Our second installation of Dawg Bites is up this afternoon with a couple notes on some recent visitors as well as well as a couple notes that could spell big implications moving forward...
*** 2017 four-star Honolulu (Hi.) St. Louis linebacker
Isaac Slade-Matautia -- Washington is basically holding its fourth spot for someone who they choose to really, really want, with the other three going to offensive linemen. One player that could go to is Isaac Llade-Matautia, the No.2 prospect in Hawaii this season and No.13 inside linebacker according to Rivals.
The family told Rivals over the weekend they're still working to select the final/top five schools that Isaac will move forward with. However, one that definitely will make the cut is Washington. The family said the five schools he cuts his list to will be the five they take official visits to.
*** 2017 five-star Redlands (Calif.) East Valley defensive end/UCLA commit
Jaelan Phillips -- Reports have surfaced recently citing the prized Bruin commit in 2017 will take an official visit to Washington. Phillips maintained throughout the summer, when a majority of UCLA commits were backing off their pledge, that he is solid to UCLA and does not expect that to change.
However, with the reports surfacing I texted the five-star DE directly asking if he has set up an official to Washington. Phillips' response: "I'm not sure yet. Nothing has been planned."
Phillips, the No.24 overall prospect according to Rivals' rankings, has acknowledge that he continues to hear from the Husky coaches including defensive coordinator
Pete Kwiatkowski, defensive line coach
Ikaika Malloe and area recruiter
Keith Bhonapha. Washington would certainly hold a spot, or somehow crunch the numbers to fit Phillips in.
*** 2017 three-star Stockton (Calif.) St. Mary's offensive tackle
Popo Aumavae -- We've said for a while now that Washington will take three offensive linemen in this class and while Foster Sarell and Henry Bainivalu are the two most talked about, there are others still in play. One of which is Aumavae, a 6'4, 300-pound tackle who UW has been in on since the spring and recently discussed an official visit with offensive line coach
Chris Strausser and linebackers coach
Bob Gregory.
"We just talked recently because I was talking about an official visit up there," Aumavae told Rivals. "I don't know what exact date but I was going to come up the same day Marlon and Ariel come."
Aumavae referring to UW commits
Marlon Tuipulotu and
Ariel Ngata, both US Army All-Americans. Tuipulotu has come up for two games this season but both official visits are expected to come after the season, an emphasis Petersen and staff have had since day one to allow the most time spent with prospects. Expect UW to be selective with their pickings of a first offensive line commit outside of Bainivalu or Sarell.
*** 2018 three-star Nashville (Tenn.) Brentwood Academy linebacker
Jack Sirmon -- One of a couple unofficial visitors this weekend was the cousin of 2018 UW quarterback commit
Jacob Sirmon. The three-star linebacker visited Washington in July for one of the Huskies' Rising Stars Camps, but hadn't yet taken in a game.
Following the Huskies 41-17 victory over Oregon State this weekend Washington has definitely made mark on his recruitment. Sirmon spoke with Petersen, Gregory, Kwiatkowski and even offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Jonathan Smith, defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator
Jimmy Lake and tight ends coach
Jordan Paopao.
Washington made it clear again this weekend just how interested they are in the three-star linebacker. Sirmon said Husky Stadium definitely felt like home.
***
2018 Prospects to Watch Moving Forward -- With the 2017 class all but complete Washington has pushed a lot of its attention toward next years class. We've been reporting on a lot of names already but a couple to watch closely are USC linebacker commit
Raymond Scott, Rivals100 athlete
Jaiden Woodbey and four-star cornerback
Isaac Taylor-Stuart.