Football Recruiting: Joe Mathis Signs LOI With Washington
The Huskies have received a letter of intent from one of the most important defensive commitments of the Class of 2013: 6’4” 255-pound strongside defensive end Joe Mathis of Upland High School in Upland, CA. After originally committing to Washington in the middle of 2012, Mathis reopened his recruitment later in the year before reaffirming his commitment to Coach Sarkisian and his program on January 5th, 2013. So, even if it has been mostly clear that Mathis intended to sign with Washington since just after New Year’s, you can bet that the coaching staff will breathe easier having this one in the books without any last-second surprises.
Nearly as impressive as Mathis’ college-ready size is the sheer number of offers he received from other schools around the country. Alabama, Michigan, USC, Texas A&M. There was no shortage of suitors for a defensive end with more impressive size than most defensive tackle recruits, and his potential to contribute early and often, even as a freshman, for Washington alongside fellow ’13 commits Elijah Qualls and Daeshon Hall is very real. All three are four-star prospects, with Mathis the highest-rated of them all: a consensus four-star, Scout and ESPN both list him in the top-20 at defensive end, while Rivals has him at #21.