One of Washington’s best recruiting classes in recent history was the 2019 class. It was ranked 16th in the nation, signing 23 players. Fifteen of those were 4-star. Other than Trent McDuffie who is already in the NFL, 4-star linebacker Daniel Heimuli became the 9th overall player to leave Washington from that class. Seven went via the Transfer Portal and two medically retired.
Here’s a look back at the 2019 recruiting class:
4-stars DL Faatui Tuitele, DL Jacob Bandes, DB Trent McDuffie, DE Laiatu Latu, WR Puka Nacua, QB Dylan Morris, ILB Daniel Heimuli, ILB Josh Calvert, RB, Cameron Davis, DB Asa Turner, OL Julius Buelow, OL Nate Kalepo, DL Sama Paama, OL Troy Fautanu, DB Kamren Fabiculanan,
3-stars Cameron Williams, DE Bralen Trice, WR Taj Davis, OL Corey Luciano, DL Noa Ngalu, Miki Ah You, LB Alphonzo Tuputala, K Tim Horn.
Transferring out are Nacua, Heimuli, Calvert, Williams, Ngalu, Ah You, and Horn.
Pama and Latu both medically retired but Latu has resurfaced at UCLA once healed.
Major contributors from the 2019 class for the 2022 season are:
The two highest-rated players in the 2019 class were defensive linemen Faatui Tuitele who started every game in Washington’s 11-2 season and Jacob Bandes who saw action in every game this season.
Running back Cameron Davis saw action in all games except Stanford and the Alamo Bowl. Even so he finished with the 9th most rushing TDs in a season with 13.
Asa Turner started the season off with a bang picking off the first pass of the game against Kent State. He had two picks this season. Despite missing 3 games to injury, he had 52 total tackles and 122 for his Washington career and 6 picks.
Hawaiian, Julius Buelow saw the field in all but 2 games in 2022. He provided depth at the tackle position this season and had 5 starts in 2021.
Rainier Beach product, Nate Kalepo started 3 games this past season as Jaxson Kirkland worked himself into game shape. Kalepo was a big contributor to one of the best offensive lines in the nation.
Backup QB Dylan Morris saw spot duty behind Michael Penix.
To Kalepo’s left at tackle was 2nd Team All-Pac12 LT Troy Fautanu. From Liberty High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Fautanu flirted with declaring for the 2023 NFL draft before returning to Washington for next season.
Defensive back Kamren Fabiculanan played in every game this season, finishing with 43 tackles, 3 passes defended and a fumble recovery. With the injury bug hitting the defensive backfield the Camarillo, California defender Kam Fab, as he’s known to his teammates saw more action than expected this past season. He sealed Washington’s victory over Oregon State with that fumble recovery.
Receiver Taj Davis was an important piece of the nation’s number 1 passing attack. Two of his 3 touchdown catches came in big moments against Oregon, with a 62-yard strike from QB Michael Penix and a 32-yarder against the Texas Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl. He finished the season with 21 catches for 277 yards.
Bralen Trice was the nation’s top pass rusher, having an All-American season. He was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player at the team’s postseason awards banquet. One-third of his 39 tackles this past season were behind the line of scrimmage with 10 being sacks.
Center Corey Luciano had a breakout season in the position that he was destined to play. He was athletic enough to drop a few pounds and move to tight end a few years back. Anchoring one of the best OLs in the country, he lived up to ESPN’s billing as the nation’s number 1 junior-college guard.
Federal Way linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala was the 2nd lowest-player of the 2019 recruiting class, just ahead of punter Tim Horn. Tuputala had a breakout sophomore season recording 71 tackles. He also had 3.5 sacks helping the Huskies lead the conference in sacks in the regular season (tied with Utah).
Overall, the 2019 recruiting class provided the Huskies with many valuable contributors for the 2022 season–namely on the offensive and defensive lines.
