Recruiting with Ty Willingham

As long as we have a bye week let's take a look at Ty's recruiting classes over the past three years, grade how he is doing, and analyze what he needs out of the 2008 recruiting class. Over half the team now is made up of Ty's recruits, and more than quite a few of them are contributing this year from all three of his classes.

The Class of 2005

The 2005 class is more a reflection of Gilbertson than Willingham. Ty really didn't do much with this class because of his late arrival, and the fact that he wanted to wait a year to do it right. There is some quality here, but the class suffered some academic casualties with transfers which really hurt the first year.

This class is for all intents and purposes is a bust since it only has eight remaining members, and only a couple of real contributors. RB Jonathan Stewart who left the state for Oregon, and LB Anthony Felder who went to California would have really upgraded this class, and the current team.

QB Durocher............Transfer who graduated, and didn't play much.
TB Hasty..................Backup
TE Williams.............Left the team
WR/S Wood.............Transfer who graduated, and played well.
OL Rosborough.......Backup
OL Ossai...................Starter

DE Te'o Neshiem....Starter
DE Jones..................Probable starter in 2008
DE Davis..................Did not qualify
LB Savannah...........Starter
LB Stevens..............Part Time Starter
CB Handy................Did not qualify
CB Freeman............Did not qualify
K Perkins................Starter

The Class of 2006

The 2006 class was Willingham's first real class at Washington. Once again we have the kids highlighted who didn't make it in, left the team on their own, or were asked to leave. This was class was rated sub par by the services, but has panned out a little better then planned on the OL. A significant gap is at RB as UW wasn't able to bring in a single candidate after being burned by Montgomery. UW won't be taking many more transfers in the future. They gambled here and there, and it didn't really pay off. I think if UW does take a transfer it will certainly be a kid who is fully qualified by Winter Quarter.

We have some real contributors coming out of this class led by Jake Locker. We also have too many guys who didn't get in, or are no longer around. Steve Schilling, and Taylor Mays would have really upgraded this class. Another lesson why you have to keep the best players home.

QB Jake Locker..............Starter
FB Paul Homer...............Starter
RB Michael Houston......Kicked off team
RB/DB Leilyon Myers...Did not qualify
WR D'Andre Goodwin....Starter in 2008
WR Marcel Reese...........Starter
OL Ryan Toler...............Starter
OL Aaron Mason............Transfer buried in the depth
OL Matt Sedillo..............In the rotation and heir to Garcia
DS Danny Morovick..... Starter
OL Cody Habben...........Part time Starter
OL Brandon Jefferson...Did not qualify

DT Cameron Elisara.....Starter in 2008
DE Deshon Matthews...Likely Starter in 2008
DT Derek Kosub............Seeing time now and could start in 2008
ILB Anthony Atkins......Transfer who left the team and was a bust.
ILB Donald Butler.........Starter
OLB Matt Houston........Backup getting playing time
CB Jordan Murchison....Recently back from suspension
DB Matt Mosley.............Part time starter
S Ashley Palmer.............Did not qualify
S Jason Wells..................Starter
S Jake Merrill.................Quit the team after the first hit.

The Class of 2007

The 2007 class was rated a little better but didn't bring in enough offensive linemen, and wide receivers. Aguilar, and Boyles were both highly touted receivers who have not qualified yet. Word on those two will be coming later this week. If they qualify they can get in for Winter Quarter. If they don't they still have a couple more opportunities to retest before the quarter begins.

Eweka was the highest rated lineman, and he never was close to qualifying. If Aguilar, and Boyles do not get in for Winter Quarter it will really hurt the WR position this Spring. Overall the class has been pretty good so far, and a lot of kids have played, and contributed the first year.

UW kept the guys they needed in state home even though there wasn't a true superstar like the previous two years. We finally loaded up on some good looking running backs, and the DB's we did recruit have shown pretty well so far. Fouch is going to be a very good QB, and Mason Foster will be a three year starter at MLB. Williams, and McDowell will be four year lettermen.
I think Nate has what it takes to be an all conference player.

You can't plug all your holes in one year, but UW did a very good job in most area's. The one concern of course is Boyles, and Aguilar, if they don't get in it could spell trouble unless we are real lucky in the next recruiting class.

QB Ron Fouch..................Redshirting....great potential and the backup in 2008.
RB Brandon Johnson.......Possible starter in 2008
RB Willie Griffin...............Redshirting
RB Curtis Shaw................Possible starter in 2008
RB Brandon Yakaboski...Redshirting
WR Devin Aguilar............Still waiting to qualify
WR Alvin Logan...............Redshirting and will be in the roataion in 2008
WR Anthony Boyles........Still waiting to qualify
TE Chris Izbicki...............Potential starter in 2008
OL Scott Shugert.............Redshirting
OL Skyler Fancher..........Redshirting
OL Mark Armelin............Redshirting
OL Imeka Iweeka............Did not qualify

DT Tyrone Duncan..........Redshirting
DT Nick Wood..................Redshirting
DE Kalani Aldrich.............Redshirting
MLB Austin Sylvester.....Special teams
MLB Mason Foster..........Special teams, and will start in 2008
CB Marquis Persley.........Redshirting
CB Byron Davenport........Part time starter
CB Vonzell Mc Dowell.......Part time starter
S Quinton Richardson.......Redshirting
S Nate Williams.................Could be starting the second half of the season
S Victor Aiywea.................Special Teams
K Kevin Folk......................Redshirting
P Jared Ballman................Starter who has done pretty well overall

The Class of 2008

Ty was off to a quick start this Summer but it has tailed off early this Fall. The kids he has gotten verbals from are in bold.

UW most likely will take two QB's this year. Dominique Blackman from Carson HS in the Los Angeles area verbaled this Summer than was suspended from his team for the first part of the season. He is back starting now. Nick Green from Central Catholic in Portland is likely to receive an offer soon. If UW offers look for him to accept it. Kevin Prince from California was another kid they had offered, but he tore up his knee, and will be going on a two year mission. If he had verbaled UW likely would have taken three QB's.

QB DOMINIQUE BLACKMAN
QB Nick Green

Look for UW to continue loading up on running backs since they can play multiple positions once the arrive on campus. UW has three verbals so far. Bronson, and Dailey have had very good senior HS seasons so far. Dailey is certain to stay at TB. Bronson, and Freeman could move to defense in the future.

Mark Ingram is a big time kid from Flint, Michigan who will probably decide between UW, and Michigan State. Ray Polk is from Arizona power Brophy Prep, and I will get to see him live in action next week when I am down there.

TB DEMETRIUS BRONSON
TB DAVID FREEMAN
TB TERRANCE DAILEY
TB Mark Ingram
TB Ray Polk

If there is one position UW really needs to load up on it is at wide receiver. We don't have any verbals yet, but we have a few guys who are pretty close, and would like to play with Jake Locker. Bruns, and Kearse are the best local guys, and they are UW leans right now, so is Polk who is from Portland. Pickens is friends with QB recruit Dominique Blackman. Ward is a kid who is almost a UW lock because of his fathers friendship with out WR coach. UW only has two receivers returning next season, so they are going to load up no matter what happens with Aguilar, and Boyles. You would like to see them get a couple of JC guy's, but that isn't in the cards for obvious reasons. That being said all world JC Carl Moore would look good in purple and gold.

WR Cody Bruns
WR Jordan Polk
WR Tyrone Ward
WR AJ Pickens
WR Jermaine Kearse

UW used to be TE University, now we rarely throw to the TE's. Izbicki is hitting the weights and wil debut next Spring, but the Huskies need a total depth upgrade at the position. Kavario Middleton is a kid who could start on either side of the ball next season. UW is in on a couple more guys, including some local sleepers, but the two fellows listed here are top priorities. Guice from Portland is a strong UW lean at this point. There has been a rumor that Johnnie Kirton may move to DE this Spring. I don't know if one Spring, and a Fall camp is enough for him to make that type of change.

TE Demetrius Guice
TE Kavario Middleton

UW needs to bring in 5-6 quality OL next season. Schaeffer, and Thomas were two early verbals, and most think Rainier Beach's Ta'amu will verbal soon. Sampson is a kid from Colorado who has a lot of interest in UW. Carroll played with TB Willie Griffin in HS.

OT TERRANCE THOMAS
OT DREW SHAEFFER
OG Alameda Ta'amu
OG Andrew Sampson
OG Allan Carroll

Randy Hart continues to attract top talent for the Washington defensive line. UW needs to reload with some quality on the DL. It all starts with Craig Noble who is now a solid verbal and may be the best DT on the coast this year. Courtney Campbell who is related to Mesphin Forrester looks to also be lock. He is a kid who could grow into a tackle. Senio Kelemente was an early verbal and can play on either side of tha ball. Since he will be coming in on the light side and has good speed I think he starts off as a DE. Kennedy's Everette Thompson is ne of the top recruits in the Northwest and is a very stron UW lean. Trevor Guyton is another guy the staff hasn't given up on after committing to Cal. UW could take up to six DL's if they can find the quality they are after, but could still have adequate depth and room for next year by taking four.

DT CRAIG NOBLE
DT Courtney Campbell
DT
DE SENIO KELEMENTE
DE Everette Thompson
DE

UW has plenty of depth, and youth at Linebacker. Look for them to take only one or two. Ryan Panapa is a kid who is taking a good look at UW according to the services. UW has had a lot of luck bringing in sleepers like Howell, Butler, and Foster who weren't on other teams radars early. I wouldn't be surprised if they are keeping someone under wraps again this year. Panapa is a big kid who would lend some pop and authority to the middle. Stuckey is one of the best WLB's in the country, and he may trip UW.

LB Ryan Panapa
LB Dewitt Stuckey

We all know we need more quality ,and depth in the defensive backfield. UW is off to a good start with locals Glenn, and Taylor. Anthony Gobern from California is a RB/DB who will likely be a CB. Look for a couple of the RB's we recruit to get a good long look over here next year. Wesson is a kid the services have mentioned who is close to verbaling. I haven't heard much lately about Cannon who is a kid from the Bay Area. Walker is a guy that may pop on his visit. He is from Playa Del Ray and really likes UW at this point. At 5'11 he seems a little small to me, but the Huskies have offered. His teammate CB Adam Long also has on offer and is high on the Huskies.

CB JUSTIN GLENN
CB Manoah Wesson
CB ANTHONY GOBERN
CB Adam Long
S VINCE TAYLOR
S Daniel Cannon
S Greg Walker