High school football recruiting: Here’s how Washington’s 2025, 2026 classes are shaping up

The 2024 high school football season is just around the corner. The summer is an important time for high school football recruits, who have the chance to participate in showcases and camps in front of college football coaches, hoping to pull in coveted scholarship offers to big-time programs.

TNT sports reporter Jon Manley caught up with 247sports.com national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman — who was wrapping up some work Friday morning in Hawaii before a packed evening itinerary of poolside Mai Tai’s and a luau with his family — for a recruiting update. Here’s the conversation.

Jon Manley: What’s your take on the 2025 class in Washington? You only have two players as four-star recruits in your Top247 rankings, as opposed to seven in the final rankings in last year’s class. Is the 2025 class weaker or less top-heavy, in your view?

Brandon Huffman: It is, definitely, with 2025 and then ‘26 is following suit. It doesn’t have the juice, but it has some good depth. Some goo FCS guys, group of five guys, but there’s just not the top end talent we’ve gotten used to seeing in some of the previous classes. A lot of guys had some early attention but maybe they didn’t really improve and their stock didn’t soar. It’s a weaker top tier. It was kind of evident two years ago when the initial Top 25, Top 100 lists came out. Those 2021, ‘22 and even ‘23 classes were strong. It’s coming back down to earth a little bit.

JM: I’m thinking back — the 2021 class was the one with Steilacoom’s Emeka Egbuka and Eastside Catholic’s J.T. Tuimoloau (both now playing for Ohio State), right?

BH: Yeah. And (Kennedy Catholic players) Sav’ell Smalls and Gee Scott Jr. the year before. The next year, (Rainier Beach’s Joshua) Conerly was the dude. The days of Emeka, JT, the Sam Huard era, I think those days are done. Those are kind of generational classes. You could see that early. I think the 2027 class has a chance to get back to that, but you’re still a couple years away from that.

JM: Bethel High School linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale takes the top spot in your ‘Top247’ 2025 class rankings. What makes him the No. 1 ranked prospect in the class, in your view?

BH: There’s a couple variables. Positional value, positional versatility. Can be three-down backer, can play in coverage, can be an edge rusher. He has tremendous upside. … He doesn’t turn 17 until late November of his senior year. There’s still so much upside physically. He’s already this big, fast outside backer edge rusher type and he’s still young. He still has a college growth spurt coming. His quickness, ability off the ball, tackling, ability to get into the backfield, get to the QB is a rare combination of coverage and pass rush ability.

JM: And he recently committed to UW, which has been hot on the recruiting trail lately. Are the Huskies riding the momentum of the national championship appearance, despite the coaching change, or is it more a product of Jedd Fisch and his staff selling their NFL ties and a path to turning pro?

BH: It’s 100 percent the latter. The reality was, outside of (Rainey-Sale), there wasn’t a push for in-state recruits for Washington with the old staff. (Auburn Riverside linebacker Jonathan) Epperson had an offer from the old staff, but they didn’t have an offer to (Kamiak edge Victor) Sanchez Hernandez, weren’t recruiting (Kennedy Catholic edge Derek) Colman-Brusa. Now they have five in-state commits and guys from northern California, Oregon. Recruits have told me, they liked the NFL development, the potential for development of the NFL that this staff has. They’re focusing on areas the previous staff didn’t focus on, the northwest and northern California. ... You can’t really give the old staff and momentum the credit. You do chalk it up to the NFL ties this staff has.

JM: Auburn Riverside linebacker Jonathan Epperson is the other four-star in your rankings and also committed to UW recently. What do you like about his game in your evaluation of him?

BH: He’s an interesting player. A little bit of tweener, has safety size but he’s playing in the box. He can run pretty well. He’s another three-down backer type. He can stuff the run. You won’t use him as a pass rusher like you would with (Rainey-Sale), but can play him in the run game and pass game. He had a final four of I think Oregon, Utah, Arizona and UW. When Fisch left Arizona, they kind of reaffirmed that offer at the UW. They like that positional versatility. He’s got the ability to stay on the field the entire defensive series. Loves to hit, has some running back film, also. He’s just a football player. When he came to Riverside, (Ravens’ coach) Greg Herd said he just looks different than most of the players on the team. Just had that football mentality.

JM: There are some other really intriguing players in this class. Who do you think has the shot to make some waves this season and potentially earn a fourth star?

BH: (Graham-Kapowsin tight end) Noah Flores, if he can stay healthy. With (receivers) Malachi Durant and Jabez Woods gone — Noah was the third option last year, maybe even the fourth sometimes. You have a power four tight end like that and a young QB coming in and taking over, he could have a big year. Injuries have kind of slowed him. He missed the majority of his sophomore year. He could play himself into that conversation. We know (Bellevue offensive lineman) Demetri Manning has the NFL measurables. I want to see more consistency from him as a blocker. (Curtis receiver and defensive back) Xavier Ahrens is the one guy that isn’t the obvious guy. He only has group of five offers right now. With his size, his frame, his athleticism, I think he could be a guy that continues to quietly do his thing and ultimately ends up with a bunch of power four opportunities.

JM: Even for players who realistically won’t be four-star players, is there anyone in the state you think will see their stock rise and pull in some offers later this summer or in the fall?

BH: (Evergreen of Vancouver safety and Boise State commit) Josiah Alanis. I was stunned he only had two offers. You look at his size, frame. He’s in Vancouver, at Evergreen, not at Camas or Union. It’s kind of a staple of Boise State, they find these players and then other schools come in late. You look at that length, explosiveness, ability to play center field as a free safety, he’s a player I think will continue to trend upward. (Kamiakin corner) David Kuku could be another one. He’s just stuck in the middle of the state where not as many coaches get a chance to see him.

JM: Looking ahead to 2026, what’s your early take on the class?

BH: (Kennedy Catholic edge) Derek Colman-Brusa is the consensus No. 1. Losing Kodi Greene (Mater Dei, California), that’s a bummer and (Bellevue defensive lineman) Damaad Lewis moving to North Carolina hurts. I like the two d-linemen at O’Dea (David Schwerzel and Fameitau Siale). (Evergreen of Vancouver athlete) Terrance Saryon is really having a good spring, summer. If he can get a little bigger and thicker, he runs really well. Has Oregon and Washington offers and will probably be the top recruit in southwest Washington. But Colman-Brusa is the clear-cut top guy in the state. There’s not a D1 offer in the state to a quarterback in the 2026 class. I think ‘26 is another year where QB recruiting options are gonna be slim pickings. There hasn’t been one they’re ready to stamp. When there’s a lack of quarterback, it’s gonna be another class where it’s really strong up front.

JM: Anything else you’d like to touch on?

BH: The ‘27 class has a chance to re-ignite things. Then the 2028 class, (Eastside Catholic defensive lineman) Aedyn Havili has the chance to be an elite recruit. And AJ Tuivaiave, the Graham-Kapowsin quarterback. The 2027, ‘28 classes could have a taste of ‘21. (Havili) is gonna be a true d-tackle. … He’s the best eighth grader I’ve seen since J.T. (Tuimoloau) in this state, and I’m not being hyperbolic.