Five July 2017 predictions for Washington Football Update

After a promising June, five July 2017 predictions for Washington Football do not appear to be as promising. Let’s review those five July bold predictions

The Washington Football team is running smoothly and all is in order. Oh how I wish that were the case of my five July 2017 predictions!  Alas, that is not the case.

But I am a man of my word.  I don’t just make bold predictions and hope everyone forgets them.  I own up, put those predictions back out there, and take my lumps.  Last month, I was .600.  This month, I may need some last minute miracles.  Let’s see how far into my mouth I inserted my prognosticating foot:

Five Bold July Predictions

First Prediction: Washington Football 2018 recruiting will get a commitment from an defensive lineman.
Second Prediction: The Huskies will extend an offer for 2019
Third Prediction: USC will not prevail in poaching any Washington Football commits.
Fourth Prediction: (try this again) The Defense will get commitments from 1 to 3 players (not defensive linemen)
Fifth Prediction: The Washington Huskies will get a commitment from a running back.

Right now, as I type this, we have another three out of five situation. I was hoping for better, but looks like I am stuck in a rut. Unless some good-hearted running back or defensive tackle are out there waiting to commit and want to help me out? (hint hint).

Well, lets see where we stand right now.

First Prediction: Washington Football 2018 recruiting will get a commitment from an defensive lineman.

Defensive linemen, where are you?  At one point, the Washington Huskies appeared to have inroads with three solid and very talented prospects. But time changes everything, and sometimes not in the ways we wish.

Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, once warm to the idea of an NCAA football career in purple, is now projected to lean strongly in the direction of USC.  How he expects to find playing time among the other 12 defensive tackles (including Tuli Letuligasenoa) is beyond me?

Similarly, Jackson Cravens, who recently received well-deserved recognition for his hard work, is projected as a virtual lock to join the Utah Utes – who already have five on the roster and one commitment for 2018.

Last man standing

In the end, Caleb Tremblay remains as the last uncommitted defensive tackle who still shows interest in the playing for the Washington Huskies. Numerically, the team has slots for multiple commitments to this vital position. Production wise, Tremblay fills the team needs in a huge way.

But that appears to be a matter for another day. There is no reason to believe Tremblay will commit on Monday, July 31. So this one looks like a solid swing and a miss on my part.

Second Prediction: The Huskies will extend an offer for 2019

2019 is not as far away as we might think. This is particularly true in the calendar of the Washington Football team.  With the 2017 NCAA Football season nearly upon us, that quickly becomes the post- season scramble for 2018 National Signing Day.

After that, 2019 is the next landmark for this roster.

Thankfully, the Washington Football team is already ahead of the game.  At the recent Rising Stars Football Camp, the team extended a number of offers to 2019 recruits: tight end Isaiah Foskey, wide receiver Josh Delgado, running back Sean Dollars. and 6-foot-1 cornerback Jeremiah Criddell.

I expected an offer. The Huskies made multiple offers.  But I only score one prediction correct with this one.   That’s one right and one wrong.

Third Prediction: USC will not prevail in poaching any Washington Football commits.

USC makes no bones about it. If they need a player to fill their ranks, they chop from the list of Pac-12 commits. As wrong as I believe that to be, it does have a strategic advantage to it.

When the USC Trojans suddenly found themselves short at quarterback for the class of 2018, their immediate shopping list was almost exclusively Pac-12 rivals and there quarterback prospects. They tried to pry quarterbacks from UCLA, Utan, and Washington.  Thankfully, no quarterback acquiesced to devaluing themselves as the “consoliation prize” to the Trojans loss of Matt Corrall.

When USC showed interest in Jacob Sirmon, it was not a good feeling for Washington fans. The fanbase witnessed the Trojans poaching techniques once to often, less the a year ago.  And so, everyone become a little anxious.

But the team, and Sirmon, have weathered the storm so far. That’s a pickup for me. Two correct, one wrong.

Fourth Prediction: (try this again) The Defense will get commitments from 1 to 3 players (not defensive linemen)

As the Washington Football team commitments increase, the balance of 2018 recruiting class continues to favor the offense. Even as the team manages to attract defensive players, the team attracts offense talent at a similar pace.

Autzen Zoo

On July 24, 2017, the Washington Football team graciously accept the commitment of Texas inside linebacker Nicholas Bolten.

We discussed his skillsets in an article written the next day.  In short, Bolton is a very physical player who is all business on the field. But off the field, he is very personable young man with a burning desire to play football to the best of his ability.

Class of 18 to 11

Now with his commitment to the University of Washington, that dream can become reality.

He increases the class of 2018 to 11 commitments.  Of that total, only three players play defense.

There is approximately 36 hours (give or take) remaining for July 2017.  But this commitment is another one in the correct column. That makes this three correct, one wrong.

Fifth Prediction: The Washington Huskies will get a commitment from a running back.

Running backs are a strength for the Washington Football team right now. But a good season leads to the NFL Draft. Right now, nobody will be surprised to learn running back Myles Gaskin projects high in the 2018 NFL Draft. So that means the Washington Huskies must prepare now. Thankfully, that also means that the team has taken the role of running back into consideration.

Richard Newton is a solid running back who certainly is deserving of wearing the Purple.

While you have to zeroize this film footage relative to the competition he faced, he has a solid burst to get through the hole, nice hips that disguise his aim, and a great set of hands that seem to pull in passes beyond his reach.

Visit could break the pattern

He visits on Monday, July 31, 2017.  Hopefully, he has a great impression and commits then and there.   But as of today, that has not yet happened. So this falls to the wrong category.

Next: Washington Football’s Hail Mary is really Hey, Dante! – Dante Pettis

In the end, I am still three right and two wrong, good for another 60 percent accuracy.  That seems to be the rut I am in so far.  And so, my fate rests in the hands of Richard Newton’s visit on Monday.   Until then, I am holding the line at batting .600.