UW Football Recruiting Notebook: Washington Coaching Staff Hits the Road
Washington Huskies Recruiting: Top Commits, In-State Talent, and New Targets
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This bye week allowed Washington’s coaching staff to hit the road recruiting this past Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I spoke with a handful of recruits and also canvassed other reports from the weekend. Here is the intel I gathered.
*Star ratings and rankings are from 247 Sports.
Class of 2025
According to 247 Sports’ 2025 team rankings, Washington’s 2025 class is ranked No. 18 overall, and No. 6 in the Big Ten. The Huskies have 27 commits. Eight of those commits are four-star recruits, and 17 of the commits are three-star recruits.
Washington cornerbacks coach John Richardson was in attendance for Bonita High School’s (La Verne, CA) game against Los Osos. Four-star commit ATH Dylan Robinson stars for Bonita.
On Saturday, per Brandon Huffman from 247 Sports, Jedd Fisch and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick attended Kennedy Catholic’s (Burien, WA) game against Stadium. Three-star commit OT Lowen Colman-Brusa and his brother (who is not committed) four-star 2026 EDGE Derek Colman-Brusa star for Kennedy Catholic. Derek is ranked as the No. 1 2026 recruit in Washington.
Five of UW’s 2025 commits come from Washington state, including the No. 1 and 3 overall recruits in the state. Four-star commit LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (6-2, 220lbs) from Bethel High School is the No. 1 overall recruit in Washington and the No. 10 best linebacker nationally in the Class of 2025. You can view his high school season highlights here.
Three-star commit ATH Jonathan Epperson (6-0, 210lbs) from Auburn Riverside is the state’s No. 3 overall recruit. He committed to the Huskies in June and last visited Washington during the Michigan game. His mid-season high school highlights are here.
Three-star offensive lineman Peter Langi (6-5, 330lbs) from Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco will announce his decision on November 24th. Last week, Langi set his top 6. Including Washington, Langi is also considering Arizona, Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, and Penn State. His brother, 2026 OL Michael Langi, committed to Arizona in June. Langi’s teammate, 2025 WR Chris Lawson, committed to Washington in July. Langi plans to visit Washington for the Huskies’ game against UCLA on November 15th.
Washington offered three-star Florida commit WR Naeshaun Montgomery (6-1, 165lbs) on Thursday. Montgomery attends Miami Central in Miami, Florida. He committed to Florida in late August.
The Huskies are still in pursuit of USC-commit OT Elijah Vaikona (6-8, 368lbs) from Santa Margarita Catholic in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Vaikona committed to USC in July.
Safety Alexis Ruiz from Clackamas, Oregon visited Washington for the Michigan game. His favorite part of that visit was “the atmosphere.” He called Washington “an amazing place.” He will be making another gameday visit for the Huskies game against USC (11/2).
Class of 2026
Washington wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings visited Tolleson Union in Arizona to see top target three-star WR Rico Blassingame (6-3, 180lbs). Blassingame announced his top ten last month: Washington, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado State, and Louisville.
Washington’s coaching staff recruited Blassingame when they were previously at Arizona. Blassingame told me he “loved how Coach Fisch can change a program around and build a fun winning culture.” He appreciated how the coaching staff stayed in contact after they transitioned from Arizona to Washington. He emphasized that Seattle is his hometown and that growing up, Washington was his “dream school.” He is working to finalize a gameday visit for the Washington vs. UCLA game on 11/15.
On Wednesday, Washington offered OT Vlad Dyakonov (6-6, 250lbs) from Folsom High School in California. This month, Dyakonov has also received offers from UCLA, Cal, Utah, and Arizona State. You can view his tape from an Oct. 7th game here.
On Thursday, Washington offered three-star OL Deacon Schmitt (6-5, 302lbs) from Windsor High School in Colorado. Schmitt holds offers from over a dozen schools including Alabama, Colorado, and USC. Schmitt noted that even though the coaching staff is "brand new" at UW, he believes they are "doing great for the first season."
Three-star USC commit CB Madden Riordan (5-11, 165lbs) from Sierra Canyon in California received an offer from Washington on Thursday. Riordan committed to the Trojans in November 2023.
Three-star DL Malik Brooks (6-4, 312lbs) from St. Pius X St. Matthias Academy in Downey, California received an offer from Washington on Friday. Brooks already holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, and others. Washington Run Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach Jason Kaufusi is recruiting Brooks. Brooks noted that redshirt freshman cornerback Jordan Shaw also attended and played at St. Pius X St. Matthias. Brooks said Washington stands out because of the program’s emphasis on defense, and said “they’re doing something right” on that end.
On Friday, Washington offered four-star TE Israel Briggs (6-5, 200lbs) from Mt. Whitney in Visalia, California. Briggs’ 19 offers include Florida State, Miami, Ole Miss, and Oregon.
On Friday, Washington offered three-star OT Drew Evers (6-3.5, 285lbs) from Flower Mound HS in Texas. Evers holds over 30 offers. Some of his highlights are below:
Three-star CB Jeron Jones (6-0, 165lbs) from Mission Viejo High School in California, received an offer from Washington on Saturday. He already holds offers from SMU, Arizona, Texas A&M, and Tennessee.
On Saturday, DE/DT Max Meier (6-5, 240lbs) from Loyola High School in Los Angeles announced that he received his third scholarship offer from Washington. Meier also holds offers from Illinois and Kansas.
Earlier this month, Washington offered three-star OL Sullivan Garvin (6-5, 300lbs) from Allegen High School in Michigan. He already has a packed visit schedule for the rest of the season, with visits lined up at Kansas (this weekend), Minnesota, Indiana, Western Michigan, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame. He told me that he “will definitely try [visiting Washington] in the spring.”
Back in June, Washington offered three-star CB Marcellous Ryan (5-10, 160lbs) from Junipero Serra in Gardena, California. Ryan was in Seattle in June for a camp at Washington, it was there he earned his scholarship offer from the Huskies. He told me he thinks he’ll be back in Seattle in next spring.
Four-star safety Kaden Gebhardt (6-2, 200lbs) from Olentangy in Lewis Center, Ohio told me Washington “is showing a lot of interest.” Gebhardt holds over two dozen offers, including ones from USC and Penn State.
Washington is also showing interest in TE Andreas Diaz-Nicolaidis (6-3, 235lbs) from Central Catholic in Portland, Oregon. Diaz-Nicolaidis told me he plans to make a gameday visit to Washington for one of the team’s final home games against USC or UCLA.
Three-star RB LaMarcus Bell (5-11, 190lbs) is getting interest from Washington. Huskies running back coach Scottie Graham is recruiting Bell and it is likely Bell will be making a gameday visit for Washington’s game against USC (11/2).
Class of 2027
On Thursday, Coach John Richardson offered the No. 1 ranked 2027 cornerback prospect, four-star 2027 CB Duvay Williams. Williams called the coaching staff as “excellent” both “on and off the field.” He told me he “ha[s] a good relationship with Coach J Rich.”
Washington offered 2027 DL Isaia Vandermade (6-4, 280lbs) from St. Ignatius in San Francisco. Washington is Vandermade’s first Power 4 scholarship offer. Washington offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Brennan Carroll and Jason Kaufusi are recruiting Vandermade.
Class of 2028
Tayaun Lawrence (6-4, 260lbs) from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, received an offer from Washington on Thursday. Lawrence also holds an offer from Maryland.
On Friday, Washington offered Safety Kaleb Aiava (6-0, 190lbs) from Servite in Garden Gove, California. The Washington scholarship offer is Aiava’s first. He said he felt "blessed and grateful" for the offer and said he is realizing that his work is "paying off." His highlights are below: