UW Head Coach Chris Petersen talks on National Signing Day.
Coming off its first conference title since 2000 and an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinals, some might have expected Washington’s 2017 recruiting class to rank up there with fellow playoff squads Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State, but recruiting rankings just aren’t how Chris Petersen keeps score.
Petersen did sign his strongest class since taking over the program ahead of the 2014 season, but with just 18 players (out of a possible 25) inking letter of intent on national signing day, the Huskies’ class — which ranked 22nd in the country according to 247 Sports — lagged behind top-ranked Alabama (29 players) and No. 2 Ohio State (21 players).
That’s just fine with Petersen, who places a premium on finding his much-referenced “OKGs” (our kind of guys) rather signing as many five-star blue chips as possible.
“I know you guys want to talk about all this talent and what they’re going to be like,” Petersen said during a Wednesday press conference. “They wouldn’t be on this list if they weren’t talented. Where I really get excited at this point is like, I just think these guys fit us and they fit the culture that we’re all about. They’re really good kids.”
Five signees featured in ESPN’s top 300 prospects, two fewer than the number of ESPN 300 players who signed with UW from 2014-2016 combined. Three of those were local products in Juanita running back Salvon Ahmed, Skyline lineman Henry Bainivalu and Eastside Catholic tight end Hunter Bryant, who headed six players signed from Washington state.
Even with the positive returns from in-state prospects — UW signed six of the state’s top 11 players, according to 247 Sports — it’s easy to imagine what might have been if five-star Graham-Kapowsin lineman Foster Sarell, the top-ranked player in the state, and four-star Sumner athlete Conor Weddington, who decommitted from UW in December, had chosen the Huskies over Stanford.
Sarell’s rebuff and Weddington’s decommitment stung Washington fans, but not quite as much as that of four-star Oregon defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, who dropped the Huskies last week and signed with USC on Wednesday, leaving UW without a defensive tackle in the class.
Weddington and Tuipulotu’s decommitments were the first at UW for Petersen, who asks prospects to end their recruitment and not take any additional on-campus visits once they’ve verbally committed to the Huskies. Despite the two big surprises, Petersen said he’s not wasting any time on hard feelings.
“We never worry about the kids that don’t come here,” he said. “That has nothing to do with the success of our program.”
Petersen made up for the loss of Tuipulotu by nabbing two of the best players in Oregon in cornerback Elijah Molden, the son of former Oregon Ducks star and first-round NFL draft pick Alex Molden, and offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland, the son of former Washington captain Dean Kirland.
The class featured three players who participated in this year’s U.S. Army All American Bowl in Ahmed, Utah wide receiver Ty Jones and California linebacker Ariel Ngata, who comes out of the same Folsom High School program that produced current UW quarterback Jake Browning.
The lone signal caller of the class is, like Browning, an undersized “Jake” out of Northern California. But unlike Browning, who started as a true freshman and was named Pac-12 offensive player of the year this past season, Jake Haener will likely start his college career with a redshirt year.
Haener and Ngata are two of the eight players from California, which produced eight of the 17 signees.
Punter Joel Whitford enrolled in January and is already taking classes. The Australian played one year of junior college football and comes to UW with three years of eligibility remaining. Whitford sent in a photo of him signing with the Huskies surrounded by cows at his family farm in Australia.
Best signing day photo of all-time. @UW_Football-bound punter @joelwhit12 signing his LOI from the family farm in Australia. #Dawgman pic.twitter.com/U0WbZ40mrG
One player who wasn’t initially introduced as part of the 2017 class was Salt Lake City defensive end Jordan Lolohea, who announced he was choosing Washington over BYU and Utah earlier on Wednesday. Lolohea was officially added to the class later in the day and is expected to go on a Mormon mission before playing college football.
Petersen has shown a willingness to give young players significant chances to play early, but he didn’t want to put expectations on any of the signees to play large roles in 2017.
“I could make a case for all those guys, but I don’t know until they get here. I really don’t. They’re not going to be on this list unless they’re big-time players, in our opinion, and have a chance to have a really, really big upside.”
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RB Salvon Ahmed
Juanita High School (Kirkland)
5-foot-11, 189 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: A two-way star at running back and cornerback for the Rebels, Ahmed rushed for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in only six games in 2016.
RB Salvon Ahmed
Juanita High School (Kirkland)
5-foot-11, 189 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: A two-way star at running back and cornerback for the Rebels, Ahmed rushed
OL Henry Bainivalu
6-foot-5, 285 pounds
Skyline High School (Sammamish)
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: One of the top players in the Pacific Northwest, Bainivalue was first-team 4A All-KingCo on the offensive and defensive lines his senior season.
OL Henry Bainivalu
6-foot-5, 285 pounds
Skyline High School (Sammamish)
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: One of the top players in the Pacific Northwest, Bainivalue
TE Hunter Bryant
Eastside Catholic High School (Bellevue)
6-foot-2, 241 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The No. 4 tight end in the country according to ESPN committed to UW back in April 2016.
TE Hunter Bryant
Eastside Catholic High School (Bellevue)
6-foot-2, 241 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The No. 4 tight end in the country according to ESPN
WR Terrell Bynum
St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower, California)
6-foot, 184 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: Will join high school teammate Sean McGrew, a redshirt freshman running back, at UW.
WR Terrell Bynum
St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower, California)
6-foot, 184 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: Will join high school teammate Sean McGrew, a
WR Alex Cook
Sheldon High School (Sacramento, CA)
6-foot-1, 186 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: Cook was an all-city defensive back in high school, but also starred at wide receiver and returning kicks.
WR Alex Cook
Sheldon High School (Sacramento, CA)
6-foot-1, 186 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: Cook was an all-city defensive back in high school, but also starred
DE Ali Gaye
6-foot-6, 276 pounds
Edmonds-Woodway High School (Edmonds)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The big, athletic Edmonds product stayed with the Huskies despite an official visit to Mississippi over the weekend.
DE Ali Gaye
6-foot-6, 276 pounds
Edmonds-Woodway High School (Edmonds)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The big, athletic Edmonds product stayed with the Huskies
QB Jake Haener
Monte Vista High School (Danville, California)
6-foot, 196 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The slightly undersized Northern California signal caller will be a third-generation Husky, following his mother and grandfather to UW.
QB Jake Haener
Monte Vista High School (Danville, California)
6-foot, 196 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The slightly undersized Northern California signal caller
WR Ty Jones
6-foot-4, 206 pounds
Provo High School (Provo, Utah)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: A U.S. Army All-American, Jones caught 20 touchdown passes in his senior season.
WR Ty Jones
6-foot-4, 206 pounds
Provo High School (Provo, Utah)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: A U.S. Army All-American, Jones caught 20 touchdown passes in his senior season.
OL Jaxson Kirkland
6-foot-6, 325 pounds
Jesuit High School (Portland, Oregon)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: Son of former UW offensive lineman Dean Kirkland, former captain and three-year starer who won first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 1990.
OL Jaxson Kirkland
6-foot-6, 325 pounds
Jesuit High School (Portland, Oregon)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: Son of former UW offensive lineman Dean Kirkland,
DE Jordan Lolohea
East High School (Salt Lake City, Utah)
6-foot-1, 247 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: Lolohea’s commitment was the only real surprise of signing day, as he chose the Huskies over offers from Utah and BYU.
DE Jordan Lolohea
East High School (Salt Lake City, Utah)
6-foot-1, 247 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: Lolohea’s commitment was the only real surprise of
S Brandon McKinney
Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, California)
6-foot-2, 190 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The only safety in the 2017 class could play early in a secondary that lost a few key players.
S Brandon McKinney
Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, California)
6-foot-2, 190 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The only safety in the 2017 class could play
CB Elijah Molden
5-foot-11, 185 pounds
West Linn High School (West Linn, Oregon)
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The son of former Oregon standout and NFL first-round pick Alex Molden helped West Linn go undefeated his senior season.
CB Elijah Molden
5-foot-11, 185 pounds
West Linn High School (West Linn, Oregon)
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 4 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The son of former Oregon standout and NFL
LB Ariel Ngata
Folsom High School (Folsom, California)
6-foot-2, 202 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The U.S. Army All-American hails from the same high school that produced UW quarterback Jake Browning.
LB Ariel Ngata
Folsom High School (Folsom, California)
6-foot-2, 202 pounds
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: The U.S. Army All-American hails from the same high school
OL Cole Norgaard
6-foot-4, 280 pounds
St. Mary’s High School (Stockton, California)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The Northern California lineman only played one year on the offensive line, making him a bit of a sleeper.
OL Cole Norgaard
6-foot-4, 280 pounds
St. Mary’s High School (Stockton, California)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The Northern California lineman only played one
CB Keith Taylor
6-foot-3, 189 pounds
Servite High School (Anaheim, California)
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: A long, lanky defensive back with sprinter speed, Taylor will remind some of outgoing Huskies cornerback Kevin King.
CB Keith Taylor
6-foot-3, 189 pounds
Servite High School (Anaheim, California)
247: 4 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 4 stars
Scout: 4 stars
Notes: A long, lanky defensive back with sprinter speed,
TE Cade Otton
Tumwater High School (Olympia)
6-foot-5, 222 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: Grandson of legendary Tumwater coach Sid Otto, the winningest coach in Washington state high school history.
TE Cade Otton
Tumwater High School (Olympia)
6-foot-5, 222 pounds
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: Grandson of legendary Tumwater coach Sid Otto, the winningest coach in
LB Joe Tryon
6-foot-5, 238 pounds
Hazen High School (Renton)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The former Washington State commit was named North Puget Sound League Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior.
LB Joe Tryon
6-foot-5, 238 pounds
Hazen High School (Renton)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 3 stars
Notes: The former Washington State commit was named North Puget Sound
P Joel Whitford*
6-foot-4, 215 pounds
Santa Barbara Community College (Santa Barbara, California)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 2 stars
Notes: The Australia native succeeded 2016 Ray Guy Award winner Mitch Wishnowsky at SBCC. *Early enrollee
P Joel Whitford*
6-foot-4, 215 pounds
Santa Barbara Community College (Santa Barbara, California)
247: 3 stars
ESPN: 3 stars
Rivals: 3 stars
Scout: 2 stars
Notes: The Australia native succeeded
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