Washington comes out for the kickoff of the LA Bowl against Boise State, Dec. 13, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
Washington comes out for the kickoff of the LA Bowl against Boise State, Dec. 13, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
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By
Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jon Ioane’s commitment announcement was simple and straightforward. No hats on tables. No diversions or feigned deliberation. No tricks or gimmicks.
Seated with his parents at a table in the gym at Tustin (Calif.) High School on Thursday, Ioane wasted no time revealing the next step in his football journey.
“Fortunately for me, I do believe there was one school that stood out to me,” he said on a CBS Sports livestream, before removing his sweatshirt and putting on a University of Washington hat. “Let’s get it. Go Dawgs. Let’s go. We’re home.”
A 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive lineman, Ioane is the 10th player to join UW’s 2027 recruiting class and the third blue-chip recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Ioane is the No. 12 athlete, the No. 24 player in California and the No. 267 prospect nationally according to the composite rankings. Only Sumner High wide receiver Braylon Pope, among UW’s current commits, has a higher composite rating than Ioane.
He chose Washington out of a final group that included UCLA, Penn State — where former UW defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe now works — Stanford and California. Ioane also held offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC and Utah, along with several others.
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“Owns a wide build and should easily carry over 300 pounds in college,” Andrew Ivins, 247Sports director of scouting, wrote in an evaluation March 18. “Tends to win with his overall activity in tight quarters as he has the foot quickness and agility to redirect and slide laterally. Absorbs contact with impressive balance. Will uproot blocks with a powerful and limber upper half.”
Ioane visited UW for its junior days in early March and has an official visit with the Huskies set for June 5. The Huskies were the second program to offer Ioane a scholarship, back in May 2024. Ioane is the third player to commit to UW since it hosted its junior weekend, joining Southern California linebacker Isaiah Leilua and Arizona running back Jeremy Adeyanju.
“I’m a big relationship guy,” Ioane said. “It’s a staff that I’ve known since their days at Arizona. I feel like that connection we built over time was something I kept to my heart. Really just being able to believe another man’s word, that’s a big thing in life that goes unnoticed, being able to trust someone. With that staff over there, I know I can trust them.
“So I’m willing to put all my chips in.”
Ioane has been defined by his versatility during his two seasons at Tustin High, playing offensive and defensive line. He made 52 tackles as a sophomore in 2024, nine tackles for a loss, eight sacks, a pass breakup, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery according to 247Sports. As a junior in 2025, Ioane tallied 50 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, four sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
“Flashes favorable snap anticipation, but not always the most explosive individual out the chute,” Ivins wrote. “Should be viewed as a pesky three-technique that can help create negative plays with his strength, effort and run-game awareness. Ceiling appears to be highest on defense, but could always get a look on the (offensive) line or double as a short-yardage blocking back.”
But Ioane also played some quarterback for Tustin during his sophomore season. He was 31-for-47 passing for 475 yards and seven touchdowns against just one interception.
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Ioane’s early commitment is an important one for UW and position coach Jason Kaufusi. The Huskies signed five defensive linemen during the 2026 recruiting cycle: Derek Colman-Brusa, Ta’a Malu, JD Hill, Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais and David Schwerzel. However, Hill was a late-rising prospect who surged up recruiting rankings late in the process, and Schwerzel was stuck in a difficult situation after UCLA, where he’d previously committed, fired coach DeShaun Foster.
And the Huskies missed out on a couple of their defensive line targets early to start the 2027 cycle. Zane Rowe, a composite four-star defensive lineman out of Guyer High in Denton, Texas, had UW in his final four schools but committed to Oregon on March 13. Four-star edge rusher Troy Bowens from Sutter, Calif., who visited UW for the Ohio State game in 2025, committed to Cal the same day Rowe chose Oregon.
Adding Ioane gives UW’s defensive line recruitment an important block to build around, as he joins composite three-star edge rusher Matamatagi Uiagalelei. And the Huskies are still in contention for O’Dea High standout Tevita Nonu, a composite four-star prospect who has an official visit to UW set for the same day as Ioane’s trip and is a former teammate of Schwerzel.
Ioane, for his part, said he’s excited by the way UW sees him fitting into its defense. He said he’s excited to make an impact at Washington as soon as possible.
“I’m a big mental guy,” Ioane said. “You’ve got to know the game before you can play they game. And physically, I feel like I can play with anyone.”
*: local recruit
(
): signed with UW
(☒): signed with another team
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
Washington comes out for the kickoff of the LA Bowl against Boise State, Dec. 13, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
Skip Ad
By
Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jon Ioane’s commitment announcement was simple and straightforward. No hats on tables. No diversions or feigned deliberation. No tricks or gimmicks.
Seated with his parents at a table in the gym at Tustin (Calif.) High School on Thursday, Ioane wasted no time revealing the next step in his football journey.
“Fortunately for me, I do believe there was one school that stood out to me,” he said on a CBS Sports livestream, before removing his sweatshirt and putting on a University of Washington hat. “Let’s get it. Go Dawgs. Let’s go. We’re home.”
A 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive lineman, Ioane is the 10th player to join UW’s 2027 recruiting class and the third blue-chip recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Ioane is the No. 12 athlete, the No. 24 player in California and the No. 267 prospect nationally according to the composite rankings. Only Sumner High wide receiver Braylon Pope, among UW’s current commits, has a higher composite rating than Ioane.
He chose Washington out of a final group that included UCLA, Penn State — where former UW defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe now works — Stanford and California. Ioane also held offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC and Utah, along with several others.
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Skip AdSkip AdSkip Ad
“Owns a wide build and should easily carry over 300 pounds in college,” Andrew Ivins, 247Sports director of scouting, wrote in an evaluation March 18. “Tends to win with his overall activity in tight quarters as he has the foot quickness and agility to redirect and slide laterally. Absorbs contact with impressive balance. Will uproot blocks with a powerful and limber upper half.”
Ioane visited UW for its junior days in early March and has an official visit with the Huskies set for June 5. The Huskies were the second program to offer Ioane a scholarship, back in May 2024. Ioane is the third player to commit to UW since it hosted its junior weekend, joining Southern California linebacker Isaiah Leilua and Arizona running back Jeremy Adeyanju.
“I’m a big relationship guy,” Ioane said. “It’s a staff that I’ve known since their days at Arizona. I feel like that connection we built over time was something I kept to my heart. Really just being able to believe another man’s word, that’s a big thing in life that goes unnoticed, being able to trust someone. With that staff over there, I know I can trust them.
“So I’m willing to put all my chips in.”
Ioane has been defined by his versatility during his two seasons at Tustin High, playing offensive and defensive line. He made 52 tackles as a sophomore in 2024, nine tackles for a loss, eight sacks, a pass breakup, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery according to 247Sports. As a junior in 2025, Ioane tallied 50 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, four sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
“Flashes favorable snap anticipation, but not always the most explosive individual out the chute,” Ivins wrote. “Should be viewed as a pesky three-technique that can help create negative plays with his strength, effort and run-game awareness. Ceiling appears to be highest on defense, but could always get a look on the (offensive) line or double as a short-yardage blocking back.”
But Ioane also played some quarterback for Tustin during his sophomore season. He was 31-for-47 passing for 475 yards and seven touchdowns against just one interception.
Advertising
Skip Ad
Ioane’s early commitment is an important one for UW and position coach Jason Kaufusi. The Huskies signed five defensive linemen during the 2026 recruiting cycle: Derek Colman-Brusa, Ta’a Malu, JD Hill, Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais and David Schwerzel. However, Hill was a late-rising prospect who surged up recruiting rankings late in the process, and Schwerzel was stuck in a difficult situation after UCLA, where he’d previously committed, fired coach DeShaun Foster.
And the Huskies missed out on a couple of their defensive line targets early to start the 2027 cycle. Zane Rowe, a composite four-star defensive lineman out of Guyer High in Denton, Texas, had UW in his final four schools but committed to Oregon on March 13. Four-star edge rusher Troy Bowens from Sutter, Calif., who visited UW for the Ohio State game in 2025, committed to Cal the same day Rowe chose Oregon.
Adding Ioane gives UW’s defensive line recruitment an important block to build around, as he joins composite three-star edge rusher Matamatagi Uiagalelei. And the Huskies are still in contention for O’Dea High standout Tevita Nonu, a composite four-star prospect who has an official visit to UW set for the same day as Ioane’s trip and is a former teammate of Schwerzel.
Ioane, for his part, said he’s excited by the way UW sees him fitting into its defense. He said he’s excited to make an impact at Washington as soon as possible.
“I’m a big mental guy,” Ioane said. “You’ve got to know the game before you can play they game. And physically, I feel like I can play with anyone.”
UW’s 2027 recruiting class
| Name | Position | Composite rating | Signed? | Height / Weight | School | Hometown |
| *Braylon Pope | WR | ★★★★ | 6-3 / 195 | Sumner High | Sumner, Wash. | |
| Jon Ioane | DT | ★★★★ | 6-3 / 295 | Tustin High | Tustin, Calif. | |
| Jeremy Adeyanju | RB | ★★★★ | 6-0 / 215 | Sandra Day O'Connor High | Glendale, Ariz. | |
| Zerek Sidney | WR | ★★★ | 6-0 / 175 | Desert Edge High | Goodyear, Ariz. | |
| *Maurice Williams | CB | ★★★ | 6-1 / 180 | Graham-Kapowsin High | Graham, Wash. | |
| Isaiah Leilua | LB | ★★★ | 6-0 / 220 | Servite High | Anaheim, Calif. | |
| Ethan Coach | LB | ★★★ | 6-3 / 205 | St. John Bosco High | Bellflower, Calif. | |
| Justin Coach | LB | ★★★ | 6-2 / 205 | St. John Bosco High | Bellflower, Calif. | |
| Matamatagi Uiagalelei | DL | ★★★ | 6-3 / 240 | Mater Dei High | Santa Ana, Calif. | |
| Titus Osterman | ATH | ★★★ | 6-4 / 235 | Kimberly High | Kimberly, Idaho |
(
(☒): signed with another team
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
