UW Football Lands 18 Prospects In 2017 Class
February 01, 2017 | Football
The Washington football team announced today the signing of 18 prospects to National Letters of Intent. The 18 signees include 17 high-school athletes, as well as junior college punter Joel Whitford, who enrolled at the UW last month.
Head coach Chris Petersen's fourth class at Washington features players in every position group and recruits from five states, as well as Australia (Whitford).
Here's the list of the Huskies' 2017 recruiting class, followed by a biographical sketch of each:
Name • Pos. • Ht. • Wt. • Hometown (High School)
Salvon Ahmed • RB • 5-11 • 189 • Kirkland, Wash. (Juanita)
Henry Bainivalu • OL • 6-5 • 285 • Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline)
Hunter Bryant • TE • 6-2 • 241 • Issaquah, Wash. (Eastside Catholic)
Terrell Bynum • WR • 6-0 • 184 • Long Beach, Calif. (St. John Bosco)
Alex Cook • WR • 6-1 • 186 • Sacramento, Calif. (Sheldon)
Ali Gaye • DL • 6-6 • 276 • Edmonds, Wash. (Edmonds-Woodway)
Jake Haener • QB • 6-0 • 196 • Danville, Calif. (Monte Vista)
Ty Jones • WR • 6-4 • 206 • Provo, Utah (Provo)
Jaxson Kirkland • OL • 6-6 • 325 • Portland, Ore. (Jesuit)
Jordan Lolohea • LB • 6-1 • 247 • Salt Lake City, Utah (East)
Brandon McKinney • S • 6-0 • 191 • Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran)
Elijah Molden • CB • 5-10 • 181 • West Linn, Ore. (West Linn)
Ariel Ngata • OLB • 6-2 • 202 • Reno, Nev. (Folsom)
Cole Norgaard • OL • 6-4 • 277 • Clements, Calif. (St. Mary's)
Cade Otton • TE • 6-5 • 222 • Olympia, Wash. (Tumwater)
Keith Taylor • CB • 6-3 • 189 • Long Beach, Calif. (Servite)
Joe Tryon • OLB • 6-5 • 238 • Renton, Wash. (Hazen)
Joel Whitford • P • 6-4 • 215 • Neerim South, Australia/Santa Barbara CC
Salvon Ahmed • RB • 5-11 / 189 • Kirkland, Wash. (Juanita)
Named All-KincCo 3A at running back and cornerback as well as KingCo 3A offensive MVP as a senior ... also named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) at defensive back ... rushed for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior despite being limited to just six games due to injury ... also named to the Seattle Times' all-area team as both a senior and junior ... as a junior, helped Rebels to a 9-3 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the 3A state playoffs, their deepest run in over 25 years ... named Associated Press 3A all-state at defensive back as a junior ... also the KingCo 3A/2A offensive player of the year and first-team All-KingCo on both offense and defense as a junior ... also named to the USA Today All-Washington first team, the only underclassman to make the squad on defense ... rushed for 1,800 yards and 29 TDs in 2015 ... team went 6-4-1 his sophomore year ... Rebels went 8-3 and earned a playoff berth his freshman season, when he played on the varsity ... played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl following his senior season ... one of just five members of his class named to the Seattle Times' "blue-chip recruit" ... named to the PrepStar Top 150 "Dream Team" ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ESPN's No. 106 overall prospect, as well as it's No. 12 running back and No. 2 prospect in the state ... 247sports.com ranked him the No. 2 recruit in Washington, and the No. 2 athlete and No. 110 overall prospect in the country ... rated the No. 211 overall prospect in the nation and No. 14 athlete by scout.com ... rivals.com rated him the No. 10 athlete and No. 156 recruit in the nation ... also played basketball and ran track (sprints and jumps) at Juanita ... played football for coach Lele Te'o as a junior and senior.
Henry Bainivalu • OL • 6-5 / 285 • Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline)
Named to the Seattle Times all-state team as a senior ... also KingCo 4A Lineman of the Year and first-team 4A All-KingCo at both offensive and defensive line ... helped the Spartans to a 9-3 overall record and the 4A state quarterfinals as a senior in 2016 ... named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) as a senior ... helped Skyline to a 12-2 overall record and a spot in the 4A state championship game as a junior in 2015 ... earned Associated Press 4A all-state at offensive line as a junior ... team went 6-4 his sophomore year ... played on the varsity as a freshman in 2013, when the Spartans went 9-2 and advanced to the round of 16 at state ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-America ... one of just five members of his class named to the Seattle Times' "blue-chip recruit" ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ESPN rated him the No. 157 player in the country, No. 3 prospect in Washington and the No. 16 tackle in the nation ... according to 247sports.com, the No. 20 guard and No. 197 overall prospect in the nation, and No. 4 recruit in Washington ... scout.com ranked him the No. 22 guard recruit in the nation ... No. 5 in the state and the No. 30 offensive tackle in rivals.com's rankings ... also wrestled and threw the shot and discus in high school ... played football for coach Mat Taylor.
Hunter Bryant • TE • 6-2 / 241 • Issaquah, Wash. (Eastside Catholic)
Named to the MaxPreps All-America second team, "Medium-Sized School" All-America second team, and USA Today all-state (all levels) following his senior year ... also Seattle Times all-state and Metro League Mountain Division Offensive co-MVP ... over his career, caught 138 passes for 2,483 yards and 35 touchdowns ... helped the Crusaders to an 11-2 record as a senior ... 56 receptions for 979 yards and 10 TDs in nine games as a senior ... as a junior, helped Eastside to a perfect 13-0 record and the 3A state championship ... named to the USA Today all-state team as a junior ... caught 48 passes for 1,137 yards and 17 TDs as a junior, including two TD receptions in the state title game ... averaged 23.7 yards per catch in 2015 ... team went 13-2 and won the 3A state title his sophomore year ... 34 receptions for 387 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-America ... one of just five members of his class named to the Seattle Times' "blue-chip recruit" ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... listed as the No. 73 overall prospect and No. 2 tight end in the nation by scout.com ... rated No. 3 in the state and the No. 5 tight end and No. 189 overall prospect in the nation by 247sports.com ... rivals.com ranked him the No. 2 recruit in Washington, the No. 4 TE in the country and the nation's No. 141 overall recruit ... ESPN listed him at No. 263 overall in the nation and No. 4 in the state, as well as the No. 4 TE in America ... also played basketball at Eastside ... father, Eric Bryant, was a strength and conditioning coach at the UW in the 1990s ... played football for coach Jeremy Thielbahr.
Terrell Bynum • WR • 6-0 / 184 • Long Beach, Calif. (St. John Bosco)
Named first-team All-Trinity League as a senior ... helped the Braves to a 13-2 overall record, the CIF Southern Section championship and the CIF Open Division state championship as a senior in 2016 ... Braves avenged a regular season loss with a win over Mater Dei, 42-28, for the Southern Section title, then handled De La Salle, 56-33, for state crown ... caught 58 passes for 737 yards and seven TDs as a senior ... played for Servite High School in Anaheim as a sophomore and junior ... caught 39 passes for 611 yards and three TDs in 2015, earning first-team All-Trinity League ... made 31 receptions for 391 yards and five scores as a sophomore at Servite in 2014 ... went to St. John Bosco as a freshman ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-America ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 34 receiver and No. 243 overall prospect in the nation by scout.com ... also ran track in high school ... played for coach Jason Negro at Bosco.
Alex Cook • WR • 6-1 / 186 • Sacramento, Calif. (Sheldon)
Named first-team Sacramento Bee All-Metro as a defensive back in 2016 ... Huskies went 8-4 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs as a senior in 2016 ... made 26 catches for 609 yards (a 23.4-yard average) and eight TDs and also rushed for 369 yards and three scores on just 39 carries as a senior ... credited with 92 total tackles and also returned kicks and punts for Sheldon ... as a junior, caught 46 passes for 703 yards and seven TDs while recording 48 tackles ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... listed as the No. 220 overall prospect and No. 32 receiver in the nation by scout.com ... played for coach Joe Cattolico as a senior.
Ali Gaye • DL • 6-6 / 276 • Edmonds, Wash. (Edmonds-Woodway)
Named first-team all-area by the Everett Herald and first-team All-WesCo 3A/2A South as a senior ... also made the USA Today All-Washington first team ... Warriors went 6-4 and earned a berth in the 3A state playoffs in his senior season in 2016 ... credited with 76 tackles, including eight sacks, as a senior ... named first-team All-WesCo 3A South as a junior in 2015 ... team went 6-4 in 2015 ... second-team All-WesCo 3A South on the offensive line as a sophomore in 2014 ... also played basketball at E-W ... named a "red-chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... rated the nation's No. 34 strongside defensive end by 247sports.com ... rivals.com ranked him the No. 27 strongside end and No. 8 prospect in the state ... ESPN.com's No. 76 defensive end prospect ... played football for coach John Gradwohl.
Jake Haener • QB • 6-0 / 196 • Danville, Calif. (Monte Vista)
Named the first-team quarterback on the All-Bay Area Preps team following senior year ... also first-team All-North Coast Section and All-East Bay Athletic League ... also the All-NorCal first-team quarterback ... finished career with 8,464 yards on 597-for-977 passing, with a school-record 90 touchdowns and 24 interceptions over three years and 35 games ... as a senior, led the Mustangs to a 12-1 record and the CIF North Coast Section Division I championship ... completed 170-for-279 for 2,976 yards, 37 touchdowns and just eight interceptions as a senior ... also rushed for six scores ... threw multiple TD passes in 12 of 13 games, and three or more eight times in 2016 ... in 2015, team went 7-4 and played in the CIF NCS Division I quarterfinals ... as a junior, went 208-for-321 for 3,005 yards, 35 TDs and just six interceptions ... as a sophomore, threw for 2,483 yards on 219-for-377 passing, with 18 TDs and 10 picks ... PrepStar All-West Region ... ranked the No. 53 quarterback in the nation by scout.com ... ranked the No. 20 (rivals.com) and No. 31 (247sports.com) pro-style QB prospect ... ESPN's No. 28 "pocket passer" ... mother and grandfather both attended the UW ... played for coach Craig Bergman.
Ty Jones • WR • 6-4 / 206 • Provo, Utah (Provo)
U.S. Army All-American ... earned first-team All-Utah from USA Today ... All-Valley 4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Region 7 Offensive MVP, 4A all-state (coaches), Deseret News 4A all-state and Salt Lake Tribune all-state (all levels) ... caught 63 passes for 1,523 yards (a 24.2-yard average) and 20 touchdowns as a senior, when the Bulldogs finished 7-5 and earned a berth in the first round of the class 4A state playoffs ... in 2015, team went 8-3 and played in the 4A playoffs ... had 53 receptions for 589 yards and 14 scores as a junior, earning first-team All-Region 7, All-Valley and Salt Lake Tribune All-Tribune and Deseret News 4A all-state ... in 2014, his sophomore year, caught 18 passes for 248 yards and four TDs to earn honorable mention All-Valley ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 29 wide receiver prospect and No. 205 overall prospect in the nation by scout.com ... participated in track & field sprints, hurdles, long jump, high jump and shotput ... played for coach Tony McGeary.
Jaxson Kirkland • OL • 6-6 / 325 • Portland, Ore. (Jesuit)
Class 6A first-team all-state and USA Today All-Oregon first team as a senior ... also first-team All-Metro League ... led the Crusaders to a 12-1 record and the quarterfinals of the state's 6A playoffs ... a part of a 14-0 class 6A state championship Jesuit team in 2015 ... named first-team 6A all-state and first-team All-Metro League as a junior ... helped Jesuit to a 9-3 overall record and the 6A state quarterfinals as a sophomore in 2014 ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 53 offensive tackle in the nation by scout.com ... the No. 5 overall prospect in the state of Oregon and No. 60 tackle in the country, according to 247sports.com ... rated the No. 59 tackle in the country by rivals.com ... ESPN.com's No. 48-ranked tackle and No. 5 player in Oregon ... also threw the shotput in high school ... son of Dean Kirkland, a three-year letterman (1988-90) offensive lineman at Washington ... Dean was a three-year starter, an All-Pac-10 first-team selection and a captain on the 1990 team ... played for coach Ken Potter at Jesuit.
Jordan Lolohea • LB • 6-1 / 247 • Salt Lake City, Utah (East)
First-team 4A all-state in 2016 ... attended East High as a senior after having attended West High prior to that ... led the Leopards to a 14-0 record and the state's 4A championship as a senior in 2016 ... East out-scored opponents 694 to 240 ... credited with 98 tackles and 23 sacks as a senior ... 61 tackles as a junior at West High ... also played on the varsity at West as a sophomore and freshman ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... rated as the No. 54 defensive end in the nation by scout.com ... listed as the No. 26 strongside DE and No. 10 player in Utah by 247sports.com ... rivals.com lists him as the No. 70 athlete recruit in the nation ... ESPN.com's No. 74 defensive end and No. 9 player in Utah ... played football for Brandon Matich at East as a senior.
Brandon McKinney • S • 6-0 / 191 • Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran)
First-team All-Orange County from the Orange County Register as well as first-team All-Trinity League as a senior ... credited with 71 tackles and three interceptions as a senior, when the team earned a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs ... also caught 29 passes for 299 yards as a senior ... deflected a two-point conversion pass attempt to seal a win over JSerra and also had two interception returns for a touchdown in a win over Servite in 2016 ... as a junior in 2015, made 114 total tackles and also 464 yards on 50 carries (9.3-yard average) with 25 receptions for 388 yards ... earned All-Orange County and first-team All-Trinity League as a junior Lancers made the quarterfinal round of Southern Section Pac 5 Division playoffs in 2015 ... 66 tackles as a sophomore in 2014 ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 225 overall prospect and No. 22 safety in the nation by scout.com ... ranked as the No. 28 corner and No. 253 overall recruit by 247sports.com ... rivals.com's and ESPN's No. 25-ranked safety ... ESPN's No. 52 corner ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... played for coach Chuck Petersen.
Elijah Molden • CB • 5-10 / 181 • West Linn, Ore. (West Linn)
Earned first-team 6A all-state at cornerback and second-team at running back as a senior ... also first-team All-Three Rivers League at both positions and first-team USA Today All-Oregon at defensive back ... helped lead the Lions to a 14-0 record, including five wins in the 6A state playoffs in 2016 ... won the 6A state title with a 62-7 win over Central Catholic in the championship game ... rushed for 702 yards on just 59 carries (11.3-yard average) and 10 touchdowns in 2016 ... also caught 19 passes for 249 yards and six TDs and notched three interceptions ... as a junior in 2015, helped lead West Linn to a 12-2 mark and a berth in the 6A state title game, where the Lions fell in a seven-point loss ... earned first-team All-Three Rivers League on both sides of the ball as a junior ... rushed for 1,071 yards and 17 TDs on 106 carries and had 476 receiving yards and six TDs on 28 receptions in 2015 ... in 2014, the Lions went 8-3 and advanced to the state's 6A quarterfinals ... rushed for 784 yards on 110 carries, with nine rushing TDs as a sophomore ... also had 38 receptions for 542 yards and seven TDs in 2014 ... PrepStar All-America ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ESPN.com listed him at No. 213 overall and as the No. 19 cornerback in the country, and as the No. 2 prospect in Oregon ... ranked the No. 151 overall recruit and No. 17 cornerback in the country by scout.com ... 247sports.com listed him at No. 2 in Oregon, No. 25 in the nation at cornerback and No. 193 overall ... rivals.com's No. 27 cornerback ... second-oldest of eight children of Alex Molden, a member of the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and an eight-year NFL cornerback ... older brother Isaiah plays defensive line at Western Oregon ... played for coach Chris Miller.
Ariel Ngata • OLB • 6-2 / 202 • Reno, Nev. (Folsom)
Named to the USA Today All-California first team as a senior ... also first-team All-Sac-Joaquin Section and first-team All-Sierra League... first-team All-NorCal ... as a senior in 2016, helped the Bulldogs to a 12-2 overall record and a berth in the championship game of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs ... credited with 65 total tackles and 6.5 sacks as a senior ... in 2015, led Folsom to a 14-1 record and the Sac-Joaquin Section championship ... lone loss came in the Division I-AA state championship semifinals ... played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl following his senior season ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 29 outside linebacker in the nation by 247sports.com and No. 28 by scout.com ... ESPN listed him at 39th at his position ... rivals.com's No. 42 overall outside linebacker ... played for coach Kris Richardson.
Cole Norgaard • OL • 6-4 / 280 • Clements, Calif. (St. Mary's)
Named the Tri-City Athletic League (TCAL) Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2016 ... also named to the Stockton Record's all-area first team ... also first-team All-CIF Sac-Joaquin Section ... as a senior, helped lead St. Mary's to a 14-2 record, the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship and a berth in the state's Division I-AA state championship game, where the Rams loss by three points ... in 2015, as a junior, helped St. Mary's to a 10-3 record and the section semifinals ... named second-team All-TCAL as a defensive lineman in 2015 ... ESPN.com rated him the No. 71 offensive tackle prospect in the nation ... ranked the No. 132 offensive tackle prospect in the country by scout.com ... played for coach Tony Franks.
Cade Otton • TE • 6-5 / 222 • Olympia, Wash. (Tumwater)
Played on a Tumwater team that went 47-5 in his four years ... named the Olympian newspaper's are player of the year in 2016 ... also Associated Press 2A state player of the year, Seattle Times all-state and Evergreen Conference 2A MVP in 2016 ... also named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) and Tacoma News-Tribune all-area team ... caught 39 passes for 733 yards and 13 TDs as a senior, when he also had 107 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks ... set school records for career receptions (95), receiving yards (1,705) and receiving touchdowns (33) ... also served as the team's long snapper for four seasons ... as a senior, helped the Thunderbirds to a 9-2 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the 2A state playoffs ... in 2015, Tumwater went 13-1 and advanced to the 2A state championship game ... named to the Associated Press 2A all-state team as a tight end and at linebacker in 2015 ... team went 12-1 his sophomore season, finishing the season in the 2A state semifinals ... played on the varsity as a freshman, when Tumwater went 13-1 and made it to the state championship game ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named a "red-chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... also named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rivals.com's No. 20 tight end in America ... rated the No. 8 prospect in the state and No. 22 tight end in the nation by 247sports.com ... also ESPN's No. 22 tight end ... the No. 47 tight end prospect in the country, according to scout.com ... also played basketball ... played football for his grandfather, Sid Otton, the winningest coach in Washington state high school history.
Keith Taylor • CB • 6-3 / 189 • Long Beach, Calif. (Servite)
Earned first-team All-Trinity League at cornerback as a senior ... second-team Orange County Register All-County in 2016 ... missed much of his junior season ... played at St. John Bosco as a sophomore in 2014 ... a standout sprinter with a personal best of 10.89 in the 100 meters during his junior season ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rivals.com ranked him the No. 13 corner and No. 138 overall prospect in the nation ... listed by 247sports.com as the No. 27 cornerback and No. 248 overall prospect in the country ... the nation's No. 32 cornerback recruit, according to scout.com ... played for coach Scott Meyer.
Joe Tryon • OLB • 6-5 / 238 • Renton, Wash. (Hazen)
Earned North Puget Sound League Defensive Lineman of the Year and Seattle Times all-state in 2016 ... named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) as a senior ... named to Seattle Times all-area team in 2016 ... first-team All-NPSL at both defensive line and tight end in 2016 ... played four years on the varsity as a defensive lineman and tight end ... named a "red-chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... ranked by scout.com as the No. 134 defensive end in the country ... 247sports.com's No. 48 strongside linebacker recruit ... the No. 40 strongside OLB, according to rivals.com ... ESPN's No. 50 defensive end prospect ... also played basketball and baseball at Hazen ... played football for coach Chris Bennett as a senior.
Joel Whitford • P • 6-4 / 215 • Neerim South, Australia/Santa Barbara CC
Played at Santa Barbara City College as a freshman in 2015, when he replaced fellow Aussie Mitch Wishnowsky, who won the Ray Guy Award for Utah in 2016 ... earned first-team SCFA All-American Division Pacific League and all-state Region IV ... did not play in 2016, essentially redshirting the season ... punted 47 times for a 37.6-yard average and had 23 of 47 punts downed inside the 20, with just three touchbacks ... opponents managed just nine punt returns for 47 yards over the season ... grew up playing rugby in Australia ... played for coach Craig Moropoulos at Santa Barbara.
Head coach Chris Petersen's fourth class at Washington features players in every position group and recruits from five states, as well as Australia (Whitford).
Here's the list of the Huskies' 2017 recruiting class, followed by a biographical sketch of each:
Name • Pos. • Ht. • Wt. • Hometown (High School)
Salvon Ahmed • RB • 5-11 • 189 • Kirkland, Wash. (Juanita)
Henry Bainivalu • OL • 6-5 • 285 • Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline)
Hunter Bryant • TE • 6-2 • 241 • Issaquah, Wash. (Eastside Catholic)
Terrell Bynum • WR • 6-0 • 184 • Long Beach, Calif. (St. John Bosco)
Alex Cook • WR • 6-1 • 186 • Sacramento, Calif. (Sheldon)
Ali Gaye • DL • 6-6 • 276 • Edmonds, Wash. (Edmonds-Woodway)
Jake Haener • QB • 6-0 • 196 • Danville, Calif. (Monte Vista)
Ty Jones • WR • 6-4 • 206 • Provo, Utah (Provo)
Jaxson Kirkland • OL • 6-6 • 325 • Portland, Ore. (Jesuit)
Jordan Lolohea • LB • 6-1 • 247 • Salt Lake City, Utah (East)
Brandon McKinney • S • 6-0 • 191 • Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran)
Elijah Molden • CB • 5-10 • 181 • West Linn, Ore. (West Linn)
Ariel Ngata • OLB • 6-2 • 202 • Reno, Nev. (Folsom)
Cole Norgaard • OL • 6-4 • 277 • Clements, Calif. (St. Mary's)
Cade Otton • TE • 6-5 • 222 • Olympia, Wash. (Tumwater)
Keith Taylor • CB • 6-3 • 189 • Long Beach, Calif. (Servite)
Joe Tryon • OLB • 6-5 • 238 • Renton, Wash. (Hazen)
Joel Whitford • P • 6-4 • 215 • Neerim South, Australia/Santa Barbara CC
Salvon Ahmed • RB • 5-11 / 189 • Kirkland, Wash. (Juanita)
Named All-KincCo 3A at running back and cornerback as well as KingCo 3A offensive MVP as a senior ... also named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) at defensive back ... rushed for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior despite being limited to just six games due to injury ... also named to the Seattle Times' all-area team as both a senior and junior ... as a junior, helped Rebels to a 9-3 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the 3A state playoffs, their deepest run in over 25 years ... named Associated Press 3A all-state at defensive back as a junior ... also the KingCo 3A/2A offensive player of the year and first-team All-KingCo on both offense and defense as a junior ... also named to the USA Today All-Washington first team, the only underclassman to make the squad on defense ... rushed for 1,800 yards and 29 TDs in 2015 ... team went 6-4-1 his sophomore year ... Rebels went 8-3 and earned a playoff berth his freshman season, when he played on the varsity ... played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl following his senior season ... one of just five members of his class named to the Seattle Times' "blue-chip recruit" ... named to the PrepStar Top 150 "Dream Team" ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ESPN's No. 106 overall prospect, as well as it's No. 12 running back and No. 2 prospect in the state ... 247sports.com ranked him the No. 2 recruit in Washington, and the No. 2 athlete and No. 110 overall prospect in the country ... rated the No. 211 overall prospect in the nation and No. 14 athlete by scout.com ... rivals.com rated him the No. 10 athlete and No. 156 recruit in the nation ... also played basketball and ran track (sprints and jumps) at Juanita ... played football for coach Lele Te'o as a junior and senior.
Henry Bainivalu • OL • 6-5 / 285 • Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline)
Named to the Seattle Times all-state team as a senior ... also KingCo 4A Lineman of the Year and first-team 4A All-KingCo at both offensive and defensive line ... helped the Spartans to a 9-3 overall record and the 4A state quarterfinals as a senior in 2016 ... named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) as a senior ... helped Skyline to a 12-2 overall record and a spot in the 4A state championship game as a junior in 2015 ... earned Associated Press 4A all-state at offensive line as a junior ... team went 6-4 his sophomore year ... played on the varsity as a freshman in 2013, when the Spartans went 9-2 and advanced to the round of 16 at state ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-America ... one of just five members of his class named to the Seattle Times' "blue-chip recruit" ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ESPN rated him the No. 157 player in the country, No. 3 prospect in Washington and the No. 16 tackle in the nation ... according to 247sports.com, the No. 20 guard and No. 197 overall prospect in the nation, and No. 4 recruit in Washington ... scout.com ranked him the No. 22 guard recruit in the nation ... No. 5 in the state and the No. 30 offensive tackle in rivals.com's rankings ... also wrestled and threw the shot and discus in high school ... played football for coach Mat Taylor.
Hunter Bryant • TE • 6-2 / 241 • Issaquah, Wash. (Eastside Catholic)
Named to the MaxPreps All-America second team, "Medium-Sized School" All-America second team, and USA Today all-state (all levels) following his senior year ... also Seattle Times all-state and Metro League Mountain Division Offensive co-MVP ... over his career, caught 138 passes for 2,483 yards and 35 touchdowns ... helped the Crusaders to an 11-2 record as a senior ... 56 receptions for 979 yards and 10 TDs in nine games as a senior ... as a junior, helped Eastside to a perfect 13-0 record and the 3A state championship ... named to the USA Today all-state team as a junior ... caught 48 passes for 1,137 yards and 17 TDs as a junior, including two TD receptions in the state title game ... averaged 23.7 yards per catch in 2015 ... team went 13-2 and won the 3A state title his sophomore year ... 34 receptions for 387 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-America ... one of just five members of his class named to the Seattle Times' "blue-chip recruit" ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... listed as the No. 73 overall prospect and No. 2 tight end in the nation by scout.com ... rated No. 3 in the state and the No. 5 tight end and No. 189 overall prospect in the nation by 247sports.com ... rivals.com ranked him the No. 2 recruit in Washington, the No. 4 TE in the country and the nation's No. 141 overall recruit ... ESPN listed him at No. 263 overall in the nation and No. 4 in the state, as well as the No. 4 TE in America ... also played basketball at Eastside ... father, Eric Bryant, was a strength and conditioning coach at the UW in the 1990s ... played football for coach Jeremy Thielbahr.
Terrell Bynum • WR • 6-0 / 184 • Long Beach, Calif. (St. John Bosco)
Named first-team All-Trinity League as a senior ... helped the Braves to a 13-2 overall record, the CIF Southern Section championship and the CIF Open Division state championship as a senior in 2016 ... Braves avenged a regular season loss with a win over Mater Dei, 42-28, for the Southern Section title, then handled De La Salle, 56-33, for state crown ... caught 58 passes for 737 yards and seven TDs as a senior ... played for Servite High School in Anaheim as a sophomore and junior ... caught 39 passes for 611 yards and three TDs in 2015, earning first-team All-Trinity League ... made 31 receptions for 391 yards and five scores as a sophomore at Servite in 2014 ... went to St. John Bosco as a freshman ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-America ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 34 receiver and No. 243 overall prospect in the nation by scout.com ... also ran track in high school ... played for coach Jason Negro at Bosco.
Alex Cook • WR • 6-1 / 186 • Sacramento, Calif. (Sheldon)
Named first-team Sacramento Bee All-Metro as a defensive back in 2016 ... Huskies went 8-4 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs as a senior in 2016 ... made 26 catches for 609 yards (a 23.4-yard average) and eight TDs and also rushed for 369 yards and three scores on just 39 carries as a senior ... credited with 92 total tackles and also returned kicks and punts for Sheldon ... as a junior, caught 46 passes for 703 yards and seven TDs while recording 48 tackles ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... listed as the No. 220 overall prospect and No. 32 receiver in the nation by scout.com ... played for coach Joe Cattolico as a senior.
Ali Gaye • DL • 6-6 / 276 • Edmonds, Wash. (Edmonds-Woodway)
Named first-team all-area by the Everett Herald and first-team All-WesCo 3A/2A South as a senior ... also made the USA Today All-Washington first team ... Warriors went 6-4 and earned a berth in the 3A state playoffs in his senior season in 2016 ... credited with 76 tackles, including eight sacks, as a senior ... named first-team All-WesCo 3A South as a junior in 2015 ... team went 6-4 in 2015 ... second-team All-WesCo 3A South on the offensive line as a sophomore in 2014 ... also played basketball at E-W ... named a "red-chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... rated the nation's No. 34 strongside defensive end by 247sports.com ... rivals.com ranked him the No. 27 strongside end and No. 8 prospect in the state ... ESPN.com's No. 76 defensive end prospect ... played football for coach John Gradwohl.
Jake Haener • QB • 6-0 / 196 • Danville, Calif. (Monte Vista)
Named the first-team quarterback on the All-Bay Area Preps team following senior year ... also first-team All-North Coast Section and All-East Bay Athletic League ... also the All-NorCal first-team quarterback ... finished career with 8,464 yards on 597-for-977 passing, with a school-record 90 touchdowns and 24 interceptions over three years and 35 games ... as a senior, led the Mustangs to a 12-1 record and the CIF North Coast Section Division I championship ... completed 170-for-279 for 2,976 yards, 37 touchdowns and just eight interceptions as a senior ... also rushed for six scores ... threw multiple TD passes in 12 of 13 games, and three or more eight times in 2016 ... in 2015, team went 7-4 and played in the CIF NCS Division I quarterfinals ... as a junior, went 208-for-321 for 3,005 yards, 35 TDs and just six interceptions ... as a sophomore, threw for 2,483 yards on 219-for-377 passing, with 18 TDs and 10 picks ... PrepStar All-West Region ... ranked the No. 53 quarterback in the nation by scout.com ... ranked the No. 20 (rivals.com) and No. 31 (247sports.com) pro-style QB prospect ... ESPN's No. 28 "pocket passer" ... mother and grandfather both attended the UW ... played for coach Craig Bergman.
Ty Jones • WR • 6-4 / 206 • Provo, Utah (Provo)
U.S. Army All-American ... earned first-team All-Utah from USA Today ... All-Valley 4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Region 7 Offensive MVP, 4A all-state (coaches), Deseret News 4A all-state and Salt Lake Tribune all-state (all levels) ... caught 63 passes for 1,523 yards (a 24.2-yard average) and 20 touchdowns as a senior, when the Bulldogs finished 7-5 and earned a berth in the first round of the class 4A state playoffs ... in 2015, team went 8-3 and played in the 4A playoffs ... had 53 receptions for 589 yards and 14 scores as a junior, earning first-team All-Region 7, All-Valley and Salt Lake Tribune All-Tribune and Deseret News 4A all-state ... in 2014, his sophomore year, caught 18 passes for 248 yards and four TDs to earn honorable mention All-Valley ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 29 wide receiver prospect and No. 205 overall prospect in the nation by scout.com ... participated in track & field sprints, hurdles, long jump, high jump and shotput ... played for coach Tony McGeary.
Jaxson Kirkland • OL • 6-6 / 325 • Portland, Ore. (Jesuit)
Class 6A first-team all-state and USA Today All-Oregon first team as a senior ... also first-team All-Metro League ... led the Crusaders to a 12-1 record and the quarterfinals of the state's 6A playoffs ... a part of a 14-0 class 6A state championship Jesuit team in 2015 ... named first-team 6A all-state and first-team All-Metro League as a junior ... helped Jesuit to a 9-3 overall record and the 6A state quarterfinals as a sophomore in 2014 ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 53 offensive tackle in the nation by scout.com ... the No. 5 overall prospect in the state of Oregon and No. 60 tackle in the country, according to 247sports.com ... rated the No. 59 tackle in the country by rivals.com ... ESPN.com's No. 48-ranked tackle and No. 5 player in Oregon ... also threw the shotput in high school ... son of Dean Kirkland, a three-year letterman (1988-90) offensive lineman at Washington ... Dean was a three-year starter, an All-Pac-10 first-team selection and a captain on the 1990 team ... played for coach Ken Potter at Jesuit.
Jordan Lolohea • LB • 6-1 / 247 • Salt Lake City, Utah (East)
First-team 4A all-state in 2016 ... attended East High as a senior after having attended West High prior to that ... led the Leopards to a 14-0 record and the state's 4A championship as a senior in 2016 ... East out-scored opponents 694 to 240 ... credited with 98 tackles and 23 sacks as a senior ... 61 tackles as a junior at West High ... also played on the varsity at West as a sophomore and freshman ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... rated as the No. 54 defensive end in the nation by scout.com ... listed as the No. 26 strongside DE and No. 10 player in Utah by 247sports.com ... rivals.com lists him as the No. 70 athlete recruit in the nation ... ESPN.com's No. 74 defensive end and No. 9 player in Utah ... played football for Brandon Matich at East as a senior.
Brandon McKinney • S • 6-0 / 191 • Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran)
First-team All-Orange County from the Orange County Register as well as first-team All-Trinity League as a senior ... credited with 71 tackles and three interceptions as a senior, when the team earned a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs ... also caught 29 passes for 299 yards as a senior ... deflected a two-point conversion pass attempt to seal a win over JSerra and also had two interception returns for a touchdown in a win over Servite in 2016 ... as a junior in 2015, made 114 total tackles and also 464 yards on 50 carries (9.3-yard average) with 25 receptions for 388 yards ... earned All-Orange County and first-team All-Trinity League as a junior Lancers made the quarterfinal round of Southern Section Pac 5 Division playoffs in 2015 ... 66 tackles as a sophomore in 2014 ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rated the No. 225 overall prospect and No. 22 safety in the nation by scout.com ... ranked as the No. 28 corner and No. 253 overall recruit by 247sports.com ... rivals.com's and ESPN's No. 25-ranked safety ... ESPN's No. 52 corner ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... played for coach Chuck Petersen.
Elijah Molden • CB • 5-10 / 181 • West Linn, Ore. (West Linn)
Earned first-team 6A all-state at cornerback and second-team at running back as a senior ... also first-team All-Three Rivers League at both positions and first-team USA Today All-Oregon at defensive back ... helped lead the Lions to a 14-0 record, including five wins in the 6A state playoffs in 2016 ... won the 6A state title with a 62-7 win over Central Catholic in the championship game ... rushed for 702 yards on just 59 carries (11.3-yard average) and 10 touchdowns in 2016 ... also caught 19 passes for 249 yards and six TDs and notched three interceptions ... as a junior in 2015, helped lead West Linn to a 12-2 mark and a berth in the 6A state title game, where the Lions fell in a seven-point loss ... earned first-team All-Three Rivers League on both sides of the ball as a junior ... rushed for 1,071 yards and 17 TDs on 106 carries and had 476 receiving yards and six TDs on 28 receptions in 2015 ... in 2014, the Lions went 8-3 and advanced to the state's 6A quarterfinals ... rushed for 784 yards on 110 carries, with nine rushing TDs as a sophomore ... also had 38 receptions for 542 yards and seven TDs in 2014 ... PrepStar All-America ... one of seven players named a "Northwest Nugget" by the Tacoma News-Tribune ... also named to the News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ESPN.com listed him at No. 213 overall and as the No. 19 cornerback in the country, and as the No. 2 prospect in Oregon ... ranked the No. 151 overall recruit and No. 17 cornerback in the country by scout.com ... 247sports.com listed him at No. 2 in Oregon, No. 25 in the nation at cornerback and No. 193 overall ... rivals.com's No. 27 cornerback ... second-oldest of eight children of Alex Molden, a member of the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and an eight-year NFL cornerback ... older brother Isaiah plays defensive line at Western Oregon ... played for coach Chris Miller.
Ariel Ngata • OLB • 6-2 / 202 • Reno, Nev. (Folsom)
Named to the USA Today All-California first team as a senior ... also first-team All-Sac-Joaquin Section and first-team All-Sierra League... first-team All-NorCal ... as a senior in 2016, helped the Bulldogs to a 12-2 overall record and a berth in the championship game of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs ... credited with 65 total tackles and 6.5 sacks as a senior ... in 2015, led Folsom to a 14-1 record and the Sac-Joaquin Section championship ... lone loss came in the Division I-AA state championship semifinals ... played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl following his senior season ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... ranked the No. 29 outside linebacker in the nation by 247sports.com and No. 28 by scout.com ... ESPN listed him at 39th at his position ... rivals.com's No. 42 overall outside linebacker ... played for coach Kris Richardson.
Cole Norgaard • OL • 6-4 / 280 • Clements, Calif. (St. Mary's)
Named the Tri-City Athletic League (TCAL) Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2016 ... also named to the Stockton Record's all-area first team ... also first-team All-CIF Sac-Joaquin Section ... as a senior, helped lead St. Mary's to a 14-2 record, the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship and a berth in the state's Division I-AA state championship game, where the Rams loss by three points ... in 2015, as a junior, helped St. Mary's to a 10-3 record and the section semifinals ... named second-team All-TCAL as a defensive lineman in 2015 ... ESPN.com rated him the No. 71 offensive tackle prospect in the nation ... ranked the No. 132 offensive tackle prospect in the country by scout.com ... played for coach Tony Franks.
Cade Otton • TE • 6-5 / 222 • Olympia, Wash. (Tumwater)
Played on a Tumwater team that went 47-5 in his four years ... named the Olympian newspaper's are player of the year in 2016 ... also Associated Press 2A state player of the year, Seattle Times all-state and Evergreen Conference 2A MVP in 2016 ... also named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) and Tacoma News-Tribune all-area team ... caught 39 passes for 733 yards and 13 TDs as a senior, when he also had 107 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks ... set school records for career receptions (95), receiving yards (1,705) and receiving touchdowns (33) ... also served as the team's long snapper for four seasons ... as a senior, helped the Thunderbirds to a 9-2 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the 2A state playoffs ... in 2015, Tumwater went 13-1 and advanced to the 2A state championship game ... named to the Associated Press 2A all-state team as a tight end and at linebacker in 2015 ... team went 12-1 his sophomore season, finishing the season in the 2A state semifinals ... played on the varsity as a freshman, when Tumwater went 13-1 and made it to the state championship game ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named a "red-chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... also named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rivals.com's No. 20 tight end in America ... rated the No. 8 prospect in the state and No. 22 tight end in the nation by 247sports.com ... also ESPN's No. 22 tight end ... the No. 47 tight end prospect in the country, according to scout.com ... also played basketball ... played football for his grandfather, Sid Otton, the winningest coach in Washington state high school history.
Keith Taylor • CB • 6-3 / 189 • Long Beach, Calif. (Servite)
Earned first-team All-Trinity League at cornerback as a senior ... second-team Orange County Register All-County in 2016 ... missed much of his junior season ... played at St. John Bosco as a sophomore in 2014 ... a standout sprinter with a personal best of 10.89 in the 100 meters during his junior season ... played in the Polynesian Bowl following his senior year ... PrepStar All-West Region ... named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's Western 100 ... rivals.com ranked him the No. 13 corner and No. 138 overall prospect in the nation ... listed by 247sports.com as the No. 27 cornerback and No. 248 overall prospect in the country ... the nation's No. 32 cornerback recruit, according to scout.com ... played for coach Scott Meyer.
Joe Tryon • OLB • 6-5 / 238 • Renton, Wash. (Hazen)
Earned North Puget Sound League Defensive Lineman of the Year and Seattle Times all-state in 2016 ... named to the USA Today all-state team (all levels) as a senior ... named to Seattle Times all-area team in 2016 ... first-team All-NPSL at both defensive line and tight end in 2016 ... played four years on the varsity as a defensive lineman and tight end ... named a "red-chip recruit" by the Seattle Times ... ranked by scout.com as the No. 134 defensive end in the country ... 247sports.com's No. 48 strongside linebacker recruit ... the No. 40 strongside OLB, according to rivals.com ... ESPN's No. 50 defensive end prospect ... also played basketball and baseball at Hazen ... played football for coach Chris Bennett as a senior.
Joel Whitford • P • 6-4 / 215 • Neerim South, Australia/Santa Barbara CC
Played at Santa Barbara City College as a freshman in 2015, when he replaced fellow Aussie Mitch Wishnowsky, who won the Ray Guy Award for Utah in 2016 ... earned first-team SCFA All-American Division Pacific League and all-state Region IV ... did not play in 2016, essentially redshirting the season ... punted 47 times for a 37.6-yard average and had 23 of 47 punts downed inside the 20, with just three touchbacks ... opponents managed just nine punt returns for 47 yards over the season ... grew up playing rugby in Australia ... played for coach Craig Moropoulos at Santa Barbara.
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/ FootballUW Football Press Conference: October 14, 2025
Tuesday, October 14
Head Coach Jedd Fisch Press Conference: October 13, 2025
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2025 Husky Hall of Fame | Ray Horton
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2025 Husky Hall of Fame | Reggie Williams
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