Kalen DeBoer, Washington Huskies.
This is the time of the year when all the Washington Huskies sports are recruiting for 2023. This is especially true for football. Before jumping into the 2023 season, a quick word about this year.
The Washington Huskies football team still has room to add players to this year’s team from the transfer portal. Recently cornerback Jacobe Covington and running back Caleb Berry, who redshirted last year, transferred out. So wherever he lands, he will have four years of eligibility ahead of him. Those departures leave six player scholarship spots available this year. We will see what they will do.
There are several offensive positions of need. With Berry leaving, running back depth needs help. Washington also has several offensive linemen in their last year of eligibility, and the line will need an infusion of talent.
We now look at each offensive position for the recruiting class of 2023. How many recruits the Huskies will sign won’t be known until later this year or early next.
Here is a look at who the Huskies are recruiting for the 2023 class by position.
The Washington Huskies made offers to seven different QBs. They most likely will sign one or two at the most. Who and how many depends on the winner of this year’s starter battle. If Michael Penix Jr. wins the competition, either Sam Huard or Dylan Morris probably moves on in 2023. The same could be true if Huard or Morris is the starter. In that scenario, there’s a good chance Penix would move on.
Gianni Mascolino, out of Mesa, Arizona, is UW’s top recruit. So far, he doesn’t have any offers from other schools. Number two was Gabarri Johnson; however, he announced his commitment to Missouri this week.
Third is Jaden Rashada out of Pittsburgh, California. Rashada also has offers from Florida, Texas A&M, Miami, LSU, and Oregon Rashada coming to Washington most likely won’t happen. On May 11, the Huskies offered a scholarship to Aidan Chiles of Downey High School near Los Angeles, California. Chiles is an option quarterback, so he could be a good fit in Kalen DeBoer’s offense.
Tybo Rogers out of Bakersfield, California, was the Washington Huskies’ first 2023 commit and one of seven players offered. Brandon Johnson from Compton, California, also committed to Washington.
A third running back is local Jayden Limar of Lake Stevens. Though the Husky faithful would like him at Mountlake, the Oregon Ducks are at the top of his list. Limar is expected to announce his commitment on May 26. Three other schools on his list are Arizona, Michigan, and Notre Dame.
This is a position DeBoer doesn’t utilize much in his offense. Huskies fans shouldn’t expect him to go all out for a tight end. Three-star (by 24/7) Kade Eldridge from Lynden Washington is at the top of the list, however. Eldridge is athletic enough that tight end might not be where he plays in college. He is also interested in Oregon.
Next in line is Spencer Shannon. He’s both big at 6’7 and 235 pounds and athletic. When not playing football, Shannon is a pitcher, outfielder, and first baseman on his school’s baseball team. He has football offers from Texas and UCLA. The Washington Huskies may have to go with someone further down their want list.
Washington has a young talented group of receivers. Unless they lose someone in the transfer portal, they should have everyone back next year. Among 2023 recruits, Adelanto, California’s Keith Reynolds, is the only commitment. They do have 18 other offers out there. They can scratch one receiver off their list as Jurrion recently committed to Oregon.
Next up on DeBoer’s wish list is Taeshaun Lyons of Hayward, California. He has offers from four other Pac-12 schools but none from Oregon or USC.
Offensive tackle is an important position; that’s why Washington has 11 offers out there. Zachary Henning, out of Aurora, Colorado, is at the top of the chart for Washington. Aside from UW, Utah is the only other school in the running for him right now.
Raymond Pulido from Bellflower, California, is their number two choice, but the Huskies are not in his top five. Another of Washinton’s top choices is Elishah Jackett from Orange, California. Pac-12 North rival Cal, along with Washington, are at the top of his list. In addition to checking out those campuses in June, he also has an upcoming visit to UCLA.
UW has six offers out to potential guards and centers. Their top choice is Micah Banuelos from nearby Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington. Though he hasn’t committed, Banuelos attended a number of Husky practices over time.
Another player with mutual interest is Landen Hatchett from Lynden, Washington. He is strongly considering the Washington Huskies but Michigan, Oregon, USC, and Miami are in the running too. Washington has an inside advantage as Hatchett’s older brother Geirean is already part of the Huskies’ offensive line. We will see where that goes.
Coming up tomorrow, we look at Washington’s recruiting efforts on the defensive side.
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