Kevin and Daniel take one of the more deflating three-day stretches in recent Seattle sports memory and walk through it the honest way — by reading what the people responsible actually said. Jedd Fisch takes the blame for a two-minute clock blunder in an ugly home loss to unranked Minnesota. Mike Macdonald explains the Seahawks' first loss since last November. And Jerry Dipoto opens his end-of-season presser with a line that will get quoted all week, on a day the Mariners moved on from Dan Wilson and most of his staff. Plus a Rick Rizzs sendoff and a UW quarterback rushing-yards Top 5.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Blue Scholars, high school dances, and Seattle nostalgia

• 02:03 — Setup: one of the most downer three-day stretches in Seattle sports

• 02:30 — The Huskies lost at home to unranked Minnesota

• 03:29 — Fisch’s two-minute clock blunder — “That’s my fault”

• 04:49 — Does Fisch have too much on his plate with no true OC?

• 06:46 — The resurfaced 2018 tweet: Fisch was McVay’s clock-management guy

• 13:30 — The three-year slow-start pattern

• 14:25 — Something’s missing: the “belief” factor

• 15:43 — Demond Williams isn’t the player he was last year — yet

• 16:51 — The Seahawks lost for the first time since November

• 17:03 — Macdonald: “We were minus-three in the takeaway department”

• 18:34 — Darnold looked healthy and mobile

• 19:30 — 31 points despite the turnovers; the Jadarian Price fumble problem

• 20:10 — Why the loss might actually be good for them

• 20:55 — 44 rushing yards — worried about the run game?

• 25:56 — The Mariners cleaned house

• 26:30 — Wilson out (leaked Sunday); Acta, Seitzer, Hill, Young let go

• 27:19 — Keeping Woodworth and Edgar

• 28:00 — Dipoto: “If I didn’t have a job today, it’d be justified. We failed.”

• 28:51 — Does Dipoto deserve a third managerial hire?

• 31:07 — The Pete Carroll-style “mutual” exit framing

• 32:29 — Dan Wilson’s solo presser was hard to watch

• 34:04 — The clubhouse liked him — so whose fault is this?

• 36:51 — The manager candidates board

• 42:09 — A Rick Rizzs sendoff after 41 of the franchise’s 50 years

• 49:17 — Top 5: UW quarterbacks by career rushing yards

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Danny Sprinkle had Austin Birley on campus for an unofficial visit in early September and Sprinkle chose not to spend the time selling a role.

“Coach Sprinkle didn’t talk about my role much,” Birley told SeaTown Sports. “He mainly just said to keep focusing on improving, but more than anything, let my body rest and grow all that it can.”

For a 6'5" point guard in the 2028 class, it’s a notably patient message from a staff that has made in-state 2028 prospects a priority. Birley, who plays at West Valley High School in Yakima, holds offers from Washington, Montana, Colorado State, Northern Arizona, Washington State, Saint Louis, and Seattle U.

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The visit gave him his first look at UW’s new practice facility.

“The campus, and especially the basketball facility, stood out,” Birley said. “That was the first time I’d seen the new practice gym, and that was really nice.”

The visit also lined up with a Husky football game, and the crowd made an impression.

“The fan base at the football game also really stood out,” he said.

The rest of the visit was less about basketball and more about getting acquainted with the staff, including the coaches Sprinkle recently added.

“Conversations went good — it was a lot of just normal conversations, getting to know each other,” Birley said. “It was nice to meet the whole staff and the new coaches they just brought in.”

Sprinkle recently hired Charles Klask and DeAndre Haynes as assistant coaches this past offseason.

As for where things stand, Birley is in no hurry.

“I haven’t narrowed down schools or anything yet,” he said. “It’s super early on in my recruiting, so I haven’t thought much about that at all.”

That leaves Washington among the schools in the mix for one of the state’s 2028 guards. With nearly two years until he signs, the rest-and-grow approach may turn out to be good advice for everyone involved.

The Southlake Carroll HS ATH from Southlake, Texas, received the offer after talking with wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings during his gameday visit. He was one of six prospects who spoke with SeaTown Sports after the game.

The Huskies gave Joyner and the other recruits something to watch. Demond Williams Jr. threw four touchdown passes, tying his career high, as Washington beat Eastern Washington 48-16. He completed 27 of 33 passes for 373 yards. That was a change from the first two weeks. Washington had fallen out of the Top 25 after averaging only 20 points in wins over Washington State and Utah State.

The recruits mostly talked about something else. Four of the six brought up hospitality or the coaching staff before anything that happened on the field.

“I really loved the hospitality and just the environment of the whole place,” Joyner said. “It was just a loud and great environment to be in, and the coaches were great as well.”

The staff made it personal

For Keith Williams Jr., a 2028 linebacker from Manvel HS in Texas, the people outweighed the setting.

“The love and hospitality I was show[n] by the staff and players stood out to me the most,” Williams said.

Damari'ae Barrington, a 2029 athlete from Rainier Beach HS in Seattle, described it the same way.

“What stood out was most definitely the energy from all around,” Barrington said. “Even [the] coaches, they had energy and [were] just showing love. It definitely felt like a community there.”

A tight end’s view

2028 three-star TE Steeler Wesley, from Skyridge HS in Utah, came in with a relationship already in place with Washington tight ends coach Jordan Paopao.

“Had a good visit. Was good to see coach Paopao again,” Wesley said. “What stood out to me the most was the multiplicity of the TEs’ skill set. The way UW’s offense is [run] is the type of schemes you are going to see in the NFL.”

Wesley picked a good day to watch the tight ends. In the third quarter, Baron Naone caught a pass for a 75-yard gain.

A quarterback’s view

Julien Woodruff, a 2028 quarterback from Shorewood HS in Washington, watched Demond Williams have his best passing day of the season.

“The biggest thing that stood out to me was the hospitality,” Woodruff said. “Everyone was super friendly and welcoming, and they really took care of us from the food to the seats we had for the game. The weight room was also top notch and really spacious, and you can tell they take player development very seriously. And of course, the game day atmosphere was incredible. There’s really nothing like it.”

Brian's on the PUP list, so Daniel Salle slides in for a football-heavy Sunday episode. Kevin and Daniel try to diagnose a Mariners season gone sideways — the offense that never clicked, the piggyback that didn’t work, the murky front-office and manager questions heading into the offseason — before pivoting to the good news: a 2-0 Seahawks team dominating with Drew Lock under center, a 3-0 ranked Huskies squad with a discipline problem to fix before Big Ten play, and genuinely real Sonics expansion momentum out of the NBA Board of Governors meetings. Daniel closes with a UW all-time receptions Top 5 that runs through Reggie Williams, Rome Odunze, and Jaydon Mickens.

Chapters

• 00:26 — Daniel Salle subs in; Brian’s on the PUP list

• 00:52 — “The Seahawks are the opposite of the Mariners” (a first grader’s wisdom)

• 01:46 — Laz Montes learned Coors Field on PlayStation

• 02:30 — Woo and Kade Anderson shine in Colorado

• 03:11 — Diagnosing the Mariners: what’s wrong isn’t obvious

• 03:37 — Dan Wilson reportedly not expected back

• 04:35 — Do you want Jerry and Justin to keep making the decisions?

• 07:24 — The ownership-spending talking point (Kevin doesn’t buy it)

• 08:30 — Cal Raleigh’s turnaround: AL HR co-lead since Aug 16

• 10:38 — The pitching staff’s rough second half

• 12:47 — From a game away from the World Series to 10 under .500

• 13:00 — The piggyback post-mortem: it didn’t work

• 14:20 — The Refsnyder / Taylor Ward mystery

• 14:59 — Is something off at the plate philosophically?

• 15:56 — No manager could’ve saved this (Cal, Donovan, Woo bad luck)

• 16:37 — Daniel’s offseason stance: be ready for anything

• 17:13 — Seahawks are 2-0 and dominating (31-7)

• 18:11 — The Sam Darnold injury and Brian Fleury’s baptism by fire

• 19:53 — Drew Lock is the perfect experienced backup

• 21:16 — Is Fleury an offensive coordinator upgrade? Get JSN the ball

• 22:48 — Next week vs. the 0-2 Commanders (Jayden Daniels hurt)

• 23:24 — Huskies 3-0, ranked #26, beat Eastern Washington 48-16

• 25:43 — Demond Williams looked his best yet

• 25:50 — The discipline problem: self-inflicted penalties

• 29:07 — Does UW have a run game? The Minnesota test

• 30:00 — Daniel’s ceiling worry: Sark-era vibes, 8-9 wins

• 31:33 — The secret ingredient is experience (Indiana’s senior-laden title team)

• 34:48 — Building the all-time Husky team + future legacy recruits

• 35:03 — Titus Huard, Bryce Tuiasosopo, Rush Williams (legacy recruits)

• 38:55 — SONICS: Adam Silver says Seattle is “far along”

• 39:59 — Excitement meter + confidence it actually happens

• 43:32 — So much NBA has happened since 2008

• 44:23 — Kevin Durant involvement speculation

• 47:40 — Top 5: UW all-time receptions leaders

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Washington’s recruiting board for the class of 2028 is taking shape. What follows is where things stand with a handful of 2028 names, along with a glance at the recruitments of a few high school sophomores from the class of 2029.

Here’s the latest intel I’ve gathered.

Class of 2028 Updates

Aedyn Havili, DL (4 stars) — Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) Havili is a 325-pound interior lineman, a consensus top-100 player nationally and ranked as the No. 1 recruit in Washington per Rivals Industry Ranking. After making a gameday visit to Husky Stadium for the Apple Cup, he shared: “What stood out most to me was the freshmen starting . . . knowing that Fisch and staff will play the best is pretty cool."

Phoenix Evans, DB (4 stars) — IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Evans is among the most coveted defensive backs in the class, with more than 40 offers. He’s, by his own account, on the phone with Jedd Fisch nearly every day. "Me and Coach Fisch speak almost every day," he told SeaTown Sports, adding that he's planning to be in Seattle for the Minnesota game on Sept. 26.

Kingston Brown, DL (4 stars) — IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Brown is one of the more imposing interior prospects in the class, with more than 25 offers before his junior season. He visited LSU this month and has seven more fall visits scheduled: Alabama (9/19), Tennessee (9/26), Missouri (10/10), Auburn (10/24), Florida State (10/31), Notre Dame (11/7), and Washington on Nov. 21. He says he has no leader and hasn't ranked anyone. “I'm really just enjoying the process and focusing on getting to know everyone better.”

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Myles Tate, EDGE (4 stars) — Woodward Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) Tate is an elite pass rusher with over 35 offers. In-state Georgia is likely the favorite. But something has shifted lately. “UW has come on strong the last few weeks,” he told SeaTown Sports in early September. He is planning to make a gameday visit to Washington this season.

Emmanuel Pullins, WR (4 stars) — Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) Pullins is a burner — a 10.4 in the 100 meters — and a top-5 receiver prospect in California. Asked which programs have done the best job staying in touch, he named Washington, Arizona State, Michigan and Oregon. “Still a little early to pick favorites,” he told SeaTown Sports, “but I definitely strongly appreciate them for showing me the love.”

Kinnard Mahomes, CB (4 stars)— Mount Saint Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) Mahomes is another East Coast defensive back where the Huskies are in good standing. Mahomes, a ballhawking corner who intercepted nine passes as a sophomore, listed Washington among the schools standing out and reaching out most, along with Michigan, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Iowa, Tennessee, Stanford, Northwestern and West Virginia.

Kaicen Carter, LB (3 stars) — Federal Way (Wash.) Carter is a three-star linebacker recruit and one of the top ten-ranked 2028 players in the state. He says Washington is one of three schools recruiting him hardest, along with Arizona State and Oregon.

MyKel Ramos, CB (3 stars) — Sierra Canyon (Calif.) Ramos, who recently transferred to Sierra Canyon from Mater Dei, told me that Washington and UCLA have been the strongest with communication and are recruiting him the hardest, with Oregon, Arizona State, and Kansas also in contact. He doesn’t have a favorite yet, but he attended Washington’s spring game back in May, and he’s returning to Montlake for a gameday visit on Nov. 7 against Penn State.

Micah Hannah, CB (3 stars) — Simi Valley (Calif.) Hannah is a three-star corner with a USC bloodline — his father, Travis, played receiver for the Trojans — and he was at their home opener in August. Washington is on his fall visit list (11/21), along with other West Coast stops: Cal, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.

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TJ Maddox, WR (3 stars) — St. Augustine Prep (N.J.) Washington is in play for another New Jersey recruit. Maddox has nine fall visits set, with the majority of them happening near New Jersey: Syracuse (9/12); Penn State (9/26); Rutgers (10/3); Nebraska (10/10); James Madison (10/17); North Carolina (10/24); UConn (11/14), and Wake Forest (11/28). He listed Rutgers, Washington, and Syracuse as the three schools recruiting him hardest.

Kentae Davis, RB — St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) Short and to the point: asked which offers stand out, Davis named one. “Offers that are standing out right now are Washington,” he told SeaTown Sports, adding that he has a couple of visits he wants to take during the season.

Class of 2029 Updates

Here are four names worth knowing in the class of 2029:

Kamari Wilson, DL ( 4 stars) — Mount Tahoma (Tacoma, Wash.) Wilson is the No. 1-ranked 2029 recruit in Washington per Rivals Industry Ranking. He told SeaTown Sports in late August that Oregon, Washington, and BYU are the three schools standing out. He made his first gameday visit to Washington for the Apple Cup.

Bryce Tuiasosopo, TE — Manvel (Texas) The name will be familiar. Bryce is the son of Marques Tuiasosopo, the Rose Bowl-winning quarterback who later coached at Washington. The family ties are real, and so is the recruitment: he named Washington as one of his standouts, along with UCLA and SMU, and UW is one of six visits he has scheduled — Sept. 26, for the Minnesota game. Tight ends coach Jordan Paopao extended the offer in June.

Kaydon Tatum, WR — O’Dea (Seattle, Wash.) Tatum moved from Arizona to Seattle this year. Now at O’Dea, the 6-foot-5 receiver is one of the top local prospects. He named just two standout offers — Auburn and Washington — and visited UW for the Apple Cup.

Rush Williams, WR — Katy Jordan (Fulshear, Texas) One more name Husky fans will recognize is Rush Williams, the son of Reggie Williams. Reggie was a consensus All-American who went ninth overall in the 2004 draft. Rush has over 20 offers as a sophomore — Alabama, Texas, Miami, Texas A&M, Oregon, Tennessee and on down the list — with fall visits set for Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Washington is not among them, but I would be surprised if the Huskies did not get involved at some point.

Washington hosted a bevy of recruits for Sunday’s Apple Cup against Washington State. Some flew in from Detroit and Kentucky. A handful of local recruits made return trips to Husky Stadium. All of them took in an early, well-attended rivalry game and witnessed a 24-10 Washington victory over the program’s cross-state rival.

I reached out to the visitors after the game with one question: what stood out?

Star ratings via Rivals Industry Ranking.

The atmosphere

3-star WR Avery Thompson traveled from Paducah, Kentucky, one of the longest trips on the board, and came away with the fullest version of what the others were describing. “What stood out most to me was the atmosphere and the way the coaches and players welcomed me,” Thompson said. “You could tell how much the Apple Cup means to everyone there, and it was a great experience being around that environment.”

3-star ATH Tyler Trusel made the trip from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, one of four metro Detroit prospects Washington hosted. Trusel had an offer since spring, but the Huskies hadn’t been among the schools he was naming most often, but it looks like Washington made an impression. “They treated me like I was a commit, and the atmosphere was outstanding,” Trusel said.

The travelers weren’t the only ones. 4-star TE Tytan McNeal, the No. 1-ranked 2028 TE in the country, has already been to Husky Stadium a handful of times, but came away with a familiar reaction. “The atmosphere was amazing today, and it was great to see them in action,” McNeal said. “It’s always a great time anytime I can get on campus.”

Keeping the Eastside Catholic product ome is one of the more important jobs on this staff’s 2028 board.

Three-star ATH Khyjahmee Ross added: “The visit went very well.” “The thing that stood out the most was the energy and atmosphere . . . their fans are very welcoming too."

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The staff

Washington offered 3-star WR Quincey Clay in late July. The Apple Cup was the first visit the Capital High standout had taken anywhere, and Idaho’s top-rated recruit came away talkingabout the people. “I definitely liked the atmosphere of UW and the coaches,” Clay said. “You can tell they want to build this relationship.”

3-star RB James Curoso heard the same thing. Curoso made the trip from Clovis in California’s Central Valley. “The team energy and how they took the time to talk and get to know me — the energy was amazing,” Curoso said. “The coaches were very welcoming and I had a great time.”

4-star DL Isaac Kalubi Lukuni who traveled from Georgia, said his highlight was “Definitely being able to talk to all the coaches.” He added: “Everyone was excited for me to be there and it showed."

The depth chart

3-star LB Julian Bruno came up from Grant Union in Sacramento and watched the game the way a defensive prospect watches a game. “What stood out to me most was the amount of fans and the love they give to the players,” Bruno said. “Another thing that stood out to me was they started four freshmen on defense.”

The view from the commits

2027 commit 3-star IOL Reis Russell came in from Valor Christian in Colorado, a program that sends players to college games all over the country. He’s seen plenty of stadiums. “The energy is unmatched,” Russell said. “Been to a lot of college football games and there’s nothing like the Apple Cup. These fans are going crazy the whole time. It was awesome to see.”

Russell committed in June. He wasn’t being sold on anything Sunday. He was one of the commits on the sideline whose job, in practice, was to help sell the 2028 group.

3-star LB Titus Osterman gave the most honest version of it. Washington did not play a clean game, and the Kimberly, Idaho, product didn’t pretend otherwise. “The fans were great even when we made a ton of mistakes the fans were still on their feet the whole time,” Osterman said.

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What it means

It’s safe to say the Apple Cup did what the staff needed it to do. Some of the recruits who traveled the farthest — Thompson from Kentucky, Trusel from Michigan — came away positive. The recruits Washington is building relationships with, like Clay and Curoso, felt the effort. And at least one defensive prospect saw a path to the field.

Follow-ups with the rest of the visitor board are coming as they answer.

Updated, Sept. 3 at 8:05 p.m.: 17 additional visitors have confirmed since this piece was first published.

Rivalry weekends do double duty in recruiting. The crowd is louder, the pageantry is easier to sell, and prospects who have only seen Husky Stadium on a phone screen get to experience the gameday version with over 70,000 people in it.

Washington opens the Jedd Fisch era’s third season against Washington State on September 6, and the recruiting board for this Sunday’s Apple Cup is one of the deepest the staff will host all fall. At least 34 prospects are expected on Montlake across three classes — nine 2027 commits, 21 2028 targets, and four 2029 names who are already drawing attention in the state.

Star ratings via Rivals Industry Ranking.

The headliners

2028 5-star EDGE Jalanie George (Desert Edge – Ariz.) is the biggest name on the list. George is a national-level pass rusher out of the same Desert Edge program that produced 2027 UW commit Zerek Sidney, and that pipeline matters. Washington’s coaching staff has spent the last two cycles maintaining its connection to the state of Arizona that the staff built when Fisch was at the University of Arizona.

George has UW in his Top 6, along with Auburn, Ohio State, Miami, Oklahoma, and Florida. Getting a prospect of George’s caliber into a rivalry environment this early in his junior year is a good early sign for Washington’s chances at landing this coveted 5-star prospect.

Locking down top local talent remains a top priority for Washington’s coaching staff. 2028 4-star QB AJ Tuivaiave (Graham-Kapowsin – Wash.) is the in-state name to watch. Fisch’s staff has made no secret of wanting him to stay in the Northwest. Tuivaiave is the state’s headline quarterback in 2028, and Washington has him as a top local target.

Two key prospects come from the Eastside. 2028 4-star DL Aedyn Havili and 2028 4-star TE Tytan McNeal (Eastside Catholic – Wash.) make the short trip to Montlake. Both of them have already been on campus a handful of times. Eastside Catholic is a local football powerhouse, and like Tuivaiave, the staff is focused on keeping these two prospects home.

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2028 4-star TE Presley DeLance (Lake Oswego – Ore.) has told me Washington is among the schools recruiting him hardest and that the Husky offer stands out on his board — but he lives in Oregon, and the Ducks are the in-state program. This is a good chance for Washington to make its case in person.

Washington’s Detroit push

Four 2028 prospects are making the trip from metro Detroit, and two come from the same building. 4-star WR Mylan Griggs and 4-star OT Antijuan Wilkes both play at Cass Technical. 4-star WR DeAndre Bidden comes from Harper Woods, and 3-star ATH Tyler Trusel from Brother Rice in Bloomfield Hills.

This isn’t a one-off. Washington has been working the Detroit area hard in this cycle — Cass Tech IOL Josh Baker and Martin Luther King DL Elijah Willis have both drawn Husky attention, and Willis has a fall visit set for the Penn State game in November.

The 2027 commits coming back

At least nine current commits from the 2027 class will be at Husky Stadium this weekend: 4-star IOL Gecova Doyal (Puyallup – Wash.), 4-star RB Jeremy Adeyanju (Sandra Day O'Connor – Ariz.), 4-star DL Tevita Nonu (O'Dea – Wash.), 4-star WR Tre Moore (Pflugerville Weiss – Texas), 3-star IOL Reis Russell (Valor Christian – Colo.), 3-star LB Titus Osterman (Kimberly – Idaho), 3-star TE Zach Albright (Glacier Peak – Wash.), and 3-star CB Maurice Williams (Timberline – Wash.).

Per Huskies Wire, 2027 3-star EDGE commit Chaz Gray is bringing his brother, 4-star LB Tahj Gray, who is one of the higher-rated 2028 linebackers on the board, and he'll see Washington for the first time with a commit in the family already sold on it. Chaz picked the Huskies over Clemson and Tennessee. Peer recruiting doesn't get more direct than a sibling.

Other visitors of note

The rest of the 2028 group covers a wide map.

4-star QB Hunter Fujikawa (Mililani – Hawaii) gives Washington a second signal-caller in the building, and the Huskies have consistently mined the islands under this staff. 4-star DL Isaac Kalubi Lukuni (Rabun Gap-Nacoochee) is a 6-3, 280 defensive lineman traveling all the way from Gerogia.

Washington will also host a pair out of California’s Central Valley: 3-star QB JJ Howard Jr. (Clovis West – Calif.) and 3-star RB James Curoso (Clovis – Calif.). The Huskies have been active in the Fresno area this cycle.

3-star IOL Ofa Taufalele (Bellarmine Prep – Wash.) continues the staff’s emphasis on developing in-state offensive line talent. OT Luke Jennings (Glacier Peak – Wash.) makes the trip from the same program as 2027 TE commit Zach Albright, who will be in the building as well.

3-star WR Quincey Clay (Capital – Idaho) is a name I’ve been tracking since Washington offered in late July. Clay is the top-rated recruit in Idaho.

Also expected: 3-star LB Julian Bruno (Grant Union – Calif.), 3-star DL Tory Clark (Woodward Academy – Ga.), 3-star CB Jordan Hicks (Calvert Hall – Md.), and 3-star WR Avery Thompson (Paducah Tilghman – Ky.).

Looking ahead to 2029 and 2030

Four sophomores round out the board, and all four are local: 4-star DL Kamari Wilson (Mount Tacoma – Wash.), DL Kitiona Tupua (Puyallup – Wash.), and WR Kaydon Tatum (O’Dea – Wash.), and OT Xavier Berry (Federal Way – Wash.).

Finally, one freshman, 2030 ATH Eli Riley-Stevenson (Crescent Valley - OR) will be making a visit.

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With high-caliber talent coming in from coast to coast, this weekend carries significant weight for the future of Washington's recruiting classes. I’ll have follow-ups from the visitors after the game.

Getting high school recruits on campus this fall is a priority for the Washington Huskies coaching staff. More often than not, for Washington to be in serious contention for a recruit in the subsequent spring and summer, they will need to have secured that recruit's on-campus visit during one of the team’s home games this fall.

I will compile and track recruiting visits as they are scheduled.

This is likely the only time you’ll receive this post as an email; I’ll update the web version with each new recruiting visit scheduled or announced, so feel free to bookmark it. I’ll also try to share regularly on social media.

Star rankings come from Rivals Composite.

September 6 vs. Washington State (Apple Cup)

• UW-commit 2027 4-star IOL Gecova Doyal (Puyallup - WA)

• UW-commit 2027 4-star RB Jeremy Adeyanju (Sandra Day O’Connor - AZ)

• UW-commit 2027 4-star DL Tevita Nonu (O’Dea - WA)

• UW-commit 2027 4-star WR Tre Moore (Pflugerville Weiss - TX)

• UW-commit 2027 4-star WR Braylon Pope (Sumner - WA

• UW-commit 2027 3-star IOL Reis Russell (Valor Christian - CO)

• UW-commit 2027 3-star LB Titus Osterman (Kimberley - ID)

• UW-commit 2027 3-star TE Zach Albright (Glacier Peak - WA)

• UW-commit 2027 3-star CB Maurice Williams (Timberline - WA)

• 2028 5-star EDGE Jalanie George (Desert Edge - AZ)

• 2028 4-star TE Tytan McNeal (Eastside Catholic - WA)

• 2028 4-star DL Aedyn Havili (Eastside Catholic - WA)

• 2028 4-star QB AJ Tuivaiave (Graham-Kapowsin - WA)

• 2028 4-star TE Presley DeLance (Lake Oswego - OR)

• 2028 4-star QB Hunter Fujikawa (Mililani - HI)

• 2028 4-star DL Isaac Kalubi Lukuni (Rabun Gap-Nacoochee -ON)

• 2028 4-star WR Mylan Griggs (Cass Technical - MI)

• 2028 4-star OT Antijuan Wilkes (Cass Technical - MI)

• 2028 4-star WR DeAndre Bidden (Harper Woods - MI)

• 2028 4-star CB Nekhi Lambeth (Desert Edge - AZ)

• 2028 3-star ATH Tyler Trusel (Brother Rice - MI)

• 2028 3-star RB James Curoso (Clovis - CA)

• 2028 3-star LB Julian Bruno (Grant Union - CA)

• 2028 3-star WR Quincey Clay (Capital - ID)

• 2028 3-star DL Tory Clark (Woodward Academy - GA)

• 2028 3-star WR Avery Thompson (Paducah Tilghman - KY)

• 2028 3-star CB Jordan Hicks (Calvert Hall - MD)

• 2028 3-star ATH Khyjahmee Ross (Lancaster - WA)

• 2028 TE Mike Taylor (Desert Pines - AZ)

• 2028 OT Luke Jennings (Glacier Peak - WA)

• 2028 WR Barrett Price (Spain Park - AL)

• 2029 4-star DL Kamari Wilson (Mount Tacoma - WA)

• 2029 DL Kitiona Tupua (Puyallup - WA)

• 2029 WR Kaydon Tatum (O’Dea - WA)

• 2029 OT Xavier Berry (Federal Way - WA)

• 2029 WR Justin Suega (Federal Way - WA)

• 2030 ATH Eli Riley-Stevenson (Crescent Valley - OR)

• 2030 ATH Trent Perkins (Franklin Road Academy - TN)

September 12 vs. Utah State

September 19 vs. Eastern Washington

• 2028 4-star OT Kyler Harden (O’Dea - WA)

• 2028 3-star TE Steeler Wesley (Skyridge - UT)

• 2028 3-star QB JJ Howard (Clovis West - CA)

• 2028 ATH Keith Williams (Manvel - TX)

• 2028 QB Julien Woodruff (Shorewood - WA)

• 2028 RB Antayus Wilkins (Lincoln - OR)

• 2028 ATH Jayden Lord (Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary - British Columbia)

• 2028 OL Aidan Emerson (Corvallis - OR)

• 2029 ATH Thomas Joyner (Southlake Carroll - TX)

• 2029 ATH Damari’ae Barrington (Rainier Beach - WA)

• 2029 QB Jason Haines (Liberty - AZ)

• 2029 RB/LB RJ Fonoti (Fremont - UT)

• 2030 WR Moses Irwin (Bishop Kelly - ID)

September 26 vs. Minnesota

• 2028 3-star S Markel Newell (Puyallup - WA)

• 2028 IOL Josiah Eney (Good Counsel - MD)

• 2028 WR Noah Bozeman (John Muir - CA)

• 2028 OL Luke Jennings (Glacier Peak - WA)

• 2029 TE Bryce Tuiasosopo (Manvel - TX)

• 2029 RB Dylan Brush (Horizon - AZ)

October 9 vs. Iowa

November 7 vs. Penn State

• 2028 3-star MyKel Ramos (Sierra Canyon - CA)

• 2028 3-star LB Isaiah Grant (Chambers - NC)

• 2028 3-star WR AJ Henley (Harper Woods - MI)

• 2028 3-star S Jayden Evans (Harper Woods - MI)

• 2028 OT Jordan Henry (Martin Luther King - MI)

November 21 vs. Indiana

• 2028 4-star DL Kingston Brown (Carver - GA)

• 2028 4-star RB Noel Washington (Notre Dame - CA)

• 2028 3-star CB Derrick Coleman Jr. (Junipero Serra - CA)

• 2028 3-star CB Micah Hannah (Simi Valley - CA)

• 2028 3-star WR TJ Maddox (St. Augustine Prep - NJ)

Brian opens by vowing not to talk about the “stupid Mariners” again until they reach .500 (a bases-loaded walk on a wild pitch was the final straw). From there it’s a football-forward episode: two weeks of Hard Knocks and the growing case that Mike Macdonald is a top-2 NFL coach, Myles Gaskin as Seattle Legend of the Week ahead of the Apple Cup, an Apple Cup rivalry that may have run its course, the Sounders finally spending real money on striker Dejan Joveljić, and a UW women’s basketball program suddenly recruiting against UConn and South Carolina. Plus a chaotic “that guy rocked” trivia game to close.

Estimated Chapters

• 00:29 — Episode 106 / the 106 bus route

• 01:23 — Lincoln got issued Kam Chancellor’s number 31

• 02:02 — Leadoff: the stupid Mariners (bases-loaded walk on a wild pitch)

• 06:41 — Hard Knocks two-week catch-up

• 07:55 — The growing case: Mike Macdonald is a top-2 NFL coach

• 09:04 — Macdonald as a masterclass in teaching + relationship building

• 11:03 — “Cura personalis” — reaching each player where they are

• 11:22 — Cooper Kupp sat vs. the Titans; Jake Bobo’s ACL injury

• 12:32 — Macdonald’s empathy + Leonard Williams checking in on him

• 12:45 — Leonard Williams signs an extension / becomes a favorite

• 13:22 — Did the culture create the Super Bowl or vice versa?

• 15:47 — Bud Clark’s injury shown on Hard Knocks

• 18:24 — John Schneider’s Three Amigos movie-quote bit

• 19:43 — Movie quotes segment (Speed, Point Break, Toy Story)

• 24:42 — Seattle Legend of the Week: Myles Gaskin’s Apple Cup dominance

• 27:48 — Chris Polk’s 284-yard Apple Cup counter-argument

• 29:18 — Three things to watch in the Apple Cup opener

• 33:22 — Quaid Carr projected RB1, not Jayden Lamar

• 35:33 — Has the Apple Cup rivalry run its course?

• 38:19 — The Sounders finally spent money: Dejan Joveljić

• 42:09 — UW women’s basketball is swinging for the fences

• 43:54 — Kaleena Smith: the #1 recruit in the 2027 class visits UW

• 46:44 — Kaylor Buse (top-52, 2027) names UW in her top 5

• 48:19 — Finley Parcher (Lynden)

• 53:06 — Top 5 game: “That Guy Rocked” roster trivia

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Football season is here! High school football is off and running, and then we’ll see college football kick off this coming weekend.

Here’s the latest Washington Huskies recruiting intel I’ve gathered:

Class of 2028 Updates

Aiden-Caleb Rodriguez, WR (3 stars) — Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, AZ) Washington is in the mix for another wide receiver recruit from Arizona. Rodriguez, a 6-3, 175 lbs receiver, says that the Huskies are one of the schools staying in close contact, along with Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, and Utah. He is aiming to visit Washington on Sept. 26 for the Huskies’ Big Ten opener against Minnesota. He also plans to get out to Texas A&M and Wisconsin this fall.

Steeler Wesley, TE (3 stars) — Skyridge (Lehi, UT) Wesley is familiar with the Huskies and their staff. Washington heavily recruited Steeler’s older brother Kai in the 2027 cycle. While Kai didn’t end up choosing Washington, it looks like Steeler has the Huskies on his radar. He has a gameday visit set to Washington for the team’s September 19 game against Eastern Washington. Along with this visit, he has a busy fall slate: Cal on September 5, Oregon on September 18, BYU on October 9, and Utah on October 10.

Josiah Eney, IOL — Good Counsel (Olney, MD) Add Eney’s name to the list of 2028 recruits visiting Washington this Fall. The 6-5, 295 lb offensive lineman will be making a gameday visit to Washington on September 26 for the team’s Big Ten opener against Minnesota, he tells SeaTown Sports. He is also planning visits to Tennessee, Penn State, and Rutgers. He “believe[s] Coach Switzer is one of the best o-line coaches in the country” and says he’s “excited to continue developing [his] relationship with the program.”

Ashton Coles, IOL (3 stars) — Ensworth School (Nashville, TN) Coles is a big, physical guard prospect whose recruitment is climbing. He told SeaTown Sports that he has no “absolute number 1,” but that Washington is currently at the “top” of his list. He credited the “tremendous” love he’s received from Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch, offensive line coach Michael Switzer, and the rest of the Huskies’ coaching staff. He is planning visits to Washington, Virginia Tech, Alabama, and Vanderbilt.

Brandon Nash, S (4 stars) — St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Washington is aiming for one of the top safeties in the 2028 class with their recruitment of Nash—the St. John Bosco standout. His “core group of schools” is Ohio State, Cal, UCLA, Washington, Arizona State, Oklahoma, and Arizona. All of them are recruiting him “pretty hard.” He is currently scheduling fall visits.

Maximus Curry, WR (4 stars) — Battle Ground Academy (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Curry is the No. 20-ranked 2028 wide receiver nationally by Rivals composite. Maximus is the son of notable professional bodybuilder Brandon Curry. Washington is standing out for Maximus, along with Tennessee, Alabama, Miami, Missouri, and Virginia Tech. The two schools recruiting him the hardest are the two closest to him, Tennessee and Alabama.

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Isaiah Grant, LB (3 stars) — Chambers (Charlotte, NC) Over the summer, Grant transferred from Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco to Chambers in North Carolina. The 3-star prospect says Washington has “shown a lot of interest,” adding that he’d “love to play for" the program. He says that Tennessee, SMU, Georgia Tech, and Minnesota have been heavily recruiting him.

Michael Berardesco, LB — Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) Keep an eye on this linebacker prospect out of New Jersey. Berardesco already visited Washington for the Spring Game and is hoping to return for a fall gameday visit. He says he “really like[s] Coach Fisch and the program” and “Washington is definitely” one of the programs standing out to him. Along with Washington, Rhode Island and Maryland have also offered Berardesco.

Gaige Weddle, QB (4 stars) — Rancho Bernardo (San Diego, CA) Weddle is listed as four-star safety, but he also is a quarterback. Washington has offered him, but he listed UCLA, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Utah, BYU, Cal, Oregon, Miami, and USC as the schools he has “built really good connections with.” He remains open to other schools who are recruiting him. He is aiming to see “all or most” of these schools this fall.

David Dotson, EDGE (4 stars) — Atascocita (Humble, TX) The elite EDGE recruit received an early offer from Washington, but at the moment, Texas, SMU, and LSU are his standout schools.

Jordan Slye Jr., a 2028 three-star cornerback from Southern California, has one of the more intriguing stories of recruits the Washington Huskies are pursuing.

Both his parents, Jordan Slye Sr. and Dena Tyson-Slye, starred as collegiate athletes for Washington.

Jordan Slye Sr., a Franklin High School graduate, played wide receiver for the Huskies (2001-2002) before transferring to Hawaii.

Dena Tyson-Slye, a Southern California native, was a first-team All-American softball star for the Huskies. In her senior season, Dena led the Huskies in batting (.399), HR (18), RBI (50), slugging percentage (.791), walks (41) and on-base percentage (.536).

When Jedd Fisch’s staff started making their son a priority recruit, he already held an edge that the other schools recruiting Slye don’t have.

“Washington is definitely special because of my family ties,” Slye said. “Both of my parents went there, my dad played football there, my mom played softball there, and I was born in Washington. Coach Fisch has really made me feel like a priority there, which means a lot to me.”

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Though this history matters, Slye is not necessarily playing favorites at this point. He listed nine schools currently standing out: Washington, Washington State, USC, Arizona, UCLA, San Diego State, Arizona State, Cal and Oklahoma.

Along with Fisch, Slye pointed to Coach Richardson and Coach Wadood as two staffers he has already “built good relationships with.” “I’m looking forward to continuing to build with the rest of the staff.”

Washington State is also pushing hard for Slye. “Washington State has been showing me a lot of love too,” Slye said, “and Coach [Kirby] Moore has made it clear they want to continue building a relationship with me and my family.”

That last phrase — me and my family — comes up repeatedly, and it is the clearest signal of how this recruitment will be decided. Slye said relationships are the reason schools like Arizona, UCLA and Cal are amongst the schools standing out to him are because he knows people on those staffs and feels comfortable around them.

For example, USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley extended Slye a scholarship offer personally at camp. “Getting offered by Coach Riley personally at camp meant a lot,” Slye said. “Their staff has also reached out to my parents, which is important to me because my family is a big part of this decision.”

Arizona State has told him he’s a priority, and San Diego State and Oklahoma remain in it.

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The gameday schedule he laid out is aggressive — seven weekends, seven campuses, essentially back to back:

• Aug. 29 — USC

• Sept. 5 — Arizona

• Sept. 12 — UCLA

• Sept. 19 — San Diego State

• Sept. 26 — Washington

• Oct. 3 — Arizona State

• Oct. 10 or 17 — Cal

Washington gets Slye on campus for the Huskies’ Big Ten opener against Minnesota on Sept. 26.

What Washington cannot count on is a runaway lead. Asked who was recruiting him hardest, Slye declined to name anyone.

“I wouldn’t say I have one school recruiting me the hardest right now,” he said. “A lot of these schools have been consistent and are making me feel like a priority in different ways. I’m keeping everything open, building relationships and looking for the best fit for me and my family.”

A Saturday-night episode covering a brutal Seahawks preseason debut (Brian watched all of it and regrets it), Hard Knocks episode two and the Terrion Arnold felony-charge signing question, whether Jerry Dipoto threw Colt Emerson under the bus over an undisclosed wrist injury, a deep dive on the Huskies' loaded defense, the Reign sneaking into playoff position, and a “reading the comments” segment that turns into a conversation about Mariners suffering. Brian closes with a UW all-time passing yards Top 5.

Chapters

• 01:48 — Leadoff: NFL preseason football is atrocious

• 02:11 — Woodland Park Zoo tangent + the crow that stole Brian’s sandwich

• 05:31 — Zoo trivia

• 06:26 — The Seahawks preseason game was awful

• 07:00 — Who actually played (no starters); Bud Clark disappointing

• 08:33 — Mike Macdonald was visibly annoyed / “this isn’t our standard”

• 10:42 — Hard Knocks episode two reactions

• 11:20 — The Terrion Arnold signing (8 felony charges) debate

• 12:31 — Seahawks fan polls: 80-85% say sign him

• 14:00 — John Schneider is the best executive in the NFL

• 15:14 — What makes this Hard Knocks great: culture over cuts

• 15:33 — The shadow boxing segment

• 17:49 — Seeing Emmanwori’s rehab in person

• 18:37 — This week’s preview: Witherspoon becomes highest-paid corner

• 19:47 — Mariners lost a brutal walk-off to the Astros

• 21:12 — Brendan Donovan’s veteran leadership + Brock Rodden’s bat

• 21:54 — Is it over for the Mariners? Both are on the fence

• 24:17 — The Astros’ September schedule breakdown

• 25:08 — Did Dipoto throw Colt Emerson under the bus?

• 28:22 — Husky football deep dive

• 28:35 — Is Demond Williams hitting a new level?

• 30:03 — Christian Moss becoming the preferred target

• 32:26 — The linebacker corps might be the best in the country

• 34:53 — Desean Watts: highest-graded D-lineman in the Big Ten

• 36:59 — The Reign are in playoff position + Brian’s suite story

• 42:24 — Reading the comments segment

• 46:45 — Cal Raleigh’s historic OPS drop (Hornsby, Hack Wilson company)

• 50:00 — Bushman Fishes: “they’ve always been a disappointment”

• 51:18 — Brian’s case for Mariners suffering in context (Guardians, Cubs)

• 55:50 — Top 5: UW career passing yards leaders

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Beyond the 2028 class, the Huskies are also working to bring their 2027 commits to Seattle this fall to reinforce those pledges ahead of Early Signing Day in December.

Here’s the intel I’ve gathered:

Class of 2027 Updates

UW-commit 4-star WR Dontay Tyson (Peoria, AZ) plans to visit Washington this fall, though a specific date hasn’t been locked in yet.

UW-commit 4-star DL Jon Ioane (Tustin, Calif.) also hasn't picked a specific home game yet, but he remains in regular contact with the staff—especially the defensive line coaches—and noted that he hears from Coach Fisch “a ton.”

UW-commit 4-star DL Tevita Nonu (Seattle, WA) is doing his best to go to all of Washington’s home games this coming season. He mostly hears from defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi and quality control defensive line coach Korey Rush.

UW-commit P Nolan Balke (Queen Creek, AZ) is hoping to get to a game this fall and is trying to find a date that works. He’s been in touch with Special Teams Coordinator Chris Petrilli.

Class of 2028 Updates

Hayden Koo, WR (4 stars) — Tustin (Tustin, Calif.) Koo — a top-50 wideout in the 2028 class, and one of the most coveted names on the West Coast — trimmed his list to 12, and Washington made the cut. The Huskies offered Koo in May, and they hold a card few others can play: Tustin High is UW commit Jon Ioane’s school, and Ioane — the four-star tackle is a natural peer recruiter. Cracking a top 12 this stacked, this early, is a good spot for UW to be in.

Keith Williams, ATH — Manvel (Manvel, TX) Circle Sept. 19. Williams told SeaTown Sports that Washington is a top program for him and that he plans to be at Husky Stadium for the Eastern Washington game. He highlighted Florida State, Washington, Memphis, and Houston as the teams pushing hardest for him.

Elijah Willis, DL (3 stars) — Martin Luther King (Detroit, Mich.) The Huskies were one of the first two Power Four programs to offer Willis, a Detroit MLK lineman. It has paid off: he named Washington among his standout offers and one of his hardest recruiters. He is aiming to attend Washington’s home game against Penn State on November 7. Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and UConn are also in heavy pursuit of Willis.

Quincey Clay, WR (3 stars) — Capital (Boise, ID) Clay is set to make a gameday visit to Washington for the Apple Cup on September 6. The Huskies offered Clay in late July. While he says he “loves all [his] offers,” Washington, Minnesota, Utah, Boise State, Oregon State, and UNLV stand out. Minnesota has separated itself as the school recruiting him the hardest at this point in time. Along with his Washington gameday visit, he also plans to head to Utah and USC this fall.

King Pitts, DL (4 stars) — Kapaa (Kapaa, Hawaii) Pitts — a top-35 national DL recruit with over 25 offers tells me he has been hearing from both Washington Defensive Line Coach Jason Kaufusi and Offensive Line Coach Michael Switzer. Ohio State, Arizona State, Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon, Cal, LSU, Kansas State, Alabama and others are recruiting Pitts heavily. He doesn’t have his gameday visit schedule set yet.

Josh Baker, IOL (3 stars) — Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) Baker, a Cass Tech interior lineman who holds a Washington offer, considers the Huskies one of his standout offers — “of course Washington,” he said — with Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Georgia Tech on his radar as well. He plans to get to Seattle, but does not have a date set yet.

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Karmello Calloway, IOL (3 stars) — Centennial (Peoria, AZ.) The Arizona commit does not have a schedule set yet, but tells me he has the following schools on his fall visit list: Arizona, Oklahoma State, Washington, Iowa State, Kansas, and UNLV. He says the Huskies, Arizona, and Kansas are standing out for him.

Austin Nelson, CB (3 stars) — East Kentwood (Kentwood, Mich.) The 3-star CB says that Louisville and Kansas are his standout offers right now. Louisville cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis and the Jayhawks’ assistant defensive backs coach Brandon Shelby have “constantly been reaching out” and “keeping close contact.” He adds that Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch has been recruiting him “pretty heavy” and that he “enjoy[s] the way [he] play[s].” He is set to visit: Cincinnatti (9/5); Iowa (9/12); Michigan State (9/26); Illinois (10/24).

Epalahame Finau, IOL (3 stars) — Oak Hills (Hesperia, Calif.) Does the last name sound familiar? Epalahame is the brother of former Washington Husky offensive lineman Paki Finau, who is now at BYU after transferring this past offseason. Epalahame shared with me that BYU, Washington, and Arizona State are his standout offers. BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods and ASU assistant offensive line coach Saga Tuitele have been in constant contact with Finau. He plans to visit ASU, BYU, and Texas Tech this fall.

Asher Ghioto, EDGE (4 stars) — Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fl.) Although Ghioto says his recruitment remains wide open, Washington does not appear to be in the main mix right now. Miami, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Clemson, USC, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame are pushing the hardest. He has a packed fall schedule with trips planned to Florida, Miami, Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Ohio State, and Clemson.

A Saturday-night episode recorded during the Mariners’ 50th-anniversary weekend. Kevin leads off with a defense of Julio Rodriguez and the players against a toxic corner of the fan base, before he and Brian break down episode one of Hard Knocks (Derick Hall's monster truck, Cooper Kupp at Taylor Swift's wedding, the Sam Darnold leadership debate), and debate the Mariners Top 50 snubs. Kevin closes with a Mariners home run leaderboard quiz.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Saturday night pod / people know Brian from the clips

• 02:18 — Leadoff: The 50th anniversary alumni home run derby

• 03:29 — Julio DJing the event + Mariners Twitter meltdown

• 05:20 — “The team is lifeless” debate — do they care?

• 07:16 — Social media toxicity and the veil of anonymity

• 13:06 — Hard Knocks episode one reactions

• 16:14 — Favorite player: Derick Hall stole the show

• 17:31 — Cooper Kupp: at Taylor Swift’s wedding, in the QB meetings

• 18:18 — Sam Darnold leadership debate (”ginger cuz”)

• 20:13 — Nick Emmanwori’s ankle scooter + McDonald’s approach

• 20:44 — Witherspoon negotiation + Schneider’s agent clip

• 22:50 — Witherspoon is PFF’s #1 corner, not in the NFL Top 100

• 26:02 — Who’s the star of Hard Knocks?

• 29:04 — Mariners “new look offense” — Ward in, Donovan back, Cal hitting 8th

• 30:43 — Brian is officially out on the 2026 Mariners

• 31:20 — The brutal August schedule (Yankees, Astros, Brewers)

• 32:03 — Top 50 snubs: Jeff Nelson, Tino, Edwin Diaz, Gino, Richie Sexson

• 33:44 — Dave Valle got a broadcaster bump

• 34:24 — 44 of 48 living players showed up; only Castillo skipped

• 34:57 — A-Rod got cheered — Brian defends it

• 37:14 — Mark Pope takes shots at Washington

• 39:13 — Husky football practice notes (ranked #19, Christian Moss)

• 41:16 — Bonus Top 5: Big Ten teams ranked above UW

• 42:49 — Positive comments segment (shout-outs)

• 43:31 — Travis’s Sounders roster overhaul take

• 45:47 — Chone Figgins fights Don Wakamatsu (2010 flashback)

• 49:59 — Top 5: Mariners home run leaders (more or less than Ichiro’s 99)

• 52:18 — The top 5: Griffey, Edgar, A-Rod, Kyle Seager, Jay Buhner

• 53:22 — Rick Rizzs in the Mariners Hall of Fame + sign-off

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Here’s a snapshot of where things stand for numerous recruits that are on Washington’s board. Some are clear-cut targets for the Huskies with mutual interest between the recruit and Washington’s staff, while others may have Washington lower on their board for the time being.

With that said, here’s the recent intel I’ve gathered:

Major Lee, RB — Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.) The 5’11”, 190 lb tailback has Washington, Oregon, and Arizona recruiting him the hardest. The Wildcats were the first to offer Lee back in June 2025. The Huskies extended him an offer this spring in mid-May. Lee is aiming to visit Washington during his high school season’s bye week, which lands on Sept. 26 for the Huskies’ Big Ten opener against Minnesota.

Quincey Clay, WR — Capital (Boise, Idaho) Washington’s most recent offer went out to Clay, the No. 1-ranked recruit out of Idaho. The wide receiver is a three-sport athlete who also plays basketball and runs track. Utah, Minnesota, Oregon State, and others have offered.

Brayden Bonik, LB — Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas) The Huskies are among a group of schools showing serious interest in Bonik. The group includes Michigan, Notre Dame, SMU, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. This early reciprocal interest for Washington is critical, especially because it has stood out as the West Coast school making the most noise in his recruitment. Bonik says his recruitment is “real open” and will be making gameday visits to Texas A&M (9/5), Oregon (10/17), and potentially others.

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Deron Simpson Jr., RB — Cypress Falls (Houston, Texas) The Houston-based running back tells me that Arizona State, SMU, Iowa State, and Washington are making him feel like “the guy they want.” He has no visits set yet and is still mapping out his schedule.

Presley DeLance, TE — Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.) Another one where Washington is genuinely in it. DeLance — the No. 1 player in Oregon for 2028, is a 6-foot-4 tight end. He named Oregon, Washington and Auburn as the schools recruiting him hardest heading into his junior season. He listed the following schools as standout offers to him: Oregon; Washington; Auburn; Georgia; and Florida. He wants to make fall visits to these schools, including others like Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, and Alabama.

Jayce Halasz, ATH — Graham-Kapowsin (Graham, Wash.) Halasz is an elite in-state athlete out of Graham-Kapowsin— and Washington has an offer out to him. The schools in steady contact with him are Oregon, Alabama, USC, Cal, and Wisconsin. His fall visit schedule is set: Cal (9/5); Oregon State (9/19); Clemson (10/3); Oregon (10/10); Alabama (10/24); USC (10/31); Notre Dame (11/7); and Wisconsin (11/27).

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Tyler Trusel, WR — Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) Washington offered Trusel back in the spring. Breaking through is another matter. The Michigan receiver — with 30-plus offers and counting — named Arizona State, Michigan, UNC and Kansas as his standouts, with the Sun Devils and Wolverines recruiting him the hardest. His fall visit list is ASU, Michigan, Kentucky and UNC.

DJ Tubbs, WR — St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) Tubbs received an offer from Washington back in 2024. He told SeaTown Sports that UCLA, Cal, Oklahoma, Miami, Notre Dame, and Missouri are the schools recruiting him the hardest at the moment. He says “everyone is pretty even” at the moment. He has two gameday visits locked in: Cal (9/5) and Miami (10/17).

Malakai Davis, RB — Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) Washington extended an offer to Davis this past spring, but has some ground to make up. Davis named Miami, USC, Michigan and Cal as his standouts, and left no doubt about the team recruiting him the hardest: “still USC.”

Kendrick Harris, IOL — Duncanville (Dallas, Texas) The four-star recruit is one of the top interior offensive linemen in the 2028 class — a Duncanville standout with an impressive offer sheet including Washington. Harris singled out the following schools as standing out: SMU, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Ohio State, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Florida. He’s planning to get out and visit as many of those schools as he can this fall.

Dreson Jimerson, ATH — Bellevue (Wash.) Jimerson is a name to keep an eye on. He received spring camp invites from both Washington and Washington State, and holds an offer from Montana State. He is also getting interest from Nevada and Montana. On the track, the Bellevue athlete ran a 10.67 in the 100 meters this spring and competed at Nike Outdoor Nationals and took silver in the 4x100.

Episode 103 opens with admitting he went to a Reign match wearing Bay FC gear, which spirals into a genuinely great conversation about how long it takes to actually understand a sport. Then: the Mariners fleeced the White Sox in the Luis Castillo trade, Brian Schmetzer had a meltdown blaming a Timbers Tifo for a six-game losing streak, Hard Knocks drops in two days, and closes with a Top 5 that puts Luis Castillo's Mariners legacy in brutal statistical perspective.

Chapters

• 00:31 — Welcome back / vacation mode / Kevin’s 30-year-old Mariners hat

• 01:50 — Leadoff: Kevin went to a Reign match in Bay FC gear

• 03:21 — Jess Fishlock scores 5 seconds after subbing in at 39 years old

• 04:47 — The Reign have won 3 of 4 since the World Cup break

• 07:05 — How long does it take to actually understand a sport?

• 08:21 — Chuck Klosterman’s “Football” and what we don’t see when we watch

• 11:58 — Watching off the ball is the next level of fandom

• 13:37 — Why football’s stop-start pace is the actual appeal

• 15:29 — Hockey is the only sport that’s better live

• 16:41 — Mariners trade Luis Castillo to the White Sox

• 17:48 — The White Sox are paying his ENTIRE salary

• 19:34 — Mariners netted ~$15M + a top-15 prospect

• 20:11 — The trade grader called it an overwhelming Mariners win

• 23:22 — Seranthony Dominguez gave up the Suárez grand slam

• 24:07 — Should the Mariners keep dealing?

• 24:52 — Brian’s hot take: trade George Kirby now

• 26:00 — You can’t sign five starters to mega deals

• 29:15 — The Mariners have the only + run differential in the AL West

• 31:27 — Brian Schmetzer’s Tifo meltdown after a 6-game losing streak

• 32:36 — What a Tifo actually is (and why the Timbers’ was incredible)

• 34:44 — “Your point is that the Tifo made you sad?”

• 35:52 — Hard Knocks drops in two days

• 36:22 — Why Mike Macdonald might be the best coach in Seattle sports

• 38:59 — Camp standouts: Elijah Arroyo, Bud Clark, Byron Murphy

• 39:44 — Brian Fleury and the pre-snap motion buzz

• 42:10 — UW offensive line: possibly the best in 15 years

• 46:42 — Who gets the most carries against the Cougs? (Jaden Lamar)

• 49:25 — Luis Castillo’s legacy conversation begins

• 50:11 — Castillo is one of 8 holdovers from the 2022 playoff team

• 55:29 — Top 5: Mariners career WAR leaders among pitchers

• 57:24 — Freddy Garcia (5th), Mark Langston (4th), Iwakuma (7th)

• 59:04 — Luis Castillo is 23rd all time. Bryan Woo is 22nd.

• 1:00:06 — The counterargument: playoff moments matter in Seattle

• 1:02:49 — Next week: Hard Knocks Ep. 1 + trade deadline fallout

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Episode 102 opens with ’s Odyssey IMAX review (which becomes a metaphor for people who don’t know soccer telling the world how to fix it), before and Brian dig into the Sounders’ identity crisis, run a 0-10 impact scale on every Seahawks rookie, roast or toast every Seattle head coach, and read Logan Gilbert’s full-throated Dan Wilson defense on KJR. Kevin nails the Seattle Storm all-time All-Star Top 5 in one go.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Late night podcasting + Brian’s Odyssey IMAX review

• 06:38 — Sonics gone 18 years / Odyssey metaphor

• 08:18 — Leadoff: Sounders lost 5-1 to Portland after World Cup break

• 08:46 — Loyal listener James’s Sounders meltdown texts

• 10:00 — What are the Sounders doing? Zero dollars spent this offseason

• 12:16 — Sounders 18 goals scored (Inter Miami has 38)

• 13:00 — The Clint Dempsey / Obafemi Martins era vs. now

• 15:00 — Every Seattle team has a plan except the Sounders

• 17:19 — Sounders defensive identity: nobody wants to watch it

• 18:42 — Seahawks lightning round: rookies 0-10

• 20:37 — Nick Emmanwori on PUP list — panic level?

• 32:38 — Coaches in Seattle: roast or toast

• 33:31 — Mike McDonald: TOAST

• 33:56 — Brian Schmetzer: TOAST (still)

• 34:20 — Laura Harvey: middle

• 34:47 — Tina Langley: on the upswing + Hannah Stein lawsuit

• 38:32 — Lane Lambert: little roasty

• 40:04 — Sonia Raman: too early / 1-11 in close games

• 42:44 — Danny Sprinkle: full roast, no identity

• 45:00 — The three types of college basketball coach hires

• 49:46 — Jedd Fisch: has an identity, “be a pro”

• 53:16 — Dan Wilson: more toast than roast

• 54:53 — Logan Gilbert’s full KJR quote defending Dan Wilson

• 56:32 — Clubhouse is behind Wilson — game over

• 1:01:04 — They’re not firing him before the 50th anniversary weekend

• 1:03:12 — Top 5: Most All-Star appearances as a Seattle Storm player

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Chapters

• 02:15 — Leadoff: Seahawks sold to the Khosla family for $9.6B

• 03:00 — All proceeds go to charity per Paul Allen’s will

• 04:30 — Should we worry about the 49ers 3% stake connection?

• 06:00 — New owner syndrome: what’s the first move?

• 08:00 — Kevin’s prediction: they won’t change enough

• 09:00 — Long-term tangent: football, concussions, and career limits

• 14:00 — Seattle and the Seahawks: the fandom came first

• 18:30 — Mariners hot takes begin

• 19:00 — HOT TAKE: Trade Randy Arozarena?

• 22:00 — HOT TAKE: Trade George Kirby?

• 25:00 — HOT TAKE: Fire Jerry Dipoto?

• 27:30 — HOT TAKE: Fire Dan Wilson?

• 29:00 — HOT TAKE: Julio Rodriguez is not elite

• 35:30 — Kraken draft: Chase Reed (7th pick, defenseman, “steal of the draft”)

• 38:30 — MLB Draft: Ace Reese (24th pick, 3B, Mississippi State, Matt Carpenter comp)

• 39:30 — Dominic Santarelli (18th round, going to LSU — Kevin’s heartbreak)

• 40:50 — Jake Brown (LSU) and Nathan Taylor (Cincinnati) picks

• 43:30 — Is It Too Late: Storm (6-19, yes it’s too late)

• 44:30 — Skylar Diggins pattern of conflict at each stop

• 46:00 — Is It Too Late: Reign (3 points out, no way too late)

• 48:30 — Is It Too Late: Mariners (1.5 out, eternal optimist says no)

• 50:00 — Kevin’s family day at T-Mobile Park (both sons’ first game)

• 54:00 — Cal Raleigh hitting .162 — can he get to .230? (No.)

• 57:00 — The case for just getting in: hot at the right time wins

• 59:00 — Top 5: Sonics first-round picks traded on draft night

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For most of the spring, the smart money on Censere Gaylord pointed south.

He is a four-star cornerback at IMG Academy, one of the most heavily scouted high school programs in the country, and when he cut his list to four in April, three of those names sat squarely in SEC and ACC territory: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn. Washington was the outlier. The school is over 3,000 miles away from Bradenton, Florida.

On Saturday, Gaylord committed to the Huskies via 247 Sports live stream.

Gaylord is a Southern California kid — he began his high school career at Bishop Alemany before heading east to IMG, the same path his former IMG teammate and fellow corner Ksani Jiles walked before landing at Washington a year ago. So for all the cross-country distance on the map, this was less a leap into the unknown than a return to the West Coast.

The blue-chip cornerback visited Washington unofficially during Junior Day in March, then came back for his official visit the weekend of June 5–7. That second trip is the one that mattered. Washington had spent months as the lone West Coast finalist against three programs with deeper recruiting reputations in his region, and the official visit was the staff’s chance to close the gap in person. They did.

The fit was always clean. Speaking with Rivals’ Greg Biggins in the spring, Gaylord pointed to how Washington lets its corners “play fast and aggressive” in the secondary — a description that doubles as a scouting report on his own game.

Gaylord checks in at 6-foot, 170 pounds and ranks as the No. 19 cornerback in the country, the No. 16 player in Florida and the No. 146 prospect nationally, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. Inside Washington’s 2027 class, he is the program’s highest-ranked commit.

He also keeps a quiet streak alive. Washington will now sign an IMG Academy prospect in three straight cycles — receiver Raiden Vines-Bright in 2025, Jiles in 2026, and now Gaylord in 2027.

We did it. 100 episodes. Two years of weekly podcasting. and celebrate by introducing the new name — the SeaTown Sports Podcast — and running a mailbag episode with questions from family, close friends, and the listener X chat.

Chapters

• 00:00 — We did it: 100 episodes

• 02:25 — Big announcement: rebrand to the SeaTown Sports Podcast

• 05:00 — Leadoff: what athletic percentile are you?

• 09:00 — Brian and his cousin Jim’s failed decathlon

• 10:30 — Could Kevin compete in the WNBA?

• 11:00 — Mailbag begins

• 11:10 — Q1 (David): What would Dan Wilson need to do to get fired?

• 18:45 — Q2 (Nicholas): USA soccer predictions + injury updates

• 22:30 — McDonald’s World Cup souvenir cups

• 24:00 — Q3 (Dana): Favorite goal or team spirit of the World Cup

• 25:30 — The Tartan Army (Scotland) drank Boston dry

• 28:30 — Q4 (mom + Justin combo): Why are the Storm good lately?

• 29:30 — Awa Fam, Flau’jae, Dom Malonga stat dump

• 33:30 — Brian still wants the Storm to lose for ping pong balls

• 35:00 — Q5 (Zach): Jordan Washington update for UW football

• 38:30 — Q6 (James): Will a true freshman lead a UW stat category?

• 42:00 — Q7 (KOMO 4): Is Seattle dying?

• 46:00 — Q8 (Kevin to Brian): Who are you most excited to see on Hard Knocks?

• 51:00 — Q9 (Nicholas): Top 3 Independence Day foods

• 53:00 — Top 5: Best holidays

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Links

• Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack!

• SeaTown Sports on Instagram