Football Recruiting: Kevin King Signs LOI With Washington
Yet another letter of intent has been faxed in to the University of Washington, this one from Kevin King of Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, California. While recruiting is never over until that letter of intent is received, this doesn’t come as a big shock to anyone, as King has been very solid to Washington since he committed back on August 20th, 2012.
At 6’3” and 172 pounds, King has tantalizing size for a defensive back. Listed as both a cornerback and a safety depending on the source, it is believed that he was recruited by Washington primarily as a corner, in which case the height is very impressive and his weight, which would be pretty low for a safety, isn’t too much of an issue.
King’s length is not the exception when it comes to Washington’s Class of 2013 defensive backs, either. Of the four defensive backs committed, safety Trevor Walker is the shortest at 6’1”, with safety/outside linebacker Connor O’Brien listed at 6’4” and cornerback Jermaine Kelly at 6’2”. This is certainly not by accident. Almost every defensive coach talks about the desire to recruit large defensive backs, especially tall corners, and in the case of Washington, that talk has been backed up, and I would expect it to pay dividends a few years down the road.
A consensus three-star recruit, King could factor in or the competition at cornerback, where Desmond Trufant’s graduation leaves at least one starting spot open, but it would not be surprising if the coaches decide to redshirt him in 2013 if they don’t feel he’s quite ready to compete for playing time so early in his career.