Jedd Fisch isn't just trying to keep the seat warm at Husky Stadium. He's trying to set the whole place on fire. Honestly, looking at the university of washington football recruiting class for 2026, it feels like the program has finally stopped apologizing for its transition to the Big Ten and started leaning into it. We’re talking about the highest-rated class in the modern era for the Huskies. It’s a 25-man haul that basically screams "we’re not here to just compete; we’re here to bully people in the trenches."
They’ve landed blue-chip talent from 11 different states. That’s not a regional reach; that’s a national statement.
The Five-Star Whale: Kodi Greene
Let’s get the big name out of the way. Kodi Greene. If you follow West Coast recruiting, you know his name. He’s a massive 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle from Mater Dei who grew up in Renton. Flipping him from Oregon back in April was probably the single most important "win" Fisch has had since taking the job.
Greene is the first composite five-star prospect to sign with UW since Sam Huard back in 2021. He’s ranked as the No. 19 overall player in the country by some services. You don't just "coach up" guys like that; they arrive ready to move mountains. Fisch has already compared his potential impact to what John Mills did, essentially hinting that Greene might be a Day 1 starter at left tackle. That’s a heavy burden, but the kid has the frame to carry it.
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More Than Just One Big Name
While Greene is the headliner, the class is surprisingly deep. Here is the reality of who is joining him:
- Brian Bonner (RB): He’s the highest-rated running back recruit in UW history. The kid has sub-10.3 speed in the 100-meter dash. Think about that for a second. That is "blink and he's gone" territory. He hails from Valencia, California, and he’s the kind of home-run threat that forces safeties to play ten yards deeper than they want to.
- Derek Colman-Brusa (EDGE): Keeping the best player in the state of Washington is a non-negotiable for a successful Husky coach. Colman-Brusa is a 6-foot-5, 267-pound monster from Kennedy Catholic. He committed after the spring game and spent the rest of the year acting as an unofficial recruiter for the staff.
- JD Hill (DL): A late-blooming four-star from Mission Viejo who chose the Huskies over West Virginia in November. He’s part of a concerted effort to get heavier and meaner on the defensive interior.
The Chaos of the Early Signing Period
Recruiting is never linear. It's more like a soap opera with pads. Washington’s 2026 path was a bit of a rollercoaster. They lost a four-star receiver, Dre Pollard, to Stanford on signing day—which stung. But then Fisch went out and pulled a "hold my coffee" move by flipping two four-star receivers in the final 48 hours.
Jordan Clay, a 6-foot-3 target from San Antonio, flipped from Baylor. He’s got that "alpha" wideout build that helps quarterbacks look better than they actually are. Then came Trez Davis from Louisiana, a former Tulane commit who averages nearly 23 yards per catch.
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"This is what we've strived for since we arrived here," Fisch said during the December signing period. "Recruits want to be a part of how we play."
Winning the In-State Battles
It wasn't just about the national names. The recruitment of David Schwerzel was a literal whirlwind. He was committed to UCLA. Then he wasn't. Then he was looking at Stanford. He eventually signed with Washington on Wednesday evening of signing day. He’s a local O’Dea product, and getting him alongside Bethel High linebacker Ramzak Fruean solidified the "keep the border closed" mentality. Fruean is particularly interesting—a 6-foot-4 athlete who played alongside Zaydrius Rainey-Sale.
The Big Ten Reality Check
Why does this specific university of washington football recruiting class matter more than the ones Kalen DeBoer or Chris Petersen brought in? Because the Big Ten is a different beast. You can’t survive that conference with "scrappy" three-stars on the line of scrimmage. You need mass.
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The Huskies signed five defensive linemen and three offensive linemen in this high school class alone. We're seeing guys like Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais (300+ lbs) and Ah Deong Yang (340+ lbs) coming in to provide the kind of depth that prevents a November collapse.
Washington finished the 2026 early cycle ranked No. 13 in the nation. For context, DeBoer never had a class higher than No. 26. Fisch is playing a different game. He’s navigating the House v. NCAA settlement and a $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap by pitching "old fashioned" relationships, but let’s be real—the NIL infrastructure at UW has clearly leveled up to compete with the likes of USC and Oregon.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
About 20 of these guys are expected to enroll in January. That’s huge. It means they’ll be in the weight room during the winter and on the field for spring ball. While most freshmen need a year to bake in the redshirt oven, players like Kodi Greene, Gavin Day (a four-star safety from Vegas), and Brian Bonner might be forced into action early.
The secondary is another area where the staff went heavy. They recruited five defensive backs, three of whom are four-star prospects over 6 feet tall. In a league where you have to defend Ohio State's receivers, you need length. Jeron Jones and Rahsjon Duncan (who earned his fourth star during a dominant senior season in Oakland) are the types of corners who can play man-to-man without needing a safety over the top every play.
Actionable Insights for Husky Fans
- Watch the Portal: High school recruiting is only half the battle. Keep an eye on the defensive line and wide receiver additions in the transfer portal through February to see how the staff replaces departing veterans like Denzel Boston.
- Spring Game Attendance: If you want to see if the hype around Kodi Greene is real, get to the spring game in April. It will be the first chance to see these early enrollees against collegiate speed.
- Follow the Trenches: Pay attention to the development of the under-the-radar guys like Sam Vyhlidal (TE). The staff is incredibly high on his athleticism despite a lower star rating.
- Manage Expectations: Even a top-15 class has a learning curve. The real impact of the 2026 class will likely be felt in 2027, but the foundational shift in roster "size" starts right now.