HOUSTON — Hours before the national championship game, Washington got an early win.
Bethel High School linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale — the highest ranked 2025 recruit in the state of Washington — announced a verbal commitment to UW Monday.
When asked why he chose Washington on a live stream with 247Sports, Rainey-Sale cited “the way they made me and my family feel at home. Every time I was there it was a great moment and a great time. Every time I was with [co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach William] Inge, he would always teach me something new every time I would see him. He would make me a better player and a better man, so that’s why I chose UW.”
Rainey-Sale is the Huskies’ third commit in the 2025 class, joining three-star quarterback Jackson Kollock and two-way lineman Josiah Sharma.
But given his proximity and potential, Rainey-Sale’s commitment may mean a little more. Despite extending a dozen in-state offers, UW failed to sign a player from Washington in the 2024 class, the first time that’s happened in more than two decades.
“We want kids from Washington, and we know there’s great football that’s being played here,” UW coach Kalen DeBoer insisted on early signing day last month. “There are guys we’ll continue to recruit and grow relationships with. We’ll make sure there’s always an emphasis, and we’ll always want to pursue that. But this year, that’s just kind of the way it is at this point with where we’re at.”
national championship Michigan 34, Washington 13
Given that context, Rainey-Sale’s commitment qualifies as a significant win. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect is ranked as a four-star recruit, the No. 1 player in the state of Washington, the No. 12 linebacker and the No. 79 overall player in the 2025 class by 247Sports. He chose the home state Huskies over fellow finalists Florida State, Miami, Oregon and Penn State. The Spanaway product received offers from Arizona, Colorado, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State as well.
“They’re getting the top ranked player in the state, but a guy that just oozes upside,” 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman said of Rainey-Sale, who could realistically play linebacker or edge at UW. “He didn’t turn 16 until the end of November of his junior season, so there’s still some growing to do. He’s got a chance to put on more weight, get bigger, get stronger and faster and become an even better prospect as he matures and gets older.
“He’s one of the best pass-rushers you’ll find as an edge rusher or an outside backer. He can play off the ball. We’ve seen him in 7-on-7 [play] be able to drop into coverage. But he loves to get in the backfield. He loves to get to the quarterback, loves to get to the running back. He loves being physical. He’s got the athleticism, the ability to play in space, ability to play sideline to sideline and be a three-down backer at the next level.”
Thus far, the Huskies have offered five other in-state standouts — four-star Kamiak tight end T’Andre Waverly, four-star Auburn Riverside athlete Jonathan Epperson, three-star Spanaway Lake athlete D’Aryhian Clemons, three-star Graham-Kapowsin tight end Noah Flores and three-star Bellevue offensive tackle Demetri Manning.
But Rainey-Sale is the most impactful local domino, and the first to fall.
When asked what it means to stay in state, Rainey-Sale smiled and said: “I’m on top of the world. We’re going to win another natty.”
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