Duke Safety Commit Schedules UW Official Visit
Washington has positioned itself to be the last school Duke safety commit Paul Mencke Jr. visits before the early signing period begins on Dec. 20.
Since the UW defeated Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game and advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, the coaches have been busy recruiting and making a number of in-home visits.
This included co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chuck Morrell going to Texas last week. After meeting with him, Mencke scheduled an official visit to Washington on Friday through Sunday, returning home three days before the beginning of the early signing period.
Mencke, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound defensive back out of Samuel Clemons High School in Cibolo, Texas, has been committed to the Blue Devils football program for nearly six months.
He made that pledge on June 13 to now former Duke coach Mike Elko. On the Monday following the Apple Cup — a day after Mencke took an unofficial visit to UW — Elko was named as Texas A&M's coach, leaving the recruit in limbo.
One reason Mencke took a trip to Seattle for the regular-season finale against Washington State at his own expense was because Elko appeared interested in the Aggies coaching vacancy.
Duke hired former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to replace Elko, but Mencke hasn't spoken with the new guy to know where his commitment stands currently.
"I committed for a reason and, if the staff I liked and committed to is gone, why would I go?" Mencke said. "Business is business and you have to do what puts you in the best position to succeed and feel comfortable."
On his unofficial trip on game day of the Apple Cup, the 3-star recruit didn't have much time to meet with the UW coaching staff and learn more about the program.
Yet in visiting during preparations for the Sugar Bowl matchup against Texas, Mencke, the son of a former Washington State quarterback, and the Husky coaching staff should have ample time to make a stronger connection.
UW already has three defensive-back commitments for its 2024 recruiting class in cornerback Elias Johnson from Portland, Oregon, and a pair of safeties in Peyton Waters from Van Nuys, California, and Joshua Lair from Missouri City, Texas.
The UW had a scholarship open up with the departure of sophomore safety Vince Nunley, who entered the transfer portal last week.
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