SEATTLE – One week prior to the start of the early December signing period for 2019 football recruits, Washington hosted nine official visitors.

Seven of which were prospects that had already committed to the Huskies. That left only two, three-star tight end Kyle Patterson and four-star defensive end Laiatu Latu, who were the main focal point of the staffs recruiting efforts the weekend of Dec. 14-16.

Latu, a 6-foot-4, 272-pound lineman out of Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California, about 10 miles east of Sacramento, ranked as the No. 132 overall prospect in the 2019 class by Rivals.

UW already had five defensive line commits – Bralen Trice, Jacob Bandes, Faatui Tuitele, Noa Ngalu and Sama Paama – with the first three all ranked as four-star prospects by Rivals.

Trice is the only linemen listed that is expected to play the BUCK linebacker position for the Huskies, with the other four remaining DL. Latu, viewed as the cherry on top on defense for the 2019 class, will also play the rush-outside linebacker position for UW.

In order to get Latu signed, however, it came down to his official visit on December 14, the final weekend before recruits could sign during the 72-hour early period from Dec. 19-21.