1 of 2 | O’Dea defensive lineman David Schwerzel stands on the field during practice on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Nick Wagner / The Seattle Times)
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By
Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
To call the 96 hours David Schwerzel endured between Dec. 2-5 hectic is probably an understatement.
Schwerzel, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive lineman at O’Dea High, was committed to Stanford less than 24 hours before the early-signing period started Dec. 3. He announced a decision to flip to UCLA on Dec. 2 but Schwerzel never signed with the Bruins. And late in the evening of Dec. 3, he changed his mind one final time — announcing he’d stay home to play for Washington.
“There was a lot going through my head as signing day was approaching,” he said. “Me and my family, we just took it to prayer. We just talked about what suits me. Where do I want to be? Where do I fit best? What schemes am I going to fit best? Which schemes am I going to be able to play in? All this stuff.”
Just about 48 hours later on Dec. 5, however, Schwerzel proved why so many programs were pushing for his signature when he helped lead O’Dea to a 21-14 win against Mount Tahoma High and fellow UW-signee Elijah Durr at Husky Stadium to claim back-to-back Washington Class 3A football championships. O’Dea is the first program to win consecutive Class 3A state titles since Eastside Catholic High achieved the feat in 2018 and 2019.
“As a kid, I used to always dream of playing on that biggest stage of high school, playing for a state championship,” Schwerzel said. “I’m blessed to play in two — and to win two, it’s just a great honor. It’s a great blessing, for sure.”
Schwerzel’s final appearance in an O’Dea uniform, lifting the state championship trophy, capped a dominant period in maroon-and-gold history. Along with two state championship titles, the Fighting Irish and coach Monte Kohler won 47 games during Schwerzel’s four seasons at O’Dea. They lost only four: two during Schwerzel’s freshman season, one as a sophomore and one as a senior.
Stafford Mays, the former UW defensive lineman, was Schwerzel’s position coach during his entire tenure at O’Dea and said the Husky signee’s work ethic and humility were pillars of the four-year run the Fighting Irish put together while Schwerzel was on their roster.
“He’s got great character,” Mays said. “Community-focused type of kid. Wants to do all the right things.”
Mays still recalls meeting Schwerzel for the first time at O’Dea’s incoming freshman camp. The former Husky remembered being impressed by the amount of football acumen Schwerzel possessed entering high school, enough for the young defensive lineman to jump straight to varsity as a freshman.
Schwerzel’s football IQ began to pay off as he grew into his body. Mays said he showed off some good pass-rushing instincts early, and Schwerzel was a second-team All-Metro League selection as O’Dea marched undefeated into the playoffs before eventually falling against eventual champions Bellevue High in the state semifinals, 21-17.
But Mays said Schwerzel’s real breakout started during his junior season. The O’Dea defensive line coach said the Seattle native — who can line up on the edge or on the interior — was more consistent in his approach to workouts and took massive strides as a run defender. Schwerzel said he started to find his voice as a leader, too, trying to impart his experience as he entered his third season of varsity football.
Along with Utah-signee Fameitau Siale and Tevita Nonu, one of the top local football prospects in the 2027 recruiting cycle, Schwerzel anchored one of the state’s best defensive fronts during the 2024 season.
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Schwerzel and O’Dea posted a perfect season in 2024, beating top-seeded Bellevue 38-15 to win the Class 3A state championship. The Fighting Irish allowed just 12.7 points per game and held seven teams to eight points or fewer. Schwerzel earned first-team All-Metro honors and was league co-defensive lineman of the year.
“His junior year, I could see progress,” Mays said. “I could see him playing the run better. I knew he liked to rush the passer. That’s what I knew he could do. But I saw him as a better overall run-stopping defensive end.”
Schwerzel’s strong junior campaign parlayed into recruiting attention. Louisville gave him his first scholarship offer back in 2022, before his freshman season. Michigan, Washington, Penn State and Miami all approached before his sophomore campaign. Entering the summer before his senior season, Schwerzel had 15 scholarship offers.
Schwerzel never intended to draw out his recruiting process. He planned to take all his official visits to find a program where he felt a cultural fit before making what he expected to be a final decision.
His process initially led him to UCLA. Ikaika Malloe, the Bruins defensive coordinator at the time and a former Husky assistant, had built a long relationship with Schwerzel dating back to 2022, and the O’Dea standout announced his commitment to UCLA over UW and Stanford on June 19, 2025.
But Schwerzel’s plans were upended Sept. 14, when UCLA fired coach DeShaun Foster amid an 0-3 start to the season. Malloe departed three days later, though Schwerzel had already decommitted.
“It was definitely heartbreaking, for sure,” Schwerzel said. “Seeing the school that I’d committed to and all the coaches I’d built strong connections to part ways with UCLA. It was definitely tough.”
Schwerzel committed to Stanford on Oct. 19. He said he was intrigued by general manager Andrew Luck’s project and the education the Cardinal offered. But that pledge lasted until Dec. 2, when Schwerzel flipped back to UCLA.
UW, however, continued to check in with him as the early-signing period approached. Schwerzel said the coaching staff always made it clear he had the option to stay home and credited defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi, in particular, for continuing to reach out and show interest even when Schwerzel, who grew up idolizing former UW defensive tackle Vita Vea, was leaning toward other programs. All of which led him to choose the Huskies.
“We realized with them showing that consistent love, they just continued to push for me,” Schwerzel said. “I felt like I wanted to go somewhere where I’m wanted. I want to go somewhere where I’m valued.”
While Schwerzel was trying to sort out his future, O’Dea’s season continued to roll along. It lost its season-opening game against Class 4A-opponent Graham Kapowsin High, 40-38, but Kohler’s squad rattled off 13 consecutive wins to retain their state championship trophy.
Schwerzel caught a two-point conversion during the win, and Mays said his ability to stay focused on the game while all the chaos of his recruitment raged was an impressive showing of discipline, especially for a high-school player.
“At practice, the guy kept his head down,” Mays said. “Kept his head down and kept working. There were a few bumps in the road, but David did what he had to do to stay focused during our championship week. He put the team first.”
Mays, whose son Taylor Mays currently serves as UW’s safeties coach, said he’s personally ecstatic Schwerzel found the right fit with the Huskies. Schwerzel said he’s excited to join the legacy of O’Dea players at UW, following the likes of Myles Gaskin and Mishael “Meesh” Powell, while also continuing to represent the city of Seattle, now on a collegiate stage.
“This city’s shown so much love to me, just as a high-school football player,” Schwerzel said. “I’m just excited to be a Dawg and stay home to be a hometown hero.”
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
