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Huskies Turn to Montana State to Find Another Defensive Tackle

The UW picks up a transfer portal commitment from Sebastian Valdez.
Dan Raley|
Huskies Turn to Montana State to Find Another Defensive Tackle
Huskies Turn to Montana State to Find Another Defensive Tackle

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Washington Huskies

Preparing for the ruggedness of the Big Ten in 2024, the University of Washington made replenishing the defensive trenches a transfer portal priority. After all, as much as he tried, Tuli Letuligasenoa was not going to be around forever.

On Monday, the Huskies went back to the Big Sky for more talent, gaining a commitment from defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez, a second-team all-conference selection from Montana State.

The 6-foot-3, 284-pound Valdez from the San Diego area became the second defensive-line addition through the transfer portal for the UW in two days, following the lead of defensive tackle B.J. Green of Arizona State, a second-team All-Pac-12 pick.

Valdez, according to the recruiting analysts, picked the UW over California. He has one season of eligibility remaining. He becomes the fifth player from the portal to commit to the Huskies in four days, and second on Monday along with former San Diego State offensive tackle Drew Azzopardi.

“Washington was great and you can see why they win there," Valdez told Greg Biggins of 247sports. "The culture is amazing. Every one talks about a family environment but at Washington, you can really see it and it’s real and that was big for me.”

The Huskies haven't been shy in leaning on Big Sky players, bringing in cornerback Jordan Perryman from UC Davis in 2022 to become a starter, and Cal Poly tight end Josh Cuevas this past season and using him right away with the intention of making him a future starter.

For an 8-4 Montana State team, Valdez finished with 40 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks this past season.

In 2022, he was a first-team All-Big Sky selection, picking up 44 tackles, including 10 TFLs and 7 sacks, for a 12-2 team that went three rounds in the FCS playoffs, starting all 14 games.

Clearly, the Huskies have a newfound respect for tough-minded players from Montana, remembering what the Bobcats' chief rival did to them in 2021 (Montana 13, UW 7). 

UW PORTAL TRANSFER SIGNEES

Drew Azzopardi, OT, 6-7, 315, San Diego State, Pacifica, Calif.

Ethan Barr, LB, 6-3, 245, Vanderbilt, Flower Mound, Texas

Will Rogers, QB, 6-2, 215, Mississippi State, Brandon, Miss.

B.J. Green, DT, 6-1, 270, Arizona State, Atlanta

Sebastian Valdez, DT, 6-3, 284, Montana State, Spring Valley, Calif.

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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