They say it takes at least three years to judge a recruiting class, and so going into the fall the Huskies will rely heavily on what’s left of their 2016 class.
We reviewed Chris Peterson’s small — but impressive — haul from three years ago.
Headed to the Draft
Byron Murphy CB – Murphy played two years after redshirting. His redshirt freshman year he looked good but broke his foot which limited him to six games where he intercepted two passes and made 16 tackles. As a sophomore Murphy showed a physicality in the run game (58 tackles) and was Pro Football Focus number 1 rated cornerback in the nation. Murphy wasn’t at the UW long but the potential 1st round pick in next month’s draft will be a notice to potential recruits how exceptional of a secondary coach Jimmy Lake is.
Original Star Rating: 4*, Performance 5*
Taylor Rapp FS – Rapp stayed three years like Murphy but got onto the field as a true freshman in the Huskies’ nickel package. He was always a steady presence when he played and was sorely missed in the Rose Bowl which he sat out with an injury. Rapp would be the fifth member of that legendary 2016 secondary to play in the NFL joining Buddha Baker and Ezekiel Turner (Arizona Cardinals), Sidney Jones (Philadelphia Eagles) and Kevin King (Green Bay Packers).
Original Star Rating: 3*, Performance 5*
Already Gone
Milo Eifler LB – Eiffler was the 2nd highest rated player in the class but redshirted in 2016 and played on special teams in 2017 making six tackles before leaving for Champaign. He cited his relationship with Washington’s coaching staff as his reason for leaving. He has two years to play two starting this fall, he will likely start for the Illini who lost their top linebacker.
Original Star Rating: 4*, Performance 2*
Kentrell Love CB – Love redshirted in 2016 than played very sparingly his redshirt freshman year. He ended up transferring after being passed up by true freshman Elijah Molden and Kendall Taylor on the depth chart.
Original Star Rating: 3*, Performance 2*
Daniel Bridge-Gadd QB – With Browning an established starter, the Huskies settled for Gadd that following year. Unlike now where the Huskies are signing a 4 star QB every year there was some thought a true sophomore QB would cause recruits to go elsewhere. Gadd was quickly passed up by Jake Haener on the depth chart and sources note he wanted to go back home all along. He transferred to Northern Arizona University where he started the season as a backup but quickly earned the starting job with a 3 TD game against Eastern Washington. For the year he completed 57% of his passes throwing for 9 TD and 6 INT.
Original Star Rating: 3*, Performance 2*
Amandre Williams JR DE – Williams had 1.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman but none in 2018 before transferring mid-season to Montana State.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 2*
Legacy still being written
Brandon Wellington SR LB – Wellington didn’t quite have a position coming out of high school and so the Huskies tried to fit him where they could. He played on special teams as a true freshman and with Azeem Victor and Kishawn Bierria getting drafted there was a thought he would win a starting job off the bat. Wellington started the final two games of the season but otherwise has had a disappointing career with just 50 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and a sack in three years. It’s not too late for him to build off the Rose Bowl where he had a career-high 7 tackles.
Original Star Rating: 4*, Performance 3*
Sean McGrew JR RB – McGrew was the California State Player of the Year at a powerhouse school but has struggled to adjust to the college game. He’s not the biggest guy which is fine but he also lacks elite quickness or burst. McGrew has averaged 4.3 yards per carry for his career and just 19.3 yards on kickoffs, a job he lost to Salvon Ahmed. I wouldn’t count McGrew out in 2019, there’s something to be said about a guy who doesn’t dance behind the line as Ahmed is prone to do.
Original star Rating 4*, Performance 3*
Isaiah Gilchrist JR SS – Gilchrest rose to second string on the two-deeps as a redshirt freshman but has not gotten many opportunities since then. He played just three games as a sophomore and appears to have fallen out of favor. The Huskies will have two new starting safeties in 2019 but Brandon McKinney and Julius Irving may have the jump on those spots.
Original Star Rating 4*, Performance 2*
Luke Wattenberg JR G – Wattenberg has been solid starting four games as a RS freshman when Trey Adams suffered a season-ending injury and then every game last season at left guard. The Huskies didn’t run the ball between the tackles as well last year but with all three interior linemen returning things are looking up.
Original Star Rating 4*, Performance 3*
Nick Harris SR C – Harris was not particularly highly regarded out of high school but started as a true freshman on a really good team. He struggled in the College Football Playoff against Alabama but he got stronger and has continued to improve each year culminating in a 1st Team All-Pac12 selection at center last year. He has a good chance to get drafted next spring.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 4*
Jacob Kizer JR TE – Kizer greyshirted so he’s technically a true Junior. The blocking tight end has only 3 catches for 25 yards in two years but Will Dissly and Drew Sample both added “receiver” to their repertoire as upperclassmen.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 3*
Aaron Fuller SR WR – Fuller has 100 career receptions for 1349 yards with a career high 58 last season. Can he become more of a red zone threat (7 career TD’s) this season? He had big shoes to fill in the punt return game replacing Dante Pettis the NCAA career leader in punt returns for touchdowns, Fuller averaged just 5.5 yards in 22 returns which makes you wonder if the Huskies will consider someone a little more dynamic or stick with his sure-hands.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 3*
Kamari Pleasant JR RB – Pleasant averaged 5.1 ypc and rushed for 2 TD in 11 games as a sophomore. While Ahmed and Ahmed are more heralded, Pleasant is productive and accelerates quickly through the line of scrimmage. While McGrew makes his living between the tackles and Ahmed outside them Pleasant can do a little of both.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 3*
Van Soderberg JR K – Soderberg hasn’t been really heard from since his two misses against Arizona State in 2017. He officially didn’t play a snap last season with Race Porter and Joel Whitford sharing punting duties and walk-on Peyton Henry taking over at kicker. With highly touted Tim Horn arriving to possibly takeover the kicking duties, Soderberg will have to compete in order not to spend the rest of his career as a reserve.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 2*
Henry Roberts JR OT – Roberts has been a versatile backup the last few years and started in the 13-7 loss @ Cal. He had a chance to earn the left tackle spot last spring while Adams recovered from injury but the team went with Jared Hilbers instead when Adams suffered another injury. Wing-T Offensive Linemen from Bellevue have had mixed results (Dan Dicks, Steve Schilling) at the FBS level and Roberts hasn’t quite lived up to his high ranking.
Original Star Rating 4*, Performance 2*
Jordan Chin JR WR – Chin started against Stanford and Utah but didn’t make his first career catch until the Rose Bowl.
Original Star Rating 3*, Performance 2*
Levi Onwuzurike JR DR – The Texas product has been very productive in his two seasons with 50 tackles, 10 for loss and 5 sacks. Every year Washington has had a defensive lineman break out from Vita Vae’a in 2016 to Greg Gaines in 2017. I think Onuzurike is unique, he has good size but is an athletic 282 pounds. He profiles as a true 3-4 defensive end.
Original Star Rating 4*, Performance 4*
Don’t forget these guys
Ryan Bowman LB – Bowman was incredibly productive as a walk-on redshirt freshman with 5.5 sacks but struggled through injuries as a sophomore. If there is one glaring weakness to the Washington defense it’s a lack of pass rush. The Ohio State game proved an elite QB with time will wait for people to find openings in Washington’s zone.
Myles Bryant DB – Bryant is about a year away from completing the transformation from walk-on to NFL DB. While he’s not the biggest guy he tackles in open space and is quick. Former Seahawk slot corner Justin Coleman just agreed to a 4 year 36 million dollar contract on Monday evening. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bryant goes in the 2nd or 3rd round as NFL teams start to value that position more.
