Washington Football 2018 recruiting class clock keeps ticking

SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 22: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies looks on during the game against the Oregon State Beavers on October 22, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The Huskies defeated the Beavers 41-17. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Washington Football recruiting class of 2018 is up to eleven commitments. But the field of available talent is getting smaller and the clock keeps ticking

The Washington Football team is heading for the white water rapids segment of the football calendar. The defending Pac-12 champions must train for a new football season, knowing that every Pac-12 football has circled the date of competing with the Huskies. Simultaneously, the team must continue to recruit prospects to the team. At eleven commitments so far, the team is about seven to nine shy of a full class. Meanwhile the field of available uncommitted talent is shrinking, and time waits for no man. The clock keeps ticking.

I find myself torn. On one hand, I like the thought that the Washington Huskies are still in the race to recruit top talent. In fact, I like the idea that there are young men whose dream to compete in NCAA football will come true thanks to the Washington Huskies coaching staff seeing that potential within them. But on the other hand, I cannot shake the feeling that the team is falling behind numerically. Of the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation, only Clemson, USC, and Washington have 11 or fewer commitments.

Necessity is parenting some ingenious solutions

I cannot lie, I have some concerns. Just some, and just minor, but concerns nonetheless.

Part of the challenge is the unorthodox manner this team fills their needs. As the team is wooing defensive tackles for the class of 2018, the team has the services of former Temple DE Josiah Bronson. As the NCAA transfer rules go, he won’t be eligible to play for the team until 2018. Guess which position he’ll play?

Numbers of available athletes shrinking

The Washington Football team is not out to recruit Boy Scouts, superheroes, nor Knights Templar. The goal of the team is to recruit players whose intensity for the game of football syncs-in with that of the coaches and other players. The number of players having mutual interest in the program has begun to shrink. At one point, nearly 30 players had mutual interest in the Washington football team. As of August 3rd, 2017, that number is down to 20 per washington.247sports.com.

On one hand, some players have committed to Washington. On the other hand, other players have committed elsewhere. In conclusion, the team has fewer probable options. And the need remains.

This team will compete

Ultimately, the team will compile a class for 2018 which will make the school proud. These coaches are some of the best in the NCAA, and they have continued to improve the team each year. Success is never easy in the NCAA. Sustained success is far more elusive.

The class of 2018 is emerging as a very special class. The offense is loaded with weapons. The defense is adding bricks at key positions. By this time next year, the optimism for the team will be peaking once more.

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Still, more hands make less work. Adding more talent to the 2018 lessens the burden on each player. Adding the right player to the roster can be the difference between winning a championship and going home early. In the end, this team is aiming at the top. Hopefully, enough hands will pull back on that bowstring to hit the target from this distance.