Washington football closed its 2018 recruiting class on a high note. Which incoming freshmen could become starters for Chris Petersen and the Huskies?
Chris Petersen has been one heck of a recruiter since taking over at Washington. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise seeing as he was an above-average at Boise State. Recruiting at a Power Five program with resources like Washington has to be much easier.
In fact, his 2018 class was one of the best in the country and second-best, behind USC, in the Pac-12. There are plenty of potential instant impactors in the Huskies’ incoming freshman class.
Which five incoming freshmen could start for the Huskies in 2018?
The Washington Huskies are going to be looking to replace a couple of offensive linemen this season as Andrew Kirkland, the starting left guard, and center Coleman Shelton are both graduating. That leaves two open spots on the line with a talented guard coming in with the 2018 class.
Sam Taimani has a strong 6-foot-2, 320-pound frame which could fit in well at left guard, right guard or even, in a pinch, center. He’s a big guy who needs to work on his lateral quickness and moving his feet, but he has the skillset to be an issue for opposing defensive linemen.
Chris Petersen will have a decision to make this fall when he’s piecing together his offensive line. Does he want to trust the incoming four-star freshman who is ranked No. 208 overall and as the seventh-best guard in the class or does he want to go with a vet?
Guys like Devin Burleson, Matt James and Jesse Sosebee could will push for those open spots as well, but don’t count out Taimani.
Could Jack Sirmon take over for Keishawn Bierria at one of the inside linebacker positions this fall? He will have a lot of work to do if he’s going to beat out guys like DJ Beavers and Brandon Wellington. Heck, some outside backers could even move over and contend for the open position, if need be.
However, Sirmon is one of the top incoming talents in Chris Petersen’s 2018 class. He can play both inside and outside linebacker, but may project as the former at the collegiate level with his 6-foot-2, 224-pound frame.
Sirmon is an aggressive linebacker with great instincts. He reads plays quickly and reacts, often making highlight plays with his speed, IQ and aggressiveness combined. He finished with 130 total tackles, 14.5 for loss and three sacks in his senior campaign while leading Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy to the state title.
The incoming linebacker is rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 235 overall player in the class, per 247Sports. He’s also listed as the 19th-best player at the position.
Expect Sirmon to contend for a starting spot this summer and fall.
Washington is losing one of its best defensive linemen in school history this offseason as Vita Vea has opted to forgo his senior season and head to the NFL. He’s been rated as high as the No. 1 overall defensive tackle prospect by NFL draft experts and may are pegging him as an early first-rounder.
How does one replace such a talent on the defensive line? Enter, Tuli Letuligasenoa. The four-star incoming freshman from Concord, Calif., is one of the best recruits in Washington’s 2018 class, ranked the No. 105 overall prospect and eighth-best defensive tackle by 247Sports.
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Not many freshmen could come in and compete for a starting job right away, but Letuligasenoa has the frame, at 6-foot-1, 338 pounds, to make up for the void left by Vea. He has almost the same body type as the future first-round pick.
Letuligasenoa plays like a man among boys and it’ll be interesting to see if he can play with that same fire this fall and earn a starting spot. It won’t be easy as there are already veterans who were waiting to take over for Vea.
Yes, another inside linebacker with a shot to start for the Huskies this fall. Brandon Kaho is an Army All-American from Reno, Nev., who may not be an early enrollee, nor is anyone on this list, but he will compete for time along with the aforementioned Jack Sirmon.
Keishawn Bierria’s departure means more opportunities for young guys, and that includes incoming freshmen. Starting right away at the collegiate level of football isn’t easy, especially for prospects who don’t enroll early, but when you watch Kaho’s highlights, it’s easy to see why Washington was so high on him.
Kaho can do a little of everything. He can rush the quarterback on a blitz and either force an errant throw or finish the play with a sack, he can gobble up a ball-carrier in the backfield for a tackle for loss, he can drop back in coverage and he can clog running lanes. The kid is a do-everything star who could be an instant contributor.
The five-star from Nevada is listed as the No. 21 player in the class and the nation’s top inside linebacker in the country, according to 247Sports. He will make some noise this fall.
Dante Pettis is moving on to bigger and better things, which means Washington will be forced to find a new No. 1 receiver. Aaron Fuller may be poised to overtake that role, but the Huskies will also be looking for a new starter at wide out.
Marquis Spiker is an elite talent who could climb the ranks early on, as long as he learns the playbook quickly, and take over as a starter in the fall. Fuller is the only returning receiver who finished with over 200 yards last season, which means the race could be wide open this fall.
Spiker is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound four-star wide out from Murrieta, Calif., who has impressive speeds, runs crisp routes and is terrifying for opponents in the open field. If he’s not making you miss, he’s running right through, or by, you.
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The four-star wide out from California is ranked the No. 59 prospect in the class and the eighth-best receiver. He could be a day one starter, but he has to beat out some veterans who have already been waiting in the wings. He has the talent to ease the pain of losing Pettis.