The Washington Football Team Needs Defensive Tackles. Will any commit soon? Where there is a will, there is a way
The 2017 Washington Football recruiting class of 2017 took a major hit when the team lost 5-star recruit defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu to the USC Trojans. That blow placed the defensive line future on it’s heels. Temporarily.
The team responded by securing a commitment from a huge mountain of a man in Ali Gaye. At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, he is a fine addition to the team. Gaye fills in for Philadelphia Eagles Elijah Qualls.
Defensive end turned Buck linebacker Joe Tryon will also debut with the team this year. Tryon fills the void left by pass rush specialist and now Houston Texan JoJo Mathis. Tryon stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 235 pounds.
They incoming pair of freshmen join a solid front seven spearheaded by nose tackle Vita Vea. Projected starters include defensive tackle Greg Gaines and defensive end Jaylen Johnson. Thanks to the recruiting style, the team always seems to be prepared with plenty of depth. And this year, that depth And that depth will be put to the test as the team prepares to defend the PAC-12 Title.
But the team needs help in 2018. There is not much hope of persuading Vea to return to the team in 2018. And the roster boasts three additional juniors. Any player showing upside will be a flight risk when facing that 2018 NFL Draft. So defensive tackle is a recruiting priority this year.