Going into 2022, Washington’s roster is going to look very different compared to their 2021 team. Between losing players to the transfer portal and the NFL Draft, Kalen DeBoer and his staff have a major challenge on their hands. On the five year anniversary of the Huskies’ trip to the Peach Bowl, let’s take a look at a few of the instant impact players in the transfer portal that could help DeBoer get his team back to that stage.

Roman Rashada, DB, Diablo Valley College

A great player with an even better name (no, I’m not biased at all here), who received an offer from Washington on December 30th, would be a slam dunk for the program. As a player, he looks a lot like a heat-seeking missile. He plays tough, physical coverage on the outside, closes out on ball carriers exceptionally well, and can even rush the passer when needed to. In Washington’s defense, he probably fits best as a safety, but is athletic enough to play cornerback if asked to. But, there’s another aspect of offering Rashada that’s just as important.

If you recognize his last name, you’d be correct in assuming he’s the older brother of consensus top 50 overall recruit, Jaden Rashada, a quarterback out of Pittsburg (Calif.). Jaden recently announced his top 10, which included Washington. He also is currently the only quarterback in the class of 2023 with a Husky offer, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if it stayed that way for a while. If Juice Brown can secure a commitment from his older brother, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Washington quickly becomes the favorite for the four-star quarterback.

Jonah Laulu, DL, Hawaii

One of the biggest fish in the sea in the transfer portal, Laulu is a monster of a pass rusher. He’s able to play on the interior and edge of the defensive line, and can do everything asked of him in both positions. During the 2021 season, he recorded 19 tackles for loss, 77 total tackles, and eight sacks. While the Huskies desperately need depth in the front seven, their most important need is a consistent pass rush. Laulu, along with convincing Zion Tupuola-Fetui to not enter his name into the transfer portal, would be a great start.

Darius Muasau, LB, Hawaii

Another star from the Mountain West, Muasau was a first-team all-conference player in 2021, recording 108 total tackles, including 14 for loss, and seven sacks. Washington took a hit to their depth at inside linebacker when Jackson Sirmon hit the transfer portal, but some (myself included) would argue that Muasau would be an upgrade. The depth chart at inside linebacker is a huge question mark right now, and the two-year starter for the Rainbow Warriors would be a huge pickup for a Husky team that’s looking to reload talent and compete in 2022.