Texas Safety Set For Washington Recruiting Visit

Paul Mencke Jr. doesn’t shy away from showing off his Northwest roots.

He wears No. 31 as an ode to Seahawks legendary safety Kam Chancellor. The four-star safety molds his game after him. His father, former Washington State quarterback Paul Mencke, is a staunch supporter of the Pac-12 and the family has relatives in the state, which appeals to the younger Mencke.

Of the four schools hosting Mencke for an official visit in June, Washington is the only that hasn't had him on campus yet. The other three – Duke, Notre Dame and Stanford – brought him in for unofficial visits in March and April, which could play a factor when it comes to making his commitment.

Mencke took his first official trip to Notre Dame on June 2. The final three visits will come over an eight-day span when he travels coast to coast before returning home to Texas to make his choice.

Duke will host him on June 16-18, followed by Washington June 21-22, and he wraps up with Stanford June 23-24. Mencke views all four programs as strong academic institutions that can set him up after his playing career comes to an end.

It’s up!!! Back in Seattle for an OV #PurpleReign☔️ #GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/ZhezVY44Dz
— Paul Mencke Jr (@paulmenckejr) June 8, 2023

UW co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell has been the main recruiter for him and laid out how Mencke would fit into the defense. To date, the staff doesn’t have any defensive commits for the 2024 class. Four safeties are coming up for an official visit in June, including Mencke.

Both the Blue Devils and Huskies are coming off bounce-back seasons in 2022 after going 3-9 and 4-8, respectively, the previous season under different head coaches. The big difference here is the relationship Mencke has with the other head coach.

Mike Elko comes from a defensive background, having been a defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Wake Forest, before coming to Duke.

On the other hand, DeBoer, as an offensive minded coach, doesn’t have the same relationship with him – at least entering these official visits – that Elko has.

It makes sense for a head coach in Elko’s position to have more of a role in a defensive player's recruitment than an offensive-minded head coach.

Mencke plans to make his college commitment during the first week of July.

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