The Washington Huskies usually don’t get many player from Chicago, the Windy City, but the new Big 10 footprint is paying dividends with the commitment of receiver Blaise LaVista hails from ChiTown suburb, Libertyville. The 6-2 pass-catcher/safety does not have a ton a major program offers, but the Huskies saw the potential to be a game changing player on the outside.
Washington is recruiting him as a receiver and we see him as a 4-star receiver by the time the ink has dried on signing day.
Size: Standing 6-2, weighing 190 pounds, the 3-star receiver has the frame to be effective receiver all over the field. His size allows him to dominate the boundaries with his catch radius.
Speed: He is not going to be the fastest person in the receiver room, but has an explosive gear to separate from opposing cornerbacks. His stop and start actions are more polished which make him very difficult to stay with.
Hands: This is where LaVista has been slept on. His hands are what makes him such an intriguing prospect. He has a great catch radius and is confident in traffic. He is a late-shower with his hands and is reliable in small windows.
Football IQ: The newest Washington commit is a film rat. He is able to understand what defenses are doing that will allow him to slow-play underneath routes, then explode out of his break to the ball and catch it at top speed in one-on-one situations. He also throws up late hands to decoy defensive backs into thinking that the ball is headed his way.
Additionally, what makes him so smart as a receiver is that he doesn’t tip his hand by aligning his hips or dipping his shoulder at the line of scrimmage. These nuances make him hard to guard given his ability to catch passes at every level.
ScoutLook: Blaise LaVista is a walking highlight. He is dangerous at all levels and has reliable hands as well as big play ability. He contorts his body well and is well balanced through the catch. With some development in the weight room he will be a very reliable contributor.
Husky Comparison: Ja’Lynn Polk
