Transfer Portal & Recruiting Notebook: Huskies Reload through Portal Moves, 2025 Class Gems, and Rising Prospects
Washington Huskies Football: Transfer Portal Updates, 2025 Recruiting Class Highlights, and Future Prospects
It’s the holiday season, it’s also the day job gets busy season, and it’s also the baby is crawling everywhere season. This is all to say, instead of writing full-length articles like a responsible Substack writer, I’ve gone back to the degenerate habit of spending my time on social media, following and reporting on the transfer portal. I have been maybe a little too interested in following all of the player movement happening across the country, including the movement happening in and out of the Washington Huskies football program. I share some of my notes on the portal below.
I also never put together the article I wanted to write about the 2025 Washington Huskies recruiting class. Quite a few new Huskies shared their thoughts on signing day and joining the Huskies with me. I share their quotes below.
Here we go!
Portal Updates
Washington hosted a handful of potential transfers this weekend: Texas DT Jaray Bledsoe; West Virginia LB Josiah Trotter; USC TE Kade Eldridge; Utah Tech LS Ryan Kean; Northern Arizona DB Alex McLaughlin, Utah DL Simote Pepa; Michigan State DT Anterio Thompson.
Transfer Tulsa WR Joseph Willams has a visit scheduled to Washington 12/18-12/19. Williams earned AAC Freshman of the Year, taylling 30 receptions, 588 yards and 5 TDs for Tulsa this season. He visited USC this weekend, and also has visits scheduled with Mississippi State (12/15), Utah (12/16-12/17), and Colorado (12/20-12/21).
The Huskies also hosted, this weekend, Florida State-commit 2026 QB Brady Smigiel (Newbury Park - CA); 2025 WR/DB Shane Rosenthal (Newbury Park - CA).
So far, the Huskies have landed two transfers, both offensive linemen:
Oklahoma OL Geirean Hatchett. The brother of UW’s Landen Hatchett, Geirean returns to Montlake after spending a season at Oklahoma. Geirean, mostly as a reserve, was a member of Washington’s 2023 Joe Moore-award-winning offensive line.
Kansas State OT Carver Willis. Willis started 18 games for Kansas State in the last two seasons and earned All Big-12 honorable mention honors in 2023. He is a likely start for Washington next season.
And here’s who else is either (a) visiting Washington or (b) has been offered by Washington, courtesy of Max Vrooman’s transfer portal tracker:
Washington signs its 2025 Recruiting Class
Jedd Fisch and his coaching staff signed the 23rd-ranked recruiting class (according to 247 Sports) in the country, a few weeks ago. The class consists fo 29 total players, and eight four stars. Here’s what they shared with SeaTown Sports on signing day.
QB Dash Beierly (Mater Dei - CA): “The staff and coaches have been great. Since I was a sophomore, I’ve been in [touch] with this staff. They were still at Arizona then but came out to my school just to watch me throw and offered me [a scholarship]. They were one of the first [set of] coaches to see potential in me . . . Coach Fisch and the staff were super consistent . . . when the staff took over [at] UW, they said they still wanted me to be their guy, so it was perfect. And now it’s official. [I’m] honored to be a Husky.”
Safety D’Aryhian Clemons (Spanaway Lake - WA): “It feels great. I used to dream about this day coming and it’s finally here . . . I’m just blessed and thankful for everything and I’m ready to continue my journey and just thankful I got my moms with me throughout my whole journey.”
OL Lowen Colman-Brusa (Kennedy Catholic - WA): “UW has always been my dream school, so when I was offered by them, UW never left my mind afterward . . . I love the whole coaching staff, I feel welcomed and at home, and it’s close to home.”
OL Jake Flores (JSerra Catholic - CA): “I am just excited to get up there and get to work. [I’m] most looking forward to getting us back in the National Championship.”
Edge Victor Sanchez Hernandez (Kamiak - WA): “I’m proud to represent my city and state.”
OL Peter Langi (Archbishop Riordan - CA): “Signing day means a lot to me and [my family]. I get to put on for my last name and build something special for me and my family.”
WR Chris Lawson (Archbishop Riordan - CA): “For me and my family, signing day marks the start of a new chapter in my life where I have the opportunity to do something that hasn’t been done in my family. I’ve been playing football since I was five years old and this is what I used to dream about growing up . . . now it’s finally turned into a reality. I’m beyond blessed to be a Husky and I’m extremely excited to get to Seattle [on] Januardy 3rd and get to work. Go Dawgs!!”
RB Julian McMahan (Monte Vista - CA): On choosing Washington, McMahan shared, “[m]y relationship with the coaching staff, the culture of Washington football, and the academics were the deciding factors.”
TE Austin Simmons (West Albany - OR): On his goals for his freshman year, Simmons says he wants to “[d]evelop as much as possible and become an impact player right away.” One of Simmons’ coaches, Brian Mehl, called Simmons “a versatile athlete with a very high growth potential.” He said that Simmons “has great size and athleticism and can play multiple positions at the collegiate level.”
DL Caleb Smith (Parker - AL): On choosing Washington: “Really, the coaches influenced me [in] making my decision . . .my family liked the [u]niversity and that is what led to my decision . Seattle is a beautiful place and UW in general so I’m very happy with my decision
2026, 2027, 2028 . . .
Looking forward, the UW coaching staff will now shift its time toward focusing on recruiting future classes. Here are some prospects to keep tabs on. The first is 2026 Safety/LB Gavin Day (Faith Lutheran - CA). Washington’s safeties coach Vinnie Sunseri and linebackers coach Robert Bala both have been in contact with Day. Purdue, UNLV, and Utah Tech have offered Day, while Michigan St., Minnesota, and San Diego St. are all showing interest in his recruitment.
Washington offered 2028 QB Gaige Weddle (Rancho Bernado - CA) last week. Gaige, is the son of former NFL player Eric Weddle, who is the head coach of his son’s team at Rancho Bernado in San Diego. On receiving the offer, Gaige told me he was “[s]hocked and humbled,” adding that the “University of Washington is a proud program that has had some incredible seasons over the last decade.” He said is is “[e]xcited for the journey over the next couple seasons, [to] build a relationship with [Washington’s] coaches, and ultimately develop into one of the best players in the country.” Weddle also holds offers from BYU and Utah.
Another young prospect is 2027 DT/DE Elija Harmon (Inglewood - CA). Washington is showing interest in Harmon, while UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Alabama, Florida, Cal, Auburn, BYU, and Syracuse all have offered. “At 6-3, 285 pounds, he’s a load to try and move around, plays with heavy hands and gets off the ball extremely quick,” says a recent scouting report on Harmon.