Fisch Fully Expects to Put Local Footprint on UW Recruiting Efforts

The question first came up after Kalen DeBoer's Huskies had no area signees in December.

Meeting with local media members who cover his University of Washington football program, Jedd Fisch was asked how much he valued state recruits.

At that moment, an answer came in two different ways — to those listening to the coach speak and to those looking at social media, or both.

"I think it's very important," Fisch told the assembled group. "We're going to host a social for all of the coaches in the area [this] week and invite them over so I can meet them. I think a Seattle swarm is necessary."

Simultaneously, cornerback prospect Rahshawn Clark from Seattle's Garfield High School, which was just three miles up 23rd Avenue East from Husky Stadium, revealed his decision on a recruiting-site podcast to flip his commitment from Arizona to the UW, this after initially pledging to California.

Had the Husky staff had Clark's signed national letter of intent in hand, Fisch could have broke the news himself.

The question concerning locals arose because Kalen DeBoer, Fisch's UW coaching predecessor, signed 19 players in December, 15 coming from the high school level, and none hailed from the Northwest — which was a recruiting-cycle first for the Huskies, at least until Clark signed on.

DeBoer's coaching staff previously signed local players in tight end Ryan Otton from Tumwater, safety Tristan Dunn from Sumner, cornerback Caleb Presley, offensive lineman Landen Hatchett from Ferndale and wide receiver Denzel Boston and edge rusher Jacob Lane from Puyallup,

Moving forward, DeBoer's staff received an oral commitment last month from 2025 linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale from Spanaway, widely considered the top player across the state, but the recruit de-committed following the coaching change.

Fisch's staff since has re-offered Rainey-Sale and the coach says his staff has its eyes open for others with local football addresses and is ready to pursue them.

"We need to find a way to get the best players in the state here, whether we can get out to Tacoma or whether we can get to Seattle or make other hits," Fisch said. "There's some really good players from the state of Washington who have come through here.

"We're not going to miss on those just because they're in our backyard and we think they're easy to get."

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