Last weekend we looked at the offensive side of the board and now we are looking at the defensive of the ball. The Huskies are in on some of top talent. Here is a look at the recruiting board right now (not an exhaustive list):
At defensive end (technically the Buck position) one of the best players in the nation is in the Huskies’ back yard and is very high on the Huskies. Five-star Sav’ell Smalls from Kennedy Catholic (he is transferring from Garfield) has been to UW a ton over the past few years and has offers from around the country. Listed at 6’3” and 240 pounds, Smalls has the frame and speed to be an effective pass rusher. UW’s main competition for his services includes Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Landing Smalls has long been a priority for UW and getting him would show some major recruiting muscle flexing by Coach Pete. UW has also offered 4-stars Jordan Banks from Narbonne HS, CA and Kourt Williams from St John Bosco HS, CA. The Huskies will probably take at least one defensive end and Smalls would be a perfect fit at the Buck position for UW, but he won’t decide until later in the process. Here is a look at some of Smalls’s Highlights:
Jr Highlights #AlabamaTarget 2020 5-Star OLB @SavvySmalls_9 #ELITE https://t.co/EcJESDZSC3
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) March 15, 2019
The Huskies haven’t offered any defensive tackles currently after taking four defensive tackles last class. The 2020 west coast defensive tackle class isn’t as strong this year and the Huskies will probably wait until their Dirt Dawgs camp to extend an offer at DT—if they do.
The Huskies will look to take a couple linebackers and they are after two of Hawai’i’s best. Four-star teammates Jordan Boltelho and Nick Herbig both have offers from UW and have unofficially visited Husky Stadium. Botelho, listed at 6’3” and around 220 pounds, is a true inside linebacker. He currently has offers from around the country but is looking mostly at UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame, USC, and UW. Herbig, who is listed at 6’2” and around 215 pounds, can play inside or outside and makes plays all over the field. Herbig is looking most closely at Stanford (where his brother played), California, UCLA, USC, and UW. The Huskies have also offered and are strongly pursuing 4-star Jordan Navarrette from Norco HS, CA. Listed at 6’3 and around 225 pounds, Navarrette has offers from LSU, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Tennessee, and UW. The Huskies are trying to get Navarrette on campus this spring. Right now the Huskies are probably looking the best with Herbig and Botelho. The Huskies have also offered 5-star linebacker Justin Flowe from Upland HS, CA, but it seems unlikely at this time that he will head up to Montlake. He is looking mostly at several SEC schools and USC. Here is a look at some of Botelho’s highlights:
Most Hated ♂️
— Dis 12 (@Jordanbotelho_) January 12, 2019
#QBK
——#Esskeetit pic.twitter.com/3WaBM3aO4M
At the cornerback position the Huskies are after one of the best players in the nation in 5-star cornerback Kelee Ringo from Saguaro HS, AZ (he is originally from the Seattle area). Ringo, who is listed at 6’2” and around 205 pounds, has the speed and size to be a top NFL draft pick (he recently ran a 10.4 100 meter dash in high school). Ringo is being pursued by all of the bigger schools but is looking most closely at Texas, Georgia, Alabama, USC, Oregon, and UW. Four-star cornerback Clark Phillips from La Habra HS, CA is one of the best defensive backs in California and he has strong interest in UW. Listed at 5’10” and around 180 pounds, Phillips has offers from around the country but he is looking most closely at UW, UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame, Arizona, and ASU. Phillips is trying to visit UW this spring to check out practice, and getting him on campus would help the Huskies’ chances in landing him. Locally, the Huskies are after 4-star Ayden Hector from Eastside Catholic. Hector, listed at 6’1” and around 190 pounds, is a lockdown corner and plays on a loaded high school team. Hector is looking most closely at USC, Oregon, Stanford, California, and UW. The Huskies will probably bring in at least two corners in the 2020 class and right now I think UW has the best chances at Hector and Phillips (Ringo is feeling the love from Texas and Georgia; however, Jimmy Lake has a great relationship with Ringo and should never be counted out for him). Here is a look at some of Ringo’s highlights:
RETWEET JUNIOR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 9 games played and only 5 attempts https://t.co/wbopwjXwY5
— KR7 (@KeleeRingo) December 22, 2018
At the safety position the Huskies will be looking to bring in at least one safety. Three-star safety Makell Esteen from Lawndale HS, CA is listed at 6’1 and 175 pounds. He is a rover at the safety position and has offers from most of the Pac-12 including UW. The Huskies will more than likely also have a few DBs at their Rising Stars camp in June and I expect a few more offers to go out at that time. Here is a look at some of Esteen’s highlights:
Respect the game ✊ pic.twitter.com/nvr6habw8B
— Makell Esteen ‘20 (@kellshimself__) March 21, 2019
The Huskies have loaded up the past few years on the defensive side of the ball and the 2020 class looks like it could be another strong one for the Huskies.
That is all for now and as always follow me @asieverkropp.