For the First Time, a Husky Recruiting Class Had No Locals
The University of Washington football team finds itself two games from winning a national championship, relying on a roster that seems to be turning more national with each incoming class.
In fact, for the first time in program history, the Huskies are positioned to go through a recruiting cycle without signing anyone from inside the state borders.
Zero.
On Wednesday, coach Kalen DeBoer welcomed 19 players to his program, high school and transfer portal players alike, and they came from five different states in California (11), Texas (4), Arizona (2), Oregon (1) and Mississippi (1).
Yet none from the Evergreen state — an astounding development — with DeBoer citing a smaller class combined with looking for immediate help from the portal, which knows no boundaries.
"We always want kids from Washington — there's great football played here," the coach said. "We'll make sure there's always an emphasis and we always want to pursue that, but this year it's just kind of the way it is at this point with where we're at."
With a 13-0 record and a nation-best 20-game winning streak only a few hardened fans are complaining about the team makeup.
If you can win, most people won't care where your birthplace or your home address is.
What seems to have happened is DeBoer's coaching staff probably had an interest in only a handful of locally produced players and for whatever reason they went elsewhere.
The legendary and late Don James always made sure his recruiting classes were composed of more than 50 percent homegrown talent, with his final incoming group in 1993 showing 10 of 19 players with a local connection.
However, five years prior to stepping down, James determined that his team needed a lot more speed and his coaches would have to comb the high schools across Southern California to find it, which they did and a national championship resulted.
Through a succession of coaches, the average was seven to eight locals each year until coach Steve Sarkisian signed just three in 2013, which didn't become a trend because he left for USC — and talent-rich California — at the end of the season.
In Chris Petersen's final campaign as the Husky coach in 2019, he likewise handed scholarships to just three homegrown recruits.
DeBoer signed just three local high school players when he took over in tight end Ryan Otton, wide receiver Denzel Boston and safety Tristan Dunn, with all but Dunn inherited from his UW coaching predecessor, Jimmy Lake.
A year ago, DeBoer picked up three more locals in offensive lineman Landen Hatchett, edge rusher Jacob Lane and cornerback Caleb Presley, now freshmen in his program.
There didn't seem to be any shortage of talent this time, especially across Western Washington, with the following 10 players signing with reputable programs.
2024 HOMEGROWN WHO LEFT HOME
Isendre Ahfua, OG, O'Dea HS, Texas A&M
Jason Brown Jr., RB, O'Dea HS, ASU
E.J. Caminong, QB, Garfield HS, California
Rashawn Clark, CB, Garfield HS, Arizona
Fox Crader, OT, Evergreen HS, Oregon
Hogan Hansen, TE, Bellevue HS, Michigan
Isaiah Patterson, ER, Yelm HS, UCLA
Brayden Platt, LB, Yelm HS, Oregon
Payton Stewart, OT, Kelso HS, Michigan State
Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, OT, Mount Tahoma HS, UCLA
DeBoer's staff no doubt wanted some of these guys, but probably passed on a good number of them, as well, with the coaches fairly particular in grading for speed, athleticism, character and overall fit.
Again, few complaints have been registered over the ingredients being imported because the Huskies seem to be doing just fine with this approach by advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals against Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
Just five locals currently are Husky starters in defensive tackle Ulumoo Ale, offensive guard Nate Kalepo, nickelback Mishael Powell, linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala and tight end Jack Westover. It works.
Even while missing out, DeBoer said it's important to maintain a friendly relationship with the state's worldly players because of the transient nature of the college game these days. They just might want to return some day and play in Montlake.
"The first time round, they do leave your state and you'll handle things the right way," DeBoer said, "where the door can be open if you decide to come back."
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