UW Recruiting Notebook: 2028 Targets & 2027 Intel
Latest intel on Washington’s top 2028 recruiting targets setting up Husky Stadium fall visits, plus key updates on Jedd Fisch’s 2027 commit class.
I’m continuing to keep tabs on Washington’s 2028 recruiting board as prospects begin locking in their fall game-day visit schedules. Scheduling an unofficial trip requires a mutual commitment—especially since non-local prospects pay out-of-pocket and have limited open weekends during their high school seasons. Getting a target on campus this fall is often the crucial first step before bringing them back for an official visit in the spring.
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.
UW Football Recruiting Notebook: Intel on Some of Washington’s Top 2028 Targets
Class of 2028 recruiting is in full swing. The rising juniors are now the focus of Washington’s personnel department after the program completed most of its work this past summer with the class of 2027.
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.
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.