Mike Vorel
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Seattle Times staff reporter

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College football’s early signing day is here as recruits can officially commit starting today through Friday.

Today is the day verbal commitments become official, as high schoolers sign national letters of intent to the colleges they’ll play ball at. Washington has 22 prospective recruits who could officially commit, including Kennedy Catholic star Sav’ell Smalls, and nine four-star recruits. UW’s recruiting class currently ranks 14th nationally and first in the Pac-12 by the 247Sports Composite.

Meanwhile, WSU has 18 commits. The Cougars currently rank 9th in the Pac-12 and 57th nationally, according to 247Sports.

Locally, Eastside Catholic will see six Division I athletes, including four four-star athletes who are off to Power 5 schools. Kennedy Catholic has the state’s only five-star player, Smalls, who will sign with UW as teammate Justin Baker signs with Cal. They are a few of the handful of local athletes who will sign Wednesday.

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UW Huskies 2020 football signing day superlatives

This is the third year the early signing period has existed, as the later official signing day takes place Feb. 5, 2020. But the early signing period has stolen the show in terms of signings, as the lion’s share of recruits commit on early signing day. 77% of FBS prospects signed their letters of intent in December last year during the early signing period, according to ESPN’s Tom VanHeeran.

As the fax machines get dusted off and the tweets start flying, we’ll track the very latest from early signing day. Follow along as we bring you live updates from UW and WSU’s recruiting classes, along with local high-school players signing their letters of intent.

Pac-12 recruiting rankings

Team,247Sports,Rivals,Pac-12 Washington,14,11,1 Oregon,16,12,2 Stanford,21,24,3 UCLA,29,27,4 Cal,26,32,5 Colorado,33,32,6 Oregon State,46,39,7 Arizona State,47,48,8 Washington State,57,50,9 Arizona,68,64,10 Utah,80,76,11 USC,85,76,12

Early Signing Day live updates

Jimmy Lake is excited about 2020 class, but not satisfied yet

“We’re extremely excited about this class,” new head coach Jimmy Lake said.

Excited? Yes.

Impressed? Not yet.

“I’ll be impressed when we’re lifting up the Pac-12 championship trophy,” Lake said. “That’s what I’ll be impressed with. What I’m happy with is that I think we have a really good class. But I think the recruiting classes, how they actually show their worth is what they do when they get here. So I think that’s how we’ve always got to pay attention to it.

“But yes, we’re thrilled with the talent and the potential in all these guys. But now let’s go. Now it’s time to get to work.”

Read the full story from UW's early signing day class »

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A big day for Eastside Catholic

Four Eastside Catholic players signed with D1 teams today. Gee Scott Jr. (Ohio State), Sam Adams II (Washington), Ayden Hector (Stanford), D.J. Rogers (Cal), D'angalo Titialii (Portland State) and Jernias Tafia (Portland State) all signed their national letters of intent Wednesday.

Billy Joe Hobert's son signs with WSU

A day after WSU soccer landed Dennis Rodman's daughter, Trinity, the football team inked Billy Joe Hobert's son, Joey. The three-star WR is a product of San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

https://twitter.com/billyjoehobert/status/1207352275011719169

Buzzards and vultures at the door

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From teammates to foes

Justin Baker and Sav'ell Smalls are teammates no more. The Kennedy Catholic duo are now foes as Smalls heads to Washington and Baker heads to Cal. And some friendly barbing has already began. Baker, asked about facing Smalls next year and beyond, replied to the Tacoma News Tribune's Jon Manley: "Quote me on this: I will never, once in my life at Cal Berkeley, lose to UW."

To which Smalls responded, "Save this tweet."

UW goes 23 for 23

And with that, UW has gone 23 for 23 in recruits signed. Just 16 days ago, Chris Petersen announced he would step down as head football coach at UW, while Jimmy Lake stepped up in his place. Not only did Lake's Huskies manage to keep UW's Pac-12 leading recruiting class mostly intact, he kept every single last one of the 2020 class.

Here's a look at how the class breaks down:

Myles Murao completes signing day class

It’s never easy to play on the offensive line in the Pac-12 as a true freshman.

But Myles Murao – a 6-2, 312-pound center from Mater Dei (Calif.) High School, who signed with Washington on Wednesday – may have what it takes.

“Myles Murao is as good of a tackle as there has been in high school football the last three years, and they’re able to slide him inside to play center,” 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman said last week. Pac-12 Network analyst Yogi Roth added that “Myles Murao to me is the top (Pac-12) offensive lineman in the class.”

Couple that with the fact that Washington must replace three offensive line starters this offseason, including senior standout Nick Harris, and Murao might instantly compete. The four-star recruit – who’s ranked as the top center in the country by the 247Sports Composite – chose the Huskies over offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, USC and more.

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3-star Eastlake QB heads to Western Kentucky

Eastlake quarterback Grady Robison has signed with Western Kentucky.

Robinson was a Seattle Times all-state selection for his versatility. He threw for 2,134 yards, rushed for 1,067 and accounted for 34 touchdowns.

He originally committed to Montana State, and had recently picked up an offer from Washington.

Don't forget about Jordan Lolohea

Did you forget about Jordan Lolohea?

That’s understandable. After all, the three-star Salt Lake City East High School outside linebacker – who signed with Washington in Feb. 2017 – has spent much of the last three football seasons on a church mission trip. But Lolohea is finally set to enroll at UW in January, and the Huskies announced his arrival with the rest of their 2020 class on Wednesday.

Listed by UW at 6-1 and 247 pounds, Lolohea originally picked the Dawgs over scholarship offers from Oregon, BYU, Utah, Washington State and more. He racked up a whopping 98 tackles and 23 sacks in 14 games in his senior season in 2016.

Three years later, what will Lolohea be capable of? We’ll have to wait and see. But until then, enjoy Lolohea’s senior highlights:

—Mike Vorel

Eastside Catholic's DJ Rogers signs with Cal

Another Eastside Catholic player finds a home in the Pac-12 as four-star tight end DJ Rogers has signed with Cal.

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UW lands pair of 3-star teammates

Washington has signed a pair of high school teammates in back-to-back recruiting cycles.

Not to get overly confusing, but in 2019, there was actually a pair of pairs: Menlo-Atherton (Calif.) High School’s Daniel Heimuli and Noa Ngalu and Upland (Calif.) High’s Cameron Davis and Taj Davis (no relation).

On Wednesday, two three-star defensive backs from Lawndale (Calif.) High School – safety Makell Esteen and corner Elijah Jackson – inked with the Huskies. The pair actually verbally committed on back-to-back days in August as well.

Both Esteen (6-1, 176) and Jackson (6-0, 182) possess the frame and positional versatility that defensive coordinator and soon-to-be UW head coach Jimmy Lake covets. We’ll see if that translates into early playing time in an already crowded and competitive secondary.

UW gets top punter of 2020 class

Triston Brown is a Husky, meaning all but two of UW's 22 commits have signed. The standout at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. is the top punter in the 2020 class.

3-star DB signs with Washington

Three-star defensive back Makell Esteen is a Husky.

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Bellevue's Justin Baker heads to Cal

Bellevue's Justin Baker is headed to Cal. The three-star athlete, ranked as the No. 11 recruit in Washington, can play all over the field and flashed his versatility for Bellevue.

Huskies get a large human with 4-star TE Mark Redman

Mark Redman is officially listed at 6-6 and 239 pounds. He is a very big human.

But will the four-star tight end make a big impact early in his career at UW?

He certainly has that opportunity, especially given the early departure of UW junior tight end Hunter Bryant to the NFL Draft. Redman is one of two tight ends to sign with Washington on Wednesday, joining three-star recruit Mason West.

Just don’t make him angry.

“I’ve told people this, but I love pass-blocking and run-blocking some plays, because I just want to take my anger out,” Redman told The Times after committing to UW in April. “But on other plays you’re 1-v-1 with a linebacker or a DB and you just want to make a quick stick and catch the ball and get up field and get a touchdown.

“I like to call it the most versatile position on the field, and that’s why I like it so much. You can pretty much do everything.”

And, athletically, it seems like Redman can. The massive tight end chose UW over offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and more. As a teammate of UW quarterback signee Ethan Garbers at Corona Del Mar (Calif.) High, he piled up 72 catches for 979 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior season. That connection may continue to pay dividends at UW.

—Mike Vorel

Camas lineman signs with USC

Camas lineman Caadyn Stephen signs with USC.

Three-star lineman (6-5, 295) is coming of a win in the Class 4A state title game. He’s a three-star prospect listed as the No. 9 player in the state for 2020.

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Woodinville's 5-star lineman goes to Stanford

Levi Rogers, a five-star lineman from Woodinville, has signed with Stanford.

Rogers moved to Woodinville from Boston before his junior season and quickly became one of the top players from the nation.

He’s the latest in a long line of lineman from Woodinville (remember Andre Dillard?) to play in the Pac-12.

It's official: Coveted 5-star linebacker Sav'ell Smalls is a Husky

Sav’ell Smalls is officially a Washington Husky.

No more worrying. No more speculating. No more message board rumors or top-10 lists. The 6-4, 244-pound outside linebacker and five-star Kennedy Catholic standout officially signed with Washington on Wednesday.

Now, how soon will he play?

“He’s going to be able to play day 1. He should,” said Pac-12 Network analyst Yogi Roth. “If you look at the top players at that position, they’re all pretty similar, in (Oregon commit) Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe. Similar type. Similar intensity. Similar skill set. They can rush the edge. They’re all 3-4 backers. They can play that outside linebacker spot. They can rush off the edge on third down. They can play inside.”

Roth added, for extra emphasis, that Smalls “could have played anywhere. He’s that type of guy.”

The offers bear that out. Technically, Smalls could have played at Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma or Oregon. The list goes on and on.

But he chose Washington. Why?

“I went through a whole bunch of emotions,” Smalls said when he committed in September. “I eliminated them. I went from, ‘Oh, I want to go to UW,’ to, ‘I don’t want to go to UW.’ ‘I want to stay at home.’ ‘I don’t want to stay at home.’ So it was definitely a long process.

“I’m not going to sit here and lie (and say) that I knew all along, that the recruitment was easy. It was definitely hard. But we’re here. It was an obvious decision. They’ve got football. They’ve got the business program. They’ve got connections to take your life to another level. They have connections all around the world. So to me, it was really a no-brainer.”

Eastside Catholic's Ayden Hector heads to Stanford

Eastside Catholic’s Ayden Hector makes it to Seattle-area four-star players at Stanford.

Hector is part of Eastside’s impressive class that having a ceremony later today.

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Huskies land 4-star Eastside Catholic commit

Sam Adams II has officially signed with Washington.

Now, what position will he play?

The 6-1, 194-pound Eastside Catholic standout is listed as a running back, but safety may actually be the four-star prospect’s superior position.

“I think he’s probably the most versatile player in the class in the state of Washington,” 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman said when Adams committed in July. “I know that he has a number of offers to play running back, a number of offers to play safety. I know his heart’s at running back. I know some of the best coaches in college football think he’s an NFL safety and think he has the potential to be an elite safety.

“This is a guy who didn’t start coming into his own until this last season. So there’s still a lot of good football to be played for him. I don’t think he’s anywhere near where his ceiling is, largely because this is really the first season he was healthy in the last couple years. His positional versatility is what makes him such a unique player.”

That positional versatility warranted scholarship offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, Texas, USC, Washington State and more. In fact, the only Pac-12 program not to offer Adams was Stanford.

In the end, the four-star athlete chose to stay home. Now his Husky coaches need to figure out where best to use him.

Rome Odunze may be most athletically intriguing UW commit

Of all of Washington’s offensive signees in 2020, Rome Odunze may be the most athletically intriguing.

The four-star Las Vegas Bishop Gorman wide receiver – listed officially at 6-3 and 205 pounds – racked up 58 catches, 1,322 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior season, en route to being named Gatorade Nevada High School Player of the Year. His highlight tape is a massacre of broken tackles and unlikely touchdowns.

But is he ready, from a technique standpoint, to make an early impact at Washington?

“He’s a good get. Obviously coupling him with Jalen McMillan is a pretty good 1-2 punch,” said 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman when Odunze committed in August. “He’s a long, lankier receiver. He’s a legit 6-2.5, 200 pounds. But he’s got some length to him. He’s pretty well put-together already. Good straight-line speed. He clocked a 4.5-40 at the opening regional in February on a pretty wet day. He had a pretty good shuttle at that as well, so he can move laterally. He’s pretty explosive.

“He’s a pretty good route-runner. He still needs to be a little bit crisper with the route-running, which for a lot of guys is a technique thing that they really focus on at the next level. He’s athletic. It’s going to be hard to press him and you’re not going to be able to jam him, so he’s going to have a lot of advantages just from a physical standpoint. He’s a pretty solid all-around receiver.”

Athletically, at least, it may be hard to keep Odunze off the field.

Lake Stevens' Devin Kylany commits to Cougs

Some have decried WSU’s recruiting efforts in the state of Washington, but that certainly doesn’t apply on the offensive line, where Kylany will make it five straight years of the Cougars signing an in-state offensive lineman. Kylany had an offer from WSU’s Cheez-It Bowl opponent, Air Force, and one from Arizona State, but chose WSU, perhaps because of the success other Washingtonians such as Josh Watson, Abraham Lucas, Cody O’Connell and Andre Dillard had in Mike Leach’s offense. Kylany was in danger of missing the entirety of his senior season at Lake Stevens after tearing his ACL in the 2019 Mat Classic, but he recovered in time to join his football teammates for their state opener against Union.

—Theo Lawson
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Did UW's 2020 QB just sign?

Ethan Garbers could be Washington’s starting quarterback in 2020.

Of course, redshirt junior Jacob Eason would have to declare for the NFL Draft for that to happen. But if he does, the Huskies’ newly signed four-star QB will certainly be an intriguing cog in that competition.

“My biggest question at the Elite 11 (national quarterback camp last summer) was, ‘Does (Garbers) have the capability to step on your throat as a competitor?’” said Pac-12 Network analyst Yogi Roth. “I just think, at quarterback, to get in the room you’re going to have to be able to pass. He has no flaw in his mechanics. The second thing is you have to be able to hit spots as a thrower. He can do that. The third thing is, you have to be a brilliant competitor just to survive, let alone thrive in the shark tank that is the quarterback meeting room.

“I got to meet with him over the summer in the shark tank — the top 24 quarterbacks in the country (at Elite 11). He had the quietest personality, one might argue, coming in. By the end he was one of the top three or four quarterbacks in the country, in my eyes. His competitiveness rose to such a level that you could cut through it (with a knife). He was just like, ‘I’m going to get to the line of scrimmage, and I’m going to dice you.’ He beat you with his eyes. He beat you with his throws.”

Roth added that “he’ll have a chance if Jacob (Eason) leaves to play as a true freshman there. He’s going to be the best passer in the meeting room.”

In an undefeated 16-0 season at Corona Del Mar (Calif.) High School last season, Garbers threw for 5,035 yards with 71 touchdowns and six interceptions, leading the Sea Kings to a state title. We’ll see if he finds similar success at Washington.

UW gets another talented CB

The St. John Bosco connection at Washington continues.

The California prep powerhouse – which has also produced a slew of current Huskies in running back Sean McGrew, wide receiver Terrell Bynum and cornerback Trent McDuffie – is sending yet another prospect north to Seattle. Three-star corner James Smith officially signed with Washington on Wednesday.

But in Smith, it’s hard to know what exactly the Huskies are getting. The three-star corner’s length (6-1, 182) and athleticism are obvious. He also pulled in scholarship offers from the likes of Oregon, Michigan, Penn State and Arizona State. But Smith was not a full-time starter during his senior season at Bosco.

So, can Jimmy Lake and Co. bring the best out of Smith? Time will tell.

A nice surprise for Washington

Who said signing day wouldn’t have any surprises?

OK, so it’s a tiny one, but still: when Washington officially announced four-star defensive back Jacobe Covington’s signing on Wednesday, the Huskies listed him as a safety, not a corner.

The good news? The 6-1, 196-pound Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro standout may have the frame and skill set to excel at either spot.

“I think one of the things that he’s got going for him is, he’s been tested,” 247Sports national editor Brandon Huffman said before Covington re-committed to UW last week. “When you’ve got (five-star 2020 corner) Kelee Ringo on the opposite side of you, with the attention that he’s gotten over the past couple years, I think more and more schools and more offenses are testing Jacobe.

“I think he could be a safety at the next level — with his size, with his ball skills, with his ability to close. I think he’s the most versatile DB in the state of Arizona. You look at (four-star Ohio State commit) Lathan Ransom, and I think he’s 100% a safety. Kelee Ringo is 100% a corner. I think Covington could be a multiyear starter in the Pac-12 at either spot, and I think that’s one of the things Jimmy Lake really likes in his DBs.

“They can play a number of spots and they’ve got that positional versatility, where no matter what kind of offense you’re going up against … you can put him out on an island, you can put him in the back end, you can put him at nickel and he’s going to be able to lock up the receiver opposite him.”

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Long snapper Jaden Green commits

Huskies get a top 'sleeper' pick

If you think Carson Bruener’s name sounds familiar, you’re probably right.

Carson’s father, Mark Bruener, was a standout tight end at Washington from 1991 to 1994. But don’t think the familial connection forced the Huskies to offer Carson a scholarship. The 6-1, 201-pound linebacker from Redmond might just be one of the premier sleeper candidates in Washington’s 2020 class.

“I think Carson Bruener is my easy (sleeper pick), which is weird because he’s a legacy and he’s a Seattle area kid,” 247Sports national editor Brandon Huffman told The Times this week. “Those are the ones who usually tend to get love. But because he’s a legacy and he’s local and he’s not active on social media, I think maybe the sexiness factor isn’t there. But this is going to be a four-year, five-year guy that you don’t have to worry about leaving the program. This guy’s been dreaming about playing for the Huskies forever.

“So I think (fans) might have just thought, ‘Oh, we’re going to end up getting him when it’s all said and done. Let’s be excited about the higher rated guys.’ I think he’s going to end up being a real solid glue guy for them and could have that Ben Burr-Kirven type of impact later in his career.”

For Washington fans, all Burr-Kirven comparisons are certainly welcome.

UW gets a 3-star tight end

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Gee Scott Jr. commits to Ohio State University

Four-star  Eastside Catholic receiver Gee Scott Jr. is officially committed to Ohio State University. Scott Jr. is ranked as the 12th best recruit in the country and second only to Sav'ell Smalls in Washington.

Huskies load up at receiver

On recruiting sites, Sawyer Racanelli is a three-star wide receiver.

But he may be much more than that.

Pac-12 Network analyst Yogi Roth told The Times this week that he ranked the 6-2, 208-pound Racanelli as the No. 2 athlete in the Pac-12, behind only fellow UW commit Sam Adams II. 247Sports national editor Brandon Huffman said that Racanelli “will have a tendency to be overlooked. Because he’s from southwest Washington, rather than the metro Seattle area, I think at times it’s easy for him to be overlooked. But when he’s healthy he’s as good a pass-catcher as anybody. So I think that clearly the receiving corps needs to be improved, and they’ve got good, talented young receivers. But they’ve got another crop of really talented receivers coming in.”

The key phrase may be “when healthy.” A Brush Prairie High School standout, Racanelli missed his senior season with a torn ACL but should be cleared to compete in fall camp.

UW lands arguable best tackle in the West

When Roger Rosengarten verbally committed to Washington over Oregon in June, 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman told The Times that “I love him. I think he’s one of the more intriguing players out west. I think he’s a true two-way lineman. He’s clearly going to be an offensive lineman at the next level. But this is a guy who wasn’t just playing defensive line because he’s a big guy. He’s talented.”

So talented, in fact, that Rosengarten is ranked as the top player in the state of Colorado, the No. 9 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 89 overall prospect in the country by 247Sports. He chose Washington over the likes of Oregon, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and more.

One potential issue? UW announced Rosengarten’s measurables on Wednesday as 6-5 and 258 pounds. He’ll have to add more muscle before taking the field for Washington.

—- Mike Vorel
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Gaard Memmelaar commits

Gaard Memmelaar committed to Washington on June 18, 2018.

Washington’s next commit in the 2020 class came more than eight months later.

It’s fitting, then, that the 6-4, 299-pound offensive lineman is one of the first players to officially sign with the Huskies on Wednesday. A three-star prospect, Memmelaar is one of the more unheralded recruits in Washington’s five-some of offensive line commits. He committed to UW following his second unofficial visit, a camp in the summer prior to his junior season. He told The Times last fall that offensive line coach Scott Huff “shoots straight with you, and I think he’s going to push me to be the best I can be.”

But what’s Memmelaar’s best? What’s the relatively modest three-star prospect’s ceiling? For now, that’s a more difficult question to answer.

UW lands pair of Texas commits

So it begins.

The national letters of intent have begun to roll in on early signing day, and both of Washington’s Texas commits – three-star linebacker Cooper McDonald and running back Jay’Veon Sunday – are accounted for.

A 6-foot-2, 215-pound inside linebacker, McDonald committed to UW back in July – choosing the Huskies over Utah, Baylor, Colorado and more. Sunday, meanwhile, is one of the more intriguing prospects in Washington’s 2020 class. The 5-11, 196-pound back ran for a whopping 2,254 yards and 27 touchdowns in his senior season, after accumulating 2,329 rushing yards, 7.8 yards per carry and 36 touchdowns the year before. He’s also a seasoned power lifter, having recorded a 460-pound squat and 570-pound deadlift at a meet in February. The knock on Sunday, if there is one, is that the Connally (Texas) High School standout played at a smaller classification in Texas against arguably inferior competition.

Will Sunday (and McDonald, for that matter) be able to break into the rotation in 2020? Time will tell.

Signing Day begins

Recruits can now officially begin signing and submitting their letters of intent. UW has 22 recruits who could sign today and WSU has 20. There are also a handful of big-name local high-school football players we're tracking. Follow with us for the latest from early signing day.

—Sean Quinton
Mike Vorel: mvorel@seattletimes.com; on Twitter: @MikeVorel. Mike Vorel is the UW football beat writer for The Seattle Times.

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