Transfer Portal & Recruiting Notebook: Breaking Down Washington's Transfer Class
Inside Washington’s Transfer Portal Wins: NIL Deals and Key Player Additions for 2025
Are you wondering how Washington landed Kansas State transfer, offensive tackle Carver Willis, a two-year starter, with virtually no connection to Seattle? One reasonable guess is that the Huskies were able to lure the coveted transfer through a hefty NIL deal.
A recent CBS Sports article breaking down the current NIL market included the following quotes from an anonymous agent who represents many players in the transfer portal: “Offensive tackles are getting crazy money. A backup is $200,000-$400,000 a year. One of our guys got $350,000, and he's a swing guy.” The same article surmises: “Starters at tackle are easily at $500,000-plus with the top end of the market pushing seven figures.”
We will never know how much Willis is making, nor would we know how much in NIL fellow offensive lineman transfer Geirean Hatchett is also taking in. But, given the above, and considering Washington’s high need at offensive line, I would guess that Washington is compensating Willis in line with the market. While Hatchett is not an offensive tackle, I still think he probably is also taking in a good amount of NIL.
Since my last portal and recruiting notebook, Washington has added 10 more transfers, and there could be a few more commitments on the way. SeaTown Sports contacted some of Washington’s new transfer class members to get their reaction on joining the Huskies. Here is a rundown of the Huskies’ transfer class as it stands.
Transfer Portal Updates
I covered Hatchett and Willis’ commitment in my last update:
Washington added Western Michigan defensive lineman Anterio Thompson. SeaTown Sports connected with Thompson and his agency, NILX to learn why Thompson chose the Huskies:
The Huskies also added Utah defensive lineman Simote Pepa. At 6-3, 340 lbs, Pepa will add some needed experience and heft in the trenches for Washington. He appeared in 37 games and played 710 snaps in three seasons with Utah. In 2024, he tallied 10 tackles and two tackles for loss.
In the secondary, Washington added Northern Arizona safety Alex McLaughlin. McLaughlin was a two-year starter at Northern Arizona. The 6-2, 190lb safety collected 151 tackles and six interceptions in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He earned 2023 FCS Freshman All-American honors. On what stood out about UW, McLaughlin says, “[t]he atmosphere and just the family culture that Washington brings.” He adds that “the resources” and Jedd Fisch’s ability to create a championship team drew him to UW. He emphasized that he’s “excited about showing up ready to compete and play for Coach Sunseri and Coach Fisch and try and help this team compete for National Championships.”
Joining McLaughlin in the secondary is FIU transfer safety CJ Christian. In 2024, Christian recorded 80 tackles, an interception, and earned a 81.1 overall defense grade per Pro Football Focus (No. 39 best among all safeties). On joining the Huskies, Christian shares, “I felt UW was a perfect fit for my play[ing] style because it’s going to let me showcase my versatility as a DB.”
Another big pickup on defense for Washington is Arizona transfer linebacker Jacob Manu. Washington’s staff recruited and coached Manu while at Arizona for two seasons. Manu opted to stay at Arizona in 2024, but unfortunately had his season cut short by injury in mid-October. In 2023, Manu led the Pac-12 with 116 tackles and recorded double-digit tackles in five games. He earned AP First-Team All Pac-12 honors. Assuming he fully recovers from his knee injury, he will likely be a starter for the Huskies next season.
Coming to Washington with Manu from Arizona is Edge Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei joins Thompson and Pepa as transfers at defensive line. He totaled 33 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks for the Wildcats this season. He previously played two years at Arizona under UW’s current coaching staff.
USC transfer tight end Kade Eldridge is returning home. The Lynden-native starred at Lynden Christian during his high school career. Eldridge appeared in three games as a redshirt freshman for USC this past season. Washington loses Keleki Latu to graduation and will need some experience in a tight end room that will have mostly underclassmen in the 2025 season.
Washington also landed UCF linebacker Xe’ree Alexander in the portal. Alexander is another local product. he played his high school football at Kennedy Catholic in Burien. In 2024, he tallied 54 tackles, 11 pressures, and 38 stops for UCF. He projects as one of the Huskies’ starting linebackers unless one of the incoming freshmen can win the second starting role alongside Manu. Alexander’s high school coach Sheldon Cross shared the following about “X”: “X is one of the very best football players in Kennedy Catholic school history. He has an extremely high football IQ. He can do so many different things on the field. He is very, very athletic and plays with extreme confidence.” Cross noted that Alexander started for Idaho as a true freshman two seasons ago, which indicates his potential to contribute immediately at Washington.
On special teams, Utah Tech long snapper Ryan Kean is transferring to Washington. Kean played in 23 games in the last two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors and freshman All-American honors in 2023. “I am extremely excited to join a program that is going to develop me into an NFL-caliber player, while also having the opportunity to compete in a conference like the Big Ten,” says Kean. “UW is one of the most elite schools in the country, and that is apparent in their attention to detail in everything that they do.”
With 11 portal commitments so far, Washington is likely to add at least one more transfer. Fisch initially said he’d like to add 10-12 players through the portal. That range obviously may change based on the amount of attrition Washington suffers from the portal. On my last count, 17 Huskies have entered the portal. Some names to keep an eye on: Washington State linebacker Tariq Al-Uqdah, Arizona safety Genesis Smith and Texas wide receiver Johntay Cook. Al-Qudah, Davis, and Cook have all reportedly visited Washington.
2026 Updates
2026 CB Davon Benjamin (Oaks Christian - CA) has Washington in his top 8 per On3. Benjamin also has Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, UCLA and USC on his list.
2026 WR Daniel Odom (St. John Bosco - CA) has UW in his top 6 per 247 sports. Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas are the other five schools on Odom’s list. Washington wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings is recruiting Odom.
2026 WR Cynai Thomas (Archbishop Riordan - CA) also has UW in his top 5 per 247 sports. Boise State, Cal, Oregon State, and Utah round out his list. UW 2025 signees OL Peter Langi and WR Chris Lawson both played with Thomas this past season at Archbishop Riordan.