UW Recruiting- Wide Receiver & Tight End

Outside of Jermaine Kearse, the receiving positions lacked playmakers for the 2010 Huskies.  Luckily for the Dawgs, each position has an elite talent in this recruiting class, as the two highest rated players in the class are Kasen Williams and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

Wide Receiver

Commits

Kasen Williams  6′ 3″ 215 lbs. Skyline HS (WA)

Josh Perkins  6′ 3″ 200 lbs. Gahr HS (Cal.)

Jamaal Jones  6’2″ 180 lbs. Graham-Kapowsin HS (WA)

Possibilities

The Huskies have a number of other offers out, but few of them seem likely to be Dawgs.  The possible exception is Marvin Hall, QB recruit Joseph Gray’s top target at Dorsey H.S.  Hall is a smaller receiver who might be a nice complement to the big guys already committed.  He’s slated to visit UW at the end of January and is planning to decide on or near signing day.

Overview

Williams is the big name here.  It’s no stretch to call him one of the greatest high school players in Washington state history.  He’s big, physical, a good route runner and tough to tackle.  Reportedly, he lacks elite speed but seems to fit that old Jerry Rice profile of never being caught from behind.  He’s probably the highest rated recruit UW has had since Reggie Williams, and definitely the most talented receiver since Reggie.  If he doesn’t receive a good chunk of playing time next year, it will be a surprise.  I don’t know much about the other two commits, but they fit the mold of big, athletic receivers that USC favored while Sarkisian was there.  This is a good group that should go a long way toward replacing Kearse and Aguilar when they graduate after next year.

Tight End

Commits

Austin Seferian-Jenkins  6’6″ 250 lbs.  Gig Harbor HS (WA)

Jarrett Finau  6’3″ 232 lbs. Juanita HS (WA)

Overview

What Kasen Williams is to the receiving group, ASJ is to the tight ends, but maybe even more so.  Considered one of the top few TE recruits in the country, there’s hope that he can step in and immediately upgrade the position for the Huskies.  Given its putrid state in 2010, he has an excellent chance to do so.  The only concern with ASJ is his weight, and whether he can stay at TE or if he’ll have to move to the line.  He really wants to stay at TE, and if he can stay at a low enough weight to keep his speed, that is clearly the ideal place for him.  Finau is a good prospect in his own right, but whether he stays at TE remains to be seen.  I would say there’s a better than even chance he moves to linebacker.

-Matthew