Inside The Huskies

Who Will Make Up Washington's Defensive-Line Class?

What will the defensive front for the class of 2024 look like?

Roman Tomashoff

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After Keona Wilhite's commitment to Arizona on Monday, another defensive target set to visit Washington this week fell off the board. Now Washington is down to seven visitors that play along the defensive line and the coaching staff needs to close on a few of them fast. 

At the top of the list of targets are four-star defensive linemen Jericho Johnson and Dominic Kirks. The former is expected to arrive in Seattle on Friday after deciding not to take his official visit to Miami on June 16, leaving Washington as the only program he has scheduled to visit. Kirks' trip concluded on Sunday and he has stated his intentions to commit to a school by the end of June.

The other recruits scheduled to take official visits are all three-star prospects: Noah Carter, Kash Dillon, Deshawn Warner, Omar Khan and Ratumana Bulabalavu. With a class that will probably end up being four or five members strong, what will it look like in December?

Dominic Kirks

A talented edge rusher from Ohio, rumors are swirling around that the Huskies are in an excellent position for Kirks. The four-star prospect is rumored to be down to Washington and Wisconsin and could end up in purple and gold with the potential to see the field early in his career. 

Jericho Johnson

Johnson is the highest-rated prospect set to visit Washington in the month of June, currently ranked as the 109th overall player in the country by 247 Sports. While Alabama and some of the other national powers are pushing hard for his services, it sounds like there's a good chance he stays on the West Coast.

Noah Carter

Carter is an incredibly interesting prospect to watch on film. Even though he's being looked at as an edge rusher by most college programs, he plays a lot of wide receiver at the high school level. Texas and Lousiville also are in the running for the fringe four-star prospect, but the Huskies have a great chance to seal the deal.

Omar Khan

A rising three-star prospect, Khan is a big-bodied, exciting athlete who can clog up the middle. The coaching staff understands the importance of depth at defensive tackle and he's a prospect with a lot of upside who could be developed in the same way Inoke Breckterfield has prepared Armon and Jayvon Parker.

Ratumana Bulabalvu

One of the best-kept secrets on the West Coast, Bulabalavu is an exciting pass rusher. He's one of the most productive at his position in California and has the frame and potential to play on the interior or edge of a college defensive line. Washington will be his final visit after trips to Arizona and Oregon State, which could put the Huskies in a great position to secure his commitment. 

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Roman Tomashoff
ROMAN TOMASHOFF

I've followed the Huskies for my entire life, and to be in a position where I get to cover them full-time is nothing short of an honor. After graduating from Lasell University in 2019, I moved to Seattle to pursue my dream of working in sports media. While writing for the Husky Haul, I also covered local sports for the Everett Daily Herald before the COVID-19 pandemic. After being hired by Realdawg.com in February of 2021, I also transitioned into doing a lot of entertainment writing, as I work on a variety of magazines as a contributing writer for Centennial Media, and have also contributed to Emmy Magazine, as well as Walt Disney Television Studios. 

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