Recruiting Hot Board: Huskies OL Recruiting Heating Up
Washington has extended two offers to offensive linemen in the past two weeks to ramp up recruiting efforts heading into January. Both prospects have set official visits to Washington and its shaping up to be a unique finish for the Huskies 2017 recruiting class.
OL Recruiting Coming to a Head
UW offered Cole Norgaard and Nick Ford respectively over the past two weeks with Norgaard viewed as the more likely of the two to commit to Washington. Norgaard will take his official visit to UW on Jan. 13-15 and already has a rough commitment timetable.
"I might make it before but I don't know," Norgaard said, when asked if he would commit during his UW trip. "If not before, then very likely [on the visit]."
Ford, a Cal legacy, will take his official to UW on Jan. 20-22 most likely and with Norgaard visiting prior the odds are slim to none that Ford will get the chance to commit.
Washington is also hosting a Rivals100 prospect during the first visit weekend on Jan. 13-15 that could play a factor down the stretch. Austin Jackson, a four-star offensive tackle, is another prospect to consider with his decision looming after cutting his list to Washington, Arizona State and USC.
Sources have indicated that Washington will take three offensive linemen in 2017, with one already in the fold in four-star Sammamish (Wash.) Skyline offensive guard Henry Bainivalu. That would leave UW with two remaining spots and one for Norgaard/Ford and the second going to Jackson/undisclosed prospect.
It's unlikely Washington will take both Ford and Norgaard given the other options available, but they will take one of the two.
DL Prospects Getting Late Offers
Washington has consistently been recruiting both Jalen Harris, a three-star Arizona defensive end commit, and Joe Tryon, a three-star Washington State commit. Both prospects recently picked up an offer from the Huskies and both have scheduled an official visit to Washington on Jan. 20-22.
Following his visit to Washington Tryon is scheduled to visit Oregon on Jan. 27-29, while Harris is slated to visit Notre Dame on the same weekend. Both prospects are being recruited as a BUCK in the Huskies' 3-4 defensive scheme.
The decision will come down to whichever commits first. However, the catch is Washington has come full circle on 2017 three-star Anchorage (Ak.) defensive tackle Brandon Pili, who will take an official visit on Jan. 13-15.
"i've always been looking at them just haven't talked to them in a while until last week," Pili said of his decision to trip to Washington. "It would be awesome [to get an offer from UW] since they were the first major school that showed interest in me."
Pili said Washington is in his top three as things stand. With Ole Miss and Notre Dame getting his final two visits the Huskies do have their work cut out. But if Washington offers the Huskies have to be considered the favorite with his long-standing relationship with defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe.
Washington has a slim amount of scholarships to work with to close out the 2017 class, and the DL will be one that might become a casualty for not taking two or even one.