ... rated the nation's No. 19 running back and the No. 27 prospect in California by scout.com ... rated the No. 189 overall prospect in the nation (all positions) by scout.com ... father played football at San Jose State.
Jessie Callier (***) started the season strong and climbed up the recruiting ladder finishing as one of the highest yardage backs in California. He has great speed and will arrive this spring as TB but could just as easily be moved to corner if that doesn't work out.
Callier rushed for 3,010 yards and 43 touchdowns as a senior ... 3,010 yards led the state of California and were seventh-most in the nation ... rushed for 6,529 yards in three-year career at Warren ... named a first-team All-CIF Southern Section Western Division running back in 2009 ... won the San Gabriel Valley League title as a senior ... listed as a first-team all-state Division I player by maxpreps.com ... named the Los Angeles Wave Newspaper's All-East Region Player of the Year ... helped Warren to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Western Division playoffs as a senior ... team finished 10-2 on the season ... rushed for 447 yards and six touchdowns on 36 carries in a 2009 game vs. Whittier ... in a win over La Serna, rushed for 251 yards and four TDs on only nine carries ... also played linebacker and returned kicks and punts ... rushed for four or more touchdowns eight times during 2009 season ... led Bears to an 8-4 record, a league title and a trip to the sectional quarterfinals as a junior ... rushed for 2,466 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior ... in 2008, rushed for 330 yards and four TDs vs. Santa Monica and for 340 yards and four scores vs. Lynwood ... led team to first league title in 16 years in 2008 ... ran for 1,053 yards as a sophomore ... named second-team all-state by calhisports.com ... listed as the No. 66 prospect in the state by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... received votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best in the West" poll ... ranked the No. 66 running back in the nation and the No. 66 prospect in California by scout.com ... ranked the No. 12 "all-purpose back" in the nation by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also participated in track & field ... older brother, James, played football at San Jose State ... played for coach Chris Benadom.
Zach Fogerson (***) is the earliest commit in Washington history. The O'Dea FB will be used similar to the way USC has used Stanley Havili. He has good hands and can carry the rock. His most important attribute will be blocking at Washington. Expect him to redshirt this season with two FB's ahead of him.
Fogerson helped lead Fighting Irish to the Metro League title in 2009 ... playing time was limited during senior season due to injury ... first-team All-Metro League at linebacker ... a teammate of fellow UW signee Ben Riva at O'Dea ... O'Dea finished 9-2 his senior season, advancing to the state tournament ... helped the Irish to the 3A state championship game his sophomore year and to the first round of the 2008 state playoffs as a junior ... second-team All-Metro League as a junior linebacker and also a second-teamer as a running back his sophomore year ... named a "red chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 3 fullback in the nation and No. 8 prospect in the state by scout.com ... listed as the No. 6 fullback in the nation and ranked the No. 10 prospect in Washington by rivals.com ... rated the No. 18 fullback in the country by Tom Lemming ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... younger brother of current Husky tailback Johri Fogerson ... played under coach Monte Kohler at O'Dea.
Wide Receiver
The Huskies missed out on some big names here but picking up Kevin Smith late this fall was a coup. UW is deep at receiver so there wasn't a lot of immediate need but as we saw with James Johnson last season the best will play and even if you led the team in receptions the previous year nothing is assured. Keanon Lowe was a late defection to Oregon and while he is talented the loss didn't hurt this class or the future. Washington has a very good chance of signing three of the top receivers in the country in 2011.
Kevin Smith (****) is the headliner of this part of the class. The talented athlete coud play on either side of the ball but the coaches have him slated to start off at receiver. He is a bit raw since he concentrated on basketball until recently but observers took notice this year and declared him a man among boys on the field. He stood out enough that he became one of the top athletes in California this season. Kevin is a guy that could see the field right away if needed.
Kevin earned first-team All-CIF Southern Section Northwest Division at wide receiver ... the MVP of the Pioneer League ... helped Apaches to the first round of the 2009 CIF-SS Northwest Division playoffs ... team won the Pioneer League title as a senior, a year after finishing 1-9 ... title was Apaches' first outright championship since 1960 ... in Centennial's 2009 regular-season finale vs. Lawndale, returned the opening kickoff and Lawndale's first punt of the game for touchdowns, going 87 and 70 yards, respectively ... didn't play football until junior year of high school ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... listed as the No. 20 prospect in the state by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... received votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best in the West" poll ... rated the No. 142 overall prospect in the nation (all positions) and No. 23 wide receiver in the country by scout.com ... also ranked the No. 21 prospect in California by scout.com ... listed by rivals.com as the No. 31 "athlete" prospect in the nation ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also a standout basketball player ... Pioneer League MVP as a junior basketball player ... played under coach Eric Scott.
Diandre Campbell (**) is another raw kid that flew under the radar this season. When other tall receivers snubbed the Huskies the coaches turned to this hard working kid from Oakland. He needs a year of seasoning be the word we keep hearing is work ethic and coachability.
Campbell is a first-team All-Oakland Athletic League wide receiver and also a second-team All-East Bay defensive back in 2009 ... led Bulldogs to a 9-3 record as a senior ... led the Oakland Athletic League in receiving with 28 receptions for 490 yards and 10 touchdowns (regular-season games only) ... also notched 70 tackles, three interceptions and five sacks on defense ... earned helped team advance to the second round of the CIF Oakland Section playoffs ... played on the East Bay all-star team in the Holiday Classic all-star game in Sacramento ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... named to calhisports.com's preseason All-East Bay team prior to senior season ... a standout on the basketball team ... also participated in track & field ... played for coach Delton Edwards.
Tight End
It was a good year for TE's in state and the Huskies picked up one of three top players at the position this season. Washington also wanted Christian thomas or Xavier Grimble but they never gave UW a serious look.
Michael Hartvigson (***) is an impressive athlete from Bothell who really impressed observers with his play on both sides of the ball. He could line up as a TE or a DE this fall. He moves really well and has good hands so I think his first shot is at TE but DE is where the immediate need is. He may not have the hype of a Kavario Middleton or Chris Izbicki coming in but this kid can play.
Michael was named to the Seattle Times all-state team (all divisions) as a defensive lineman ... named to the Seattle Times all-area team and to the Times' 2009 preseason all-state team ... named the KingCo Crown Division's defensive player of the year ... first-team All-KingCo at both tight end and defensive line ... caught 16 passes for 213 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season and had seven receptions for 85 yards and two TDs in the playoffs ... also played defense end ... named to AP all-state honorable mention as a tight end ... high-school teammate of fellow Husky signee Colin Porter ... Bothell went 12-1 and lost in the 4A state semifinals his senior year ... helped Cougars to the state championship game as a sophomore and to the state quarterfinals his junior year ... first-team All-KingCo 4A on the defensive line and second-team at tight end as a junior ... participated in the Team USA vs. the World game after his senior season ... named a "red chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... rated the No. 24 tight end prospect in the nation and the No. 21 recruit in Washington by scout.com ... listed as the No. 26 tight end in the country and No. 6 recruit in the state of Washington by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also a standout basketball player ... a cousin of former UW baseball players Chad and Grant Hartvigson ... played football for coach Tom Bainter.
Offensive Line
It all starts up front and Washington brings in its most impressive and largest OL class of the decade in 2010. The only thing that could have made this part of the class better is if Nick Rowland had decided to become a Husky rather than a Duck. Even though that didn't happen picking up a couple of bookends like Hatchie and Kohler is a real big deal that will provide dividends for the next five years.
Erik Kohler (****) is a kid with the ability to play right away even though most think the coaches want to give him a redshirt season to shed some of the usual baby fat. Erik moves really well for a big guy and can play anywhere on the line. I think it is waste in most cases for linemen to play right away but we will see where the need is acter spring ball. If Skyler Fancher can come back healthy we may not need to play these kids early.
Kohler arned first-team All-CIF Southern Section Northwest Division honors ... named to the Los Angeles Times All-Area team in 2009 ... also made the Los Angeles Daily News all-area first team ... led Lions to the Tri-Valley League championship and to the title game of the 2009 CIF Southern Section Northwest Division ... Lions went 13-1 his senior year and 14-0 his junior season ... won the Northwest Division title with a 63-28 win over Serra in the title game as a junior ... teamed with fellow UW signee Nick Montana at Oaks Christian ... played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl after senior season ... named to calhisports.com's all-state first team ... prior to 2009 season, ranked No. 4 guard in the nation by Tom Lemming ... ranked the No. 58 prospect in the country by PrepStar, which placed him on the PrepStar "Dream Team" ... listed as the No. 22 prospect in the state by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... received votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best in the West" poll ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 139 overall prospect (all positions) and No. 5 offensive guard in the nation by scout.com, which also ranked him the No. 19 recruit in California ... listed as the No. 4 offensive guard in the country and the No. 211 overall prospect in the nation by rivals.com ... played under coach Bill Redell at Oaks Christian.
Colin Porter (****) was on most recruiting lists at the start of the season but when talent scouts saw him play his senior season at Bothell his rankings skyrocketed. One such scout said he was the best offensive lineman he had seen on West coast all year. I think Porter has the potential to play early inside if the coaches go that way. His nickname is "Porterhouse". He really passes the line test and is the biggest of the recruits coming in.
Porter was named a first-team 4A all-state offensive lineman ... also made the Seattle Times all-state team (all levels) ... named the KingCo 4A Crown Division's Offensive co-MVP ... also first-team All-KingCo tackle ... listed on the Seattle Times all-area team ... also made the Times' preseason all-state team in 2009 ... Bothell went 12-1 and lost in the 4A state semifinals his senior year ... teammate of fellow Husky signee Michael Hartvigson ... played at Redmond prior to transferring to Bothell ... earned honorable mention All-KingCo as a junior ... participated in the Team USA vs. the World game after his senior season ... named a third-team EA Sports All-American by ESPNRise ... one of only four players in the state listed as a "blue chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 275 overall prospect (all positions) and the No. 9 guard in the nation by scout.com, which also listed him as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Washington ... ranked the No. 41 guard in the country and the No. 12 prospect in Washington by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played for coach Tom Bainter at Bothell.
Micah Hatchie (****) was on the wish list of most Husky fans during the recruiting season. Hatchie is a well tuned athlete the coaches can mold into something special over the next five years. Like Kohler and Porter he has the ability to play right way but he would benefit from a RS year.
Hatchie was named to the Hawai'i all-state first team by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and by the Honolulu Advertiser ... earned first-team All-Oahu Interscholastic Association honors as and offensive lineman as a senior at Waialua ... also named to the second-team All-OIA as a defensive lineman in 2009 ... played on the West team in the Hawai'i Goodwill Senior Bowl following senior season ... also an all-league player as a junior ... a four-year starter at Waialua ... honorable mention all-state as a freshman, sophomore and junior ... also played basketball for the Bulldogs ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 256 overall prospect (all positions), No. 25 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 1 recruit in Hawai'i by scout.com ... named the No. 6 recruit in his state by the Honolulu Advertiser ... ranked the No. 68 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 4 recruit in Hawai'i by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played for coach Lincoln Barit at Waialua.
Ben Riva (***) was the first OL commit of the class and was regarded as one of the best in state kids last season. He definitely needs a year to tune his game and build strength. Observers like his mobility and feel he has a pretty good upside.
Riva is listed on the 3A all-state first team as an offensive lineman ... also made the Seattle Times all-state team (all levels) ... named to the Seattle Times all-area team ... also listed on the Times' preseason all-state team prior to senior year ... the Metro League Mountain Division offensive lineman of the year ... led Irish to the Metro League championship ... helped O'Dea rush for an average of 7.5 yards per carry ... O'Dea went 9-2 and advanced to the state tournament in his senior season ... a teammate of fellow Husky signee Zach Fogerson at O'Dea ... helped the Irish to the 3A state championship game his sophomore year and to the first round of the 2008 state playoffs as a junior ... second-team All-Metro offensive tackle as a junior ... named a "red chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 46 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 19 recruit in Washington by scout.com ... ranked the No. 48 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 7 recruit in Washington state by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also participated on the track team as a thrower ... uncle, Steve Sidwell, was a longtime NFL and college assistant coach, including a stretch with the Seahawks ... played football under coach Monte Kohler at O'Dea.
Colin Tanigawa (**) is a true center and Washington was in on this kid early in the process. Not sure why he is only rated a two star player because he had some big time programs to choose from such as Nebraska.
Colin was named first-team All-CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division offensive lineman in 2009 ... All-Serra League as both a senior and as a junior ... played on both lines for the Cubs ... listed as one of the top offensive linemen in Southen California by the Los Angeles Times ... named to ESPNRise's preseason All-CIF Southern Section San Gabriel Valley team ... named third-team all-state by calhisports.com ... rated the nation's No. 28 offensive guard prospect by rivals.com ... listed as the No. 32 offensive guard in America by rivals.com ... ranked the No. 74 offensive guard prospect in the country by scout.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played for coach Adam Guerra.
Michael Criste (**) can play inside or outside. don't be concerend about the two star rating from Scout...other services list him as a three. More importantly the coaches really like this kid and he came pretty close to getting an offer from USC.
Criste arned a spot on the All-CIF Southern Section Pac-5 first team ... also a first-team All-South Coast League offensive tackle ... helped lead the Gauchos to a 12-1 record as a senior and to a 10-2 mark as a junior ... team won the South Coast League title in 2009 and advanced to the semifinals of the sectional championship ... honorable mention all-league selection as a junior ... named his area's No. 14 prospect by ocvarsity.com ... named second-team all-state by calhisports.com ... listed on calhisports.com's preseason All-Orange County team in 2009 ... rated the No. 54 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 81 overall prospect in California by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also participated in track & field at Mission Viejo ... played for coach Bob Johnson.
James Atoe (**) is a huge guy measuring out at 6'7 325 pounds. What the coaches like about this sleeper they stole from Idaho is his footwork. Cozzetto saw him play in a basketball game and decided that he had the tools required to develop into a dominating lineman down the road. They want to bring in James this fall but if there isn't room he will wait till winter of 2011 to join the program.
Atoe was named to the All-Intermountain Conference first-team on offense and to the second team on defense ... helped lead the Indians-Eagles to an 8-3 record as a senior ... team reached the second round of the state 5A playoffs ... played on the offensive and defensive lines ... honorable mention all-state on both sides of the ball ... played in the Hawai'i/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl following senior season ... rated the No. 10 prospect in the state of Oregon by rivals.com ... earned second-team all-league in basketball as a junior ... also threw the shotput, discus and javelin ... brother, Ryan, played football at Idaho and in NFL Europe ... played for coach Andy Codding.
(Follow the jump to read the reviews of the defensive players)
Defensive Tackle
If you have watched the Oregon State defense over the past half decade the most impressive attribute they have displayed is quality depth. The Beavers roll by rotating up to ten defensive linemen every game which keeps their defense fresh and fast. Washington went a long way in 2010 to bring in the type of depth they can use to build that type of depth with.
Sione Potoae (****) was the other must get in state recruit in this class. Arguably one of the top 50 prospects in the nation he has the ability to play quite a bit in 2010 as a three technique player. He did very well in all the combines and impressed observers at the USAA game during practice. He is definitely a kid that coach Holt can build around.
Sione was named a first-team 3A all-state defensive lineman and to the Seattle Times all-state team, which covered all divisions ... the South Puget Sound League 3A Defensive Lineman of the Year ... also a first-team All-SPSL selection on both the offensive and defensive lines ... two-time Tacoma News-Tribune all-area selection ... also on the Seattle Times' preseason all-state team in 2009 ... the first four-year, varsity starter at Lakes since 1963 ... helped lead Lakes to a 12-1 record and a 3A state semifinal as a senior in 2009 ... a teammate of fellow UW signees Jamaal Kearse and Darius Waters at Lakes ... helped Lakes to the first round of the state tournament as a sophomore and to the state semifinals his junior year ... named to the Seattle Times all-state team as a junior (offensive line) ... the SPSL's offensive lineman of the year as a junior, when he was also first-team all-league on both offense and defense ... played in the U.S. Army All-American Game after his senior season ... named an All-American by PrepStar ... one of just four players in the region named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... one of only four players in the state listed as a "blue chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... ranked No. 19 in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best of the West ... rated the No. 52 overall prospect and No. 4 defensive tackle in the nation (all positions) by scout.com ... scout.com's No. 2 recruit in Washington ... the No. 10 defensive tackle in the country, the No. 92 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 2 recruit in Washington, according to rivals.com ... rated the No. 14 defensive tackle in the country by Tom Lemming ... coached by Dave Miller.
Lawrence Lagafuiana (***) from Hawaii will play behind Alameda Ta'amu and Semisi Tokolahi this coming season. He is probably a very good candidate to redshirt. He is a little short but that shouldn't hurt him since he is coming in with great lower body strength.
Laga was named the Oahu Interscholastic League's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Aiea ... named a first-team all-state defensive lineman by the Honolulu Advertiser ... helped the Na Ali'i to a 9-4 record and the state semifinals as a senior ... played on the West team in the Hawai'i Goodwill Senior Bowl following senior season ... saw some playing time at fullback ... honorable mention all-state from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin ... a four-year starter for Aiea ... ranked the No. 52 defensive tackle prospect in the country and the No. 8 prospect in Hawai'i by scout.com ... the No. 11 recruit in Hawai'i, according to rivals.com ... No. 10 on the Honolulu Advertiser's state ranking ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also a basketball player and one of the top prep shot putters and discus throwers in Hawai'i ... played under coach Wendell Say.
Defensive End
Finding the right type of kids to put heat on the QB has been a problem this decade for Washington. With Daniel Teo Nesheim and Darrion Jones graduating there are some holes to fill. The health of Kelani Aldrich is also in question so there is a lot of opportunity to play early at these positions. It isn't easy finding ready made defensive ends. The top guys get picked up by the top schools immediately. Washington on the other hand is in the position right now of having to develop these kids once they arrive.
Andrew Hudson (***) was a big get for Washington. We needed a guy with his size at this position in this class. His film is great and he has a great motor. I can see him playing in 2010 for the Huskies because he is closest of this group to being physically ready for the position.
Hudson made the All-CIF Southern Section Inland Division first team ... named to the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-area second team at defensive line as a senior ... first-team All-Citrus Belt League ... played on the San Bernardino County team in the Inland Empire All-Star game following senior year ... Wildcats won the Citrus Belt title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Inland Division playoffs in 2009 ... team went 11-1 in 2009 ... credited with 57 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior ... helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-2 overall record and a sectional quarterfinal berth as a junior ... notched 60 tackles and six sacks as a junior ... also a member of the varsity in 2007, when REV finished the season 12-1 ... played at the same school as current Huskies Chris Polk and Marquis Persley ... named third-team all-state by calhisports.com ... listed as the No. 61 prospect in California by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... ranked the No. 35 weakside defensive end in America and the No. 74 recruit in California by rivals.com ... rated as the No. 59 defensive end in the country and the No. 60 prospect in California by scout.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also a standout heavyweight wrestler at REV ... coached by Kurt Bruich.
Haouli Jamora (***) committed on his visit and has been solid ever since. He could easily develop into the next DTN. His HS coach raved about his work ethic. He is another kid who can see immediate playing time. His film and sack totals from HS are impressive.
Jamora was named the state's defensive player of the year by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin ... earned the state's Co-Defensive Player of the Year from the Honolulu Advertiser ... led Kahuku to a 12-1 record and a spot in the state championship game at Aloha Stadium ... won the Oahu Interscholastic League's Red Division title as well as the overall OIA championship ... also played tight end ... played in the Hawai'i/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl following his senior season ... as a junior, helped Red Raiders to a 10-2 record and another berth in the state title game ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked as the No. 97 defensive end prospect in the nation and the No. 4 recruit in the state of Hawai'i by scout.com ... rated the No. 2 recruit in Hawai'i by the Honolulu Advertiser ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also participated in judo and wrestling at Kahuku ... was a league champion in judo ... played for coach Reggie Torres.
Brent Williams (***) currently has the body of an OLB but he is expected to beef up over time into a DE. If he doesn't he is a welcome addition at OLB. He projects as more of a LEO at the moment. Williams dominated the opposition in camps and combines last summer. If he had more size currently he would be a likely five star recruit. Of course if he had more size he would have been a lock at USC. Sometimes you need to take the time to project and develop. This kid is the future sackmaster who has a very bright future.
Brent earned a spot on the All-CIF Los Angeles City Section team ... named to the Los Angeles Times All-Area team in 2009 ... a second-team all-area pick by the Los Angeles Daily News ... credited with 42 tackles and five sacks as a senior ... as a junior, tied the school record with 17 sacks and broket he L.A. City Section record with 29 tackles for loss ... team went 7-4 his senior year and 9-1 his junior season ... helped Toreadors to the second round of the L.A. City Section playoffs as a senior and to the semifinals as a junior ... ranked the No. 82 prospect in the state by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... listed as the No. 62 outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 83 overall prospect in California by scout.com ... the No. 90 recruit in California, according to rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played for coach Matt Kerstetter.
Cooper Pelleur (**) verbaled to Hawaii in December but when Washington came calling during the last week of the recruiting season with an offer he did a 180 and headed to Montlake. Many think that Coop was the heart and soul of the Skyline team last season and most experts who have seenhim play thinks he has a great upside. This kid comes from a football family. His dad was a coach at UW and his uncle is former Husky QB Steve Pelleur. He can play either DE or SAM.
Cooper was named first-team All-KingCo as both a tight end and defensive end as a senior in 2009 ... helped lead Spartans to the state titles as a sophomore, junior and senior ... team won the 3A championship in 2007 and then, having moved up a classification, the 4A crown in both 2008 and 2009 ... credited with 77 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior defensive end ... Spartans were 14-0 his sophomore and junior seasons before going 12-2 his senior year ... named a "red chip" prospect by the Seattle Times ... rated the No. 116 outside linebacker in the nation and No. 22 prospect in Washington by scout.com ... father, Scott, was an standout linebacker at Washington State and played for the New Orleans Saints for five seasons (1981-1985) ... father was also an assistant coach at the UW under Jim Lambright and Keith Gilbertson ... uncle, Steve, played quarterback at Washington before embarking on an eight-year NFL career with the Cowboys, Chiefs and Broncos ... older brother, Tyler, played football at Montana ... also played basketball at Skyline ... played under coach Mat Taylor at Skyline.
Linebacker
Nick Holt has some holes to fill with Donald Butler, Jon Gage, Trenton Tuiasosopo and perhaps EJ Savannah graduating.
Chris Young (****) was the most impressive HS safety we have seen in the state since the days of Key Bankhead and Lawyer Milloy. His frame indicates that he will grow into a punishing linebacker. He has the chance to play immediately if he can qualify academically which is a challenge at this point. Most believe he will be on campus in the winter of 2011.
Young ran for 1,108 yards on 77 carries, for an average of 14.4 yards per carry, as a senior ... rushed for 22 touchdowns in 2009 ... rushed for 284 yards and six scores vs. Auburn Riverside High ... honorable mention 3A all-state defensive back as a senior ... named to the Seattle Times' preseason all-state team in 2009 ... played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl after senior season ... Trojans finished the 2009 season 11-1 and made it to the 4A state quarterfinals ... helped team to the first round of the state playoffs as a sophomore and the quarters as a junior ... team finished 11-1 his junior year, when he ran for 1,158 yards on 140 carries ... named the SPSL 4A defensive back of the year as a junior, when he was a first-team all-league selection at DB and a second-teamer at running back ... named All-America by PrepStar ... one of only four players in the state listed as a "blue chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 23 inside linebacker in the nation by Tom Lemming ... rated the No. 279 overall prospect (all positions), No. 24 outside linebacker recruit in the nation and the No. 5 recruit in Washington by scout.com ... ranked the No. 31 safety in the nation and No. 5 prospect in the state by rivals.com ... played for coach Gordon Elliot.
Victor Burnett (***) arrives this spring in preperation to play immediately. With Donald Butler graduating there is a hige hole in the middle of the defense to fill and he is going to get the chance to fill those shoes. Burnett could see extensive playing time right away.
Burnett was a first-team All-Ocean League selection ... set a school record for career tackles with 425 ... credited with 94 tackles as a senior, when he missed four games due to injury ... led team to a 9-2 record and an Ocean League title as a senior ... team went to the first round of the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs ... helped Centaurs to Ocean League title all three years ... set a school record with 149 tackles as a sophomore ... broke that mark as a junior, notching 182 tackles, including 10 sacks ... All-CIF-SS Western Division first-teamer as a junior ... first-team All-Ocean League as a sophomore and junior ... team went 11-1 his sophomore season and 8-4 his junior year ... participated in the ESPNRise Gridiron Kings event prior to senior season ... listed by Tom Lemming as the No. 14 inside linebacker in the nation prior to 2009 season ... rated as the No. 54 prospect in California by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... listed as the No. 16 middle linebacker in the country and the No. 53 recruit in California by scout.com ... rated the No. 19 inside linebacker in the nation and No. 55 overall prospect in California by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played for coach Jahmal White
Princeton Fuimaono (***) had some really impressive film and a fine senior season. There was some fear that he would stay closer to home and not come to UW but that evaporated before his January visit. He has good speed and can just knock the snot out of people. His HS coach thinks OLB is his ideal position.
Princeton earned first-team All-Moore League honors at linebacker in 2009 ... also saw action at running back, tight end and wide receiver ... also a first-team all-league selection as a junior (at linebacker) ... helped lead Panthers to CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 playoffs in 2008 ... teamed with fellow Husky signee John Timu at Jordan ... rated the No. 50 middle linebacker prospect in the country by scout.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played under coach Scott Meyer.
Darius Waters (***) was recruited as SLB but some people see him playing possibly with his hand down in college once he develops more size and strength. The kid works really hard and has a good attitude. He is slated to line up behind Mason Foster in the Fall.
Darius made the AP 3A all-state first team as both a defensive lineman and as a tight end ... named to the Seattle Times' preseason all-state team before senior year ... made the Tacoma News-Tribune's all-area team as a defensive end ... first-team All-SPSL tight end and second-team defensive lineman ... Lancers went 12-1 and advanced to the 3A state semifinals his senior year ... a teammate of fellow UW signees Jamaal Kearse and Sione Potoae at Lakes ... helped Lakes to the first round of the state tournament as a sophomore and to the state semifinals his junior year ... first-team All-SPSL tight end and second-team defensive lineman as a junior ... played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl after senior season ... named a "red chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... listed as the No. 28 outside linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 10 overall prospect in Washington by scout.com ... ranked the No. 50 outside linebacker in America and No. 13 overall prospect in Washington by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... also a standout basketball player ... played football under coach Dave Miller.
Garrett Gilliliand (***) is a guy the Huskies offered last summer and he committed a few days after Burnett did. The official announcement was put off till January while UW was looking for room. Garrett was dinged up most of his senior year so his recruiting fell off a bit. The coaches really like the kid so we will see what type of player he is when he arrives in the fall. He reminds the DM guys a lot of Dennison.
Garrett was named the Trinity League co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2009 ... helped team into the first round of the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 playoffs ... playing time was limited during senior season due to injury ... as a junior, named the Trinity League Co-MVP ... also an All-CIF Southern Section Pac-5 first-team selection in 2008 ... notched 85 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior ... Lancers posted a 10-3 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Pac-5 playoffs his junior season ... as a sophomore, helped Lutheran to a 10-2 record and a trip to the Pac-5 semifinals, where the Lancers lost to Long Beach Poly, 2-0 ... also played running back ... rated the No. 51 linebacker prospect in the nation by scout.com ... rated the No. 61 outside linebacker in the country by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played baseball at Lutheran ... played under coach Jim Fanau.
Cornerback
Washington was in on some of the big names such as Josh Shaw and Troy Hill but by December they were all headed elswehwere.
Gregory Ducre (***) is the kid they ended up with and judging by his film he has the ability to push for immediate playing time in 2010. He looks like a true CB who isn't afraid to hit. He supports the run really well. We get an early look at him this spring because he intends to enroll early. He finished his senior season with 60 tackles and four interceptions for a 14-1 Crenshaw team that made it to the finals of the CIF state championship.
Ducre was a member of the powerful Crenshaw team that played in the CIF Open Bowl, essentially the California state championship game ... helped Cougars to a 14-1 overall record in 2009 ... won the Coliseum League and the CIF Los Angeles City Section titles, beating Birmingham, Westchester, Dorsey and Narbonne for the city title ... finished the season with 60 tackles and four interceptions ... also played wide receiver on offense ... team went 8-4, won the league title and advanced to the L.A. City Section semifinals in his junior season ... rated the No. 64 cornerback in the nation by rivals.com ... also a standout sprinter on the track team ... played for coach Robert Garret.
Safety
Washington continues to build depth in the secondary with another good recruiting class at the safety position. The need here isn't immediate since Nate Williams, Justin Glenn, Nate Fellner, Victor Aiyewa, Greg Walker, and Will Shaumburger all are returning.
Sean Parker (****) is a huge get for Sarkisian and his staff. It marks a big win over new USC head coach Lane Kiffin who wanted to use Parker to help rebuild his depleted secondary. Parker also considered Michigan and as of last night it was down to the Huskies and the Wolverines.
In the end Parker felt that Washington was the best athletic and academic fit for him. Academics are important for Parker. He sports a 3.8 GPA. In the end the stability of a young coaching staff at Washington, the ability to compete for a starting job right away, and the right mix of academic programs are what convinced Parker to become a Husky.
Parker is a USA Today second-team All-American ... named to the Los Angeles Times all-star team and first-team all-state by MaxPreps.com ... 2009 first-team All-CIF Los Angeles City Section ... Marine League All-Purpose Player of the Year ... ... helped lead Gauchos to the CIF Los Angeles City Section title game ... played in the U.S. Army All-America Game after his senior season ... named first-team All-City as a junior in 2008 ... as a junior, led Narbonne to a 12-1-1 record ... that year, the Gauchos tied San Pedro, 21-21, in the L.A. City Section championship game and the two teams were named co-champions ... earned first-team All-Marine as a sophomore, when he helped Narbonne to a 10-2 record and a second-round playoff appearance ... named to the calhisports.com all-state first team for 2009 ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... named the No. 10 prospect in the state by the Contra Costa Times "Cream of the Crop" ... ranked No. 20 in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best of the West ... rated the No. 17 prospect in the nation by PrepStar, placing him on the PrepStar "Dream Team" ... ranked the No. 11 recruit in California and No. 6 safety in the nation by scout.com ... also played baseketball at Narbonne ... played football for coach Manual Douglas.
Jamall Kearse (***) was recruited as a receiver and will ikely get a long look on that side of the ball according to what the coaches are telling him. Like his older brother he has the tools for the position but he is bigger than Jermaine and proved himself to be a thumper last season at Lakes HS as a safety.
Kearse is listed as a first-team 3A all-state defensive back and also earned first-team all-state (all divisions) from the Seattle Times ... also on the Times' preseason all-state team in 2009 ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's all-area team as a defensive back ... earned first-team All-South Puget Sound League as both a safety and a wide receiver ... helped Lakes to a 12-1 overall record and a trip to the 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2009 ... a teammate of fellow UW signees Darius Waters and Sione Potoae at Lakes ... played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl after senior season ... helped Lakes to the first round of the state tournament as a sophomore and to the state semifinals his junior year ... first-team All-SPSL receiver and second-team defensive back as a junior ... named a "red chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... listed as the No. 40 safety prospect in the country and the No. 7 recruit in Washington state by scout.com ... rated the No. 62 "athlete" in the nation and the No. 4 recruit in Washington by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... younger brother of current Washington wide receiver Jermaine Kearse ... also a basketball player at Lakes, earning second-team all-league as a junior ... played under coach Dave Miller.
Taz Stevenson (***) is a kid the coaches identified early as a player they wanted. Like Kearse he can also play receiver but in this case the coaches are sold on him being a potential enforcer at safety. He is a really good athlete with plenty of upside. It will be fun to watch him develop at UW.
Taz earned first-team all-state from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin as an all-purpose player ... also made the Honolulu Advertiser's first team at all-purpose ... played running back, wide receiver and safety while also returning kicks ... helped Trojans to a 7-3 record as a senior ... participated in the Hawai'i/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl at Aloha Stadium after his senior season ... listed in the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... listed as the No. 47 safety recruit in the nation and the No. 10 prospect in the state of Hawai'i by scout.com ... rated the No. 49 safety in the country and the No. 8 recruit in Hawai'i by rivals.com ... also the No. 8 prospect in Hawai'i on the Honolulu Advertiser's list ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played for coach James Millwood.
Jonathan Timu (***) blew out his knee early this season after commiting to UW. He will gray shirt if neccesary according to his HS coach because he was operated on in December. When healthy Timu was a multi dimensional player that could fit at either WR or S. He is a real smart kid who was also a QB in high school. Obviously the coaches see him as a future QB of the defense.
Timu saw his season cut short with an injury early in the second game of the year ... as a junior, was named the Moore League's player of the year as a quarterback ... passed for 1,395 yards and rushed for 642 in 2008 ... also accounted for a total of 20 touchdowns as a junior ... also an outstanding safety, punter and kicker for the Panthers ... a teammate of fellow Husky signee Princeton Fuimaono at Jordan ... received votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best in the West" poll ... listed as the No. 61 safety prospect in the country by scout.com ... rated the No. 69 "athlete" in the nation and the No. 72 recruit in California by rivals.com ... a PrepStar all-region selection ... played under coach Scott Meyer.