Washington Football’s perfect 2018 recruiting class

The NCAA’s early Signing Day period happens this week for the Washington Football team. And so, the majority of the 2018 class expected to sign during that period. Still, there are still a few big targets Chris Petersen is hoping to sign to the 2018 recruiting class.

The Washington Football team now stands as one of the most improved teams in the Pac-12 in recent years.  Since winning the championship outright last season, the team finished with just two losses again this year.   Still, head coach Chris Petersen knows that he must recruit talented players to sustain success on the football field.  Winning means attracting NFL attention. And from the moment NFL scouts notice a player, he begins the process of deciding to remain in college or seek a big payday. On one hand, that means the head coach, and the team, must restock the roster. On the other hand, that attrition can instantly convert a powerhouse into a mouse.  And so, each year the team must fill new needs.  To keep things trending up, the next step is securing a good 2018 recruiting class.

First, let’s go over some of the key needs of the class of 2018, which is currently ranked number 10 by 247 Sports. Keishawn Bierria and Azeem Victor are gone after this season.  So that means that inside linebacker is definitely a position that will need some reloading. Vita Vea is off to the NFL and Greg Gaines might be following him. That makes defensive tackle a need.  That is punctuated by the team losing the recruitment battle over Tommy Togiai with Ohio State.

The interior of the offensive line is going to be a big point of interest next season since Coleman Shelton is graduating and hopefully off to the NFL.  Now let’s take a look at some of these recruits!

CB Kyler Gordon

Let’s start with the hometown boy out of Archbishop Murphy in Everett, Washington.  That’s cornerback Kyler Gordon and he took his official visit on December 15, 2017,  with a bunch of other prospects. His “posse” included quarterback commit Jacob Sirmon and wide receiver commit Marquis Spiker.

Gordon is a highly sought-after defensive back and for good reason. This guy is fast and strong, and can remind most Husky fans of Budda Baker.  Like Budda, he flies to the ball. He plays cornerback in high school, but under the guidance of coach Jimmy Lake and All Pac 12 First Team safety Taylor Rapp could definitely learn how to play safety as well as he plays corner. For Gordon, staying at Washington would be a great way to not only stay at home and play in front of his friends and family, but an opportunity to learn from one of the best defensive back coaches in the country in coach Lake.

* Highlights
* Rivals Profile
* MaxPreps Profile
* 247Sports Profile

DT Caleb Tremblay

It’s no secret, Vita Vea is leaving and Greg Gaines might be right behind him. The combined 622 pounds of pass rushing, run stuffing masses that are those two is impossible to replace, but Tremblay, while only 275 pounds, plays an aggressive style that is very similar to Vea’s. He plays strong with a great bull rush, and has incredibly fast hands with an elite swim move.

It’s easy to see why he’s one of the top junior college prospects in the country, but he’s going to be a tough get since he has an offer from Alabama on the table, which is tempting to any recruit. Replacing Vea and Gaines is going to be tough to do, but Tremblay would be a big help.

* Highlights
* Rivals Profile
* ESPN Profile
* 247Sports Profile

ILB Solomon Tuliaupupu

One of the top rated inside linebackers in the country, Santa Ana California’s Solomon Tuliaupupu would be a huge get for the Huskies.  He is one of the most coveted uncommitted linebackers in the nation right now, and Washington knows how to optimize linebacker talent.

The team has already scored heavy with the commitment of inside linebacker Brandon Kaho.  Kaho was a big win after getting him to flip from Brigham Young University.  Pairing these two would give the Huskies a look similar to what Victor and Bierria gave the team in 2016. He’s a big, strong linebacker who can play from sideline to sideline.

Not only that, but he make plays in coverage and is a great tackler. There are lots of questions at linebacker right now with the expected departure of both Victor and Bierria. Tuliaupupu is the ideal middle linebacker for any defense.  And while it looks like he’s a long shot to play in Seattle, he would be a major pick-up for Chris Petersen.

* Highlights
* Rivals Profile
* MaxPreps Profile
* 247Sports Profile

OG Chris Murray

A teammate of Tuliaupupu’s at Mater Dei High School and a fellow U.S Army All American, offensive guard Chris Murray would be a great acquisition to add to the offensive line. The Huskies are pretty deep at that position already.  But is there such a thing as too many 300 pound lineman that can actually play?

Especially with the departure of both Coleman Shelton and Andrew Kirkland, Murray is an experienced guard could slide inside to center. Murray is another long shot, especially since he has an offer from Stanford on the table.

Next: Washington Football team recruits 4-star OG Sam Taimani

Still, an influx of recruits like him to an already stacked class would definitely put the Huskies on the map of national prominence.

* Highlights
* Rivals Profile
* MaxPreps Profile
* 247Sports Profile