Thomas Joyner arrived at Husky Stadium on Saturday as a 2029 prospect without a Washington offer. He left with one.
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.”
