Jedd Fisch and his staff have landed one of the most coveted defensive backs on the West Coast.
Isala Aisa Wily-Ava, a 3-star safety out of Bellflower, California’s St. John Bosco, announced his commitment to the Washington Huskies this weekend, choosing Washington over Arizona State in what became a true two-team race down the stretch. He becomes one of the headliners of Washington’s growing 2027 class — and a statement pickup against a Big 12 program that pushed hard until the end.
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Wily-Ava is the kind of safety prospect modern defenses are built around. As a junior, he finished the season with 50 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one interception. Rivals Industry Ranking has him as a Top-40 2027 recruit in California and as a Top-40-ranked safety, nationally.
Huskies safeties coach Taylor Mays has been central to Wily-Ava’s recruitment from the start, and the parallels are important to point out — Mays, a three-time All-American safety at USC and a former NFL player, built his career on the same kind of size-and-versatility package Wily-Ava is growing into. During his recruitment, Mays told Wily-Ava that he could play corner, safety, or linebacker at the next level. For a prospect who has spent his sophomore and junior years showing flashes of all three, that pitch landed.
Arizona State made this one a fight. The Sun Devils were squarely in the mix throughout the spring. Michigan was also among the programs in the late mix.
For Washington’s 2027 class, Wily-Ava’s pledge is a foundational piece in the secondary and another signal that Fisch’s staff can win head-to-head battles for elite West Coast talent.
The St. John Bosco pipeline also matters here. The Braves remain one of the most heavily recruited programs in the country, and a commitment of this caliber reinforces Washington’s connection with the Southern California powerhouse.
By the time Wily-Ava arrives in Seattle, Husky fans will be getting a player who already looks the part, plays multiple positions at a high level, and chose Washington over a Power 4 program that pushed for him to the very end.
Washington’s Class of 2027 Official Visit Tracker
The 2027 recruiting cycle is starting to take shape on Montlake — and the official visit board is beginning to tell a story.