Recruiting Roundup: a look at who is left on the 2020 board

With the commitment of Jacobe Covington yesterday the Huskies have 17 commitments in the class. The assumption has been that the Huskies will take up to 22 players in the class which leaves five open spots (this is obviously a floating number and can change). The Huskies can be selective about those last five spots. Here is a look at who is still on the board for the Huskies:

Four-star linebacker Jordan Banks from Narbonne HS, CA has been high on the Huskies for a while (they made his top four with Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma). Banks, who is listed at 6’1” and around 228 pounds, is rated by 247sports as the 197th best player in the class. If the Huskies could land Banks, they would send another signal to the Pac-12 about their recruiting muscle. When you watch his film you can see how explosive he is, and the Huskies would have the option to use Banks inside or at the rush end position. It sounds like Banks is scheduled to visit UW during the USC game weekend.

Three-star safety Makell Esteen and three-star cornerback Elijah Jackson are both heavily looking at UW, which still has room for two defensive backs. Esteen is rated higher than Jackson but both players have offers from most of the Pac-12. Esteen is rated as the 33rd best safety and 403rd best player via 247sports. Jackson is rated as the 539th best player and 48th best corner in the country via 247sports. If UW can land Esteen and Jackson they will be done recruiting defensive backs in the 2020 class (it sounds like they may be looking at the same school). Jackson is a bigger corner that the Huskies have been after recently (6’2” and around 175 pounds), and Esteen is listed at 6’1” and around 175 pounds).

Four-star defensive back Ayden Hector from Eastside Catholic HS, WA is another defensive back the Huskies have been after for a while. With offers from the entire Pac-12 and schools like Alabama and Florida State, Hector has his choice of schools. Right now it sounds like UW is battling Stanford for Hector. Rated as the 194th best player in the country and 11th best cornerback, Hector has the same build and play style as Elijah Molden. It sounds like the Huskies wouldn’t have room for Hector if they landed Jackson and Esteen, which may push up Hector’s decision (he has said he wants to wait until during the season to commit).

Three-star defensive lineman Lance Keneley from Mission Viejo HS, CA is another player the Huskies have been heavily pursuing (he visited UW unofficially a few weeks ago). Listed at 6’5” and around 240 pounds, Keneley has the frame to possibly grow into a 3-technique player but he is currently being recruited as a defensive end. With offers from Utah, Duke, and ASU there will be some stiff competition for his commitment. Keneley is rated by 247sports as the 928th best player and 46th best defensive end in the country.

Four-star defensive end Xavier Carlton from Juan Diego Catholic HS, UT is another big defensive lineman that the Huskies are after. Listed at 6’7” and around 270 pounds, Carlton has a huge frame that will help him at the college level. With offers from the entire Pac-12 and schools like LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, and OSU, the Huskies have their work cut out for them to land Carlton. 247sports has Carlton rated as the 275th best player and 13th best defensive end in the class. It sounds like Carlton will try to visit UW later in the season.

The Huskies are also after another tight end and they recently offered three-star TE Jake Overman from Servite HS, CA. It sounds like the Huskies are battling OSU right now and Overman will officially visit during the season.

The Huskies are after some other guys, but these are the guys I have been hearing the most about. It is also possible that five-star defensive end/linebacker Sav’ell Smalls from Kennedy Catholic HS, WA circles around and becomes another option for the Huskies but for now I am leaving him off the list.

That is all for now and as always follow me @asieverkropp.