The Huskies picked up 12 commitments during the month of June and have 15 total. Typically you get a big push in June followed by silence until later in the fall but I think the Huskies will rake a few more before the season begins.
Which kids do I expect to commit before September? I think Cory English from Auburn HS is now on the clock since he received his offer. That spot could go away pretty quickly so he has a decision to make.
TE Eric Lemke from Issaquah HS is a kid I could see being offered soon and accepting which could eliminate a spot for Caleb Smith who wants to wait till the end of the season to make a decision.
S Shaq Thompson from Grant HS in Sacramento, Ca may be the most coveted player in the West this season. He has the type of size and athletic ability that reminds me of a Lawyer Milloy, Kenny Easley, or Ronnie Lott. He told Dawgman and CBS Sports that Washington is recruiting him the hardest.
Washington has a good relationship with the Grant HS staff. The Huskies have been taking a player or two from that program each season with the last one being four star S James Sample who will join the squad next month. Shaq told interviewers that Washington would be getting one of his visits.
Chances are that Thompson will end up at California where his older brother was a standout CB. He has expressed an interest in staying home and he is well acquainted with the coaching staff. He also will have some former Grant HS buddies to keep him company.
Washington will take a full class and it wouldn't surprise me to see them exceed 25 players. This is a great year for talent locally and throughout the West.
Local Talent on the Fence
OL Zach Banner....Zach is a national recruit who can pick or choose between every single school in the country. In the end I think he stays home like all the other Lakes HS kids. He is going to be tempted but as long as Sark keeps showing the love he stays home.
OL Josh Garnett...Josh is an even more celebrated recruit than Zach. This kid is the complete package who could come into almost any program and start four straight seasons. His faves in no particular order are Stanford, California, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Auburn, Nebraska, Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington.
OL Walker Williams...Williams works out with Banner and Garnett. If the top two head to UW I can see him following along. Wisconsin and Washington are the schools that are recruiting him the hardest.
OL Cory English...Like I said above he needs to make up his mind because these spots can go quickly.
RB Keivarae Russell...He is a great looking RB who has only improved upon his status over the spring. He is going to take his visits but most think he is leaning heavily towards UW.
CB Cedric Dozier...Most think he will head to UW but like Russell he will take his visits. Dozier is a big time recruit. you don't see many four star CB recruits in the NW.
TE Caleb Smith...Smith dinged his knee so he was only an observer at the Rising Stars camp. Most of the California TE recruits have committed so perhaps waiting till November will work out for him.
TE Eric Lemke...I still think Lemke is the best high TE recruit in the state. The coaches of course know better and they have not offered him yet. Idaho is his only offer so far.
Prime Out of State Targets
OL Jordan Simmons...This kid is a massive 6'5 330 lb block of granite. Everyone in the world has offered and Washington will be the likely recipient of one of his visits.
OL Lacy Westbrook...He is from Dominguez HS in Compton, Ca. UW has great connections at that school. Auburn, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC are his favorites. Westbrook is a cat quick athlete with great size and strength.
OL Shane Brostek...His dad was a great Husky and is a coach in the Islands. I think Bern wants him to go through the process and make his own decision. Most think that decision will be Washington.
CB Brandon Beaver...I think he ends up a Husky and was close to making it public this summer.
CB Alphonso Marsh...I think he ends up at Montlake too. UW could end up with as many as four kids from Dominguez HS in this class.
S Shaq Thompson...UW will get a visit but Cal is the definite leader at this point.
DL Kory Rasmussen...UW has some holes to fill in the middle and Kory made the journey from the Islands to camp at UW this summer.
DL Pio Vatuvei...He is listed by Scout at 6'2 236. He has a ton of offers so the coaches just must love what they see. UW is in his top five and he says he would like to make a decision before the season starts.
DL Ellis McCarthy...He is a 6'5 295 which would be perfect for playing inside. the coaches must be all over this kid because I really can't find anyone his size on defense that they are currently recruiting. He says that Washington likely will get one of his visits but Florida, Oregon, and Cal are the teams to beat at this point.
DE Damion Turpin....Another kid from Dominguez HS in Compton, Ca that the Huskies are interested in. He has offers from most of the Pac 12.
DE Luke Kaumatule...Everyone in the West is all over Luke and it is a reasonable expectation that the husies will get a visit. He is currently 6'7 230...nice wingspan for a DE.
DE DeForest Buckner...DeForest is almost a clone of his Punahou teammate Kaumatule. It is pretty rare to find two 6'7 DE's at the same school.