UW Huskies Derek Colman-Brusa, edge, speaks at a news conference in Seattle on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)
UW Huskies Derek Colman-Brusa, edge, speaks at a news conference in Seattle on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)
Skip Ad
By
Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Washington’s 2026 recruiting class already had a reputation before they’d enrolled for their first quarter of college classes.
The Huskies’ 25-player true freshman class is the highest-rated group since 1999, when recruiting websites began tracking the information. Their numbers include UW’s first 247Sports composite five-star prospect since the 2021 cycle, 11 blue-chip prospects, the top player in Washington and the No. 2 players from Oklahoma and Nevada. Nineteen of them are enrolled at UW for spring practices.
But the ratings don’t mean much now that they’re on campus, and spring practices will be the first chance to see how quickly this group can rise to meet the high expectations their ratings have placed upon them. Here are three freshmen to watch this spring who have a chance to contribute immediately.
Honorable mentions: LB Ramzak Fruean, WR Jordan Clay, S Gavin Day, CB Elijah Durr, DT Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais
*: local recruit
(): signed with UW
(☒): signed with another team
Sophomore Devin Hyde, a special teams contributor as a true freshman in 2025, may also push for repetitions along with redshirt freshman Victor Sanchez Hernandez.
But Derek Colman-Brusa — the No. 1 player in the state during the 2026 recruiting cycle — offers the most intrigue. The 6-foot-5, 267-pound edge rusher totaled 66 tackles for a loss and 34 sacks during four seasons at Kennedy Catholic High. Colman-Brusa was initially offered by former UW coach Kalen DeBoer during the summer after completing eighth grade, and enrolled at Washington in January to participate in the team’s offseason workouts.
“I’m just trying to get my feet under me,” Colman-Brusa said on Feb. 4. “Just trying to figure out the strength and conditioning program and whatnot. But I just love it here.”
The Huskies don’t necessarily need Colman-Brusa to make an immediate impact because of their returning production. But this spring will be the first chance to see how quickly the abilities that made him the consensus top player in Washington translate to the college level.
Washington’s had mixed recent experiences with edge rushers from the North Puget Sound League. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka developed into a first-round NFL draft pick at UW despite a relatively unheralded career at Hazen High, back when the Highlanders were still an NPSL team. Sav’ell Smalls spent his final high school season at Kennedy Catholic, where he was a composite five-star prospect, but departed UW after three seasons before converting to tight end at Colorado, where injuries prematurely ended his football career.
Colman-Brusa will certainly get every chance to crack Washington’s edge rusher rotation. His physical frame is already similar to Lane, Hyde and the departed Zach Durfee. Each was listed 6-5 and hovered between 250-260 pounds in 2025, meaning Colman-Brusa already possesses the size and weight to potentially play immediately.
Advertising
Skip Ad
The Seattle native, whose brother Lowen Colman-Brusa is a redshirt freshman offensive lineman with the Huskies, said he’s excited to be part of the group and has enjoyed the transition to college football.
“The people here definitely took me in,” he said. “It’s very special.”
“I’m expecting him to walk in here as a starter,” Fisch said. “I’m expecting him to come in here and be a very similar player to John Mills. Walk in and be able to compete right away.”
Greene, a 6-6, 320-pound offensive lineman, is the first composite five-star prospect to sign with UW since quarterback Sam Huard. Originally from Renton, Greene played two seasons at Eastside Catholic High before transferring to Trinity League powerhouse Mater Dei High in Southern California.
He was considered the No. 25 player in the 2026 recruiting cycle, the No. 3 player in California and the No. 3 offensive tackle nationally.
Advertising
Skip Ad
Skip Ad
Skip Ad
“He’s got the size,” Fisch said. “He’s got the feet. He’s got the brain. He’s got the athleticism. He is a special player.”
Fisch said Greene will compete for the open job at left tackle. Washington returns four starters — right tackle Drew Azzopardi, right guard Geirean Hatchett, center Landen Hatchett and Mills, the sophomore left guard — but must replace the NFL-bound Carver Willis, a consensus All-Big Ten honorable mention by coaches and media in 2025.
Greene will primarily face competition from Sam Houston transfer Kolt Dieterich, a 6-6, 310-pound tackle who started 12 games for the Bearkats in 2025. However, Fisch has a proven history of playing true freshmen offensive linemen, including starting Mills during the past season. Spring practices will offer the first opportunity to see how the highly-touted Greene fares against college competition.
Mohammed’s exit created an opening at running back. And Brian Bonner Jr., the highly rated freshman from Valencia, Calif., represents one of the most interesting options to step into the starting role.
“He’s got great vision,” Fisch said on Dec. 3. “He’s very elusive. And he loves football. He’s an all-around great get for the program.”
Bonner, a 6-1, 185-pound tailback, enjoyed a prodigious three-year stint at Valencia High. He totaled for 3,043 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns on 389 carries while adding 1,480 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns on 81 catches. Bonner averaged 9.3 yards per carry during his senior season.
He was the No. 93 player nationally, the No. 6 running back and the No. 12 player in California during the 2026 cycle. Bonner is the highest-rated running back to sign with UW since 1999, when recruiting sites began tracking the information.
Before Mohammed’s departure, Bonner might not have cracked this list. He may still need to add some weight, too. Coleman, Mohammed and Cameron Davis all weighed 200 pounds or heavier while playing at UW under Fisch and position coach Scottie Graham.
Bonner also isn’t guaranteed to start. Sophomore running back Jordan Washington, who rushed for 233 yards and a touchdown in 2025, returned to compete for an expanded role in 2026. Redshirt freshman tailback Quaid Carr was close to breaking into the rotation late in the season before an ankle injury limited him during UW’s final four games. Washington added former Oregon running back Jayden Limar and Troy transfer Trey Cooley from the portal, too.
But Bonner’s pedigree, paired with the suddenly vacant featured back role, seems like the perfect alignment of personnel and situation. And while Fisch was hesitant to compare Bonner to any of his previous players, the UW coach was quick to praise the incoming freshman’s unique talents.
“I don’t know if I want to say he’s like somebody,” Fisch said. “But I do believe his skills are pretty special.”
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
UW Huskies Derek Colman-Brusa, edge, speaks at a news conference in Seattle on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)
Skip Ad
By
Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Washington’s 2026 recruiting class already had a reputation before they’d enrolled for their first quarter of college classes.
The Huskies’ 25-player true freshman class is the highest-rated group since 1999, when recruiting websites began tracking the information. Their numbers include UW’s first 247Sports composite five-star prospect since the 2021 cycle, 11 blue-chip prospects, the top player in Washington and the No. 2 players from Oklahoma and Nevada. Nineteen of them are enrolled at UW for spring practices.
Related
Three position battles to watch during UW’s spring football practicesBut the ratings don’t mean much now that they’re on campus, and spring practices will be the first chance to see how quickly this group can rise to meet the high expectations their ratings have placed upon them. Here are three freshmen to watch this spring who have a chance to contribute immediately.
Honorable mentions: LB Ramzak Fruean, WR Jordan Clay, S Gavin Day, CB Elijah Durr, DT Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais
UW’s 2026 recruiting class
| Name | Position | Composite rating | Signed? | Height / Weight | School | Hometown |
| Kodi Greene | OT | ★★★★★ | 
| 6-6 / 320 | Mater Dei | Renton, Wash. |
| Brian Bonner | RB | ★★★★ |
| 6-0.5 / 185 | Valencia | Valencia, Calif. |
| Rahsjon Duncan | CB | ★★★★ |
| 6-1 / 186 | McClymonds | Oakland, Calif. |
| Gavin Day | S | ★★★★ |
| 6-3 / 190 | Faith Lutheran | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| *Derek Colman-Brusa | EDGE | ★★★★ |
| 6-5 / 267 | Kennedy Catholic | Burien, Wash. |
| JD Hill | DT | ★★★★ |
| 6-2 / 275 | Mission Viejo | Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Jordan Clay | WR | ★★★★ |
| 6-3 / 200 | Madison | San Antonio, Texas |
| Trez Davis | WR | ★★★★ |
| 6-0/ 180 | West Monroe | West Monroe, La. |
| Mason James | WR | ★★★★ |
| 5-10.5 / 175 | Norman North | Norman, Okla. |
| Dre Pollard | ATH | ★★★★ | ☒ | 6-0 / 175 | Clark | Las Vegas, Nev. |
*: local recruit
(): signed with UW
(☒): signed with another team
3. EDGE Derek Colman-Brusa
Washington’s edge rusher group was less impacted by attrition than the interior defensive line. Senior Jacob Lane is back after leading the team with 8.5 tackles for a loss during his breakout 2025 season. Fifth-year edge rushers Isaiah Ward, who led UW in tackles for a loss during 2024, and Russell Davis II also returned after injuries derailed their 2025 campaigns, and the Huskies added former Ohio State edge rusher Logan George from the transfer portal.Sophomore Devin Hyde, a special teams contributor as a true freshman in 2025, may also push for repetitions along with redshirt freshman Victor Sanchez Hernandez.
But Derek Colman-Brusa — the No. 1 player in the state during the 2026 recruiting cycle — offers the most intrigue. The 6-foot-5, 267-pound edge rusher totaled 66 tackles for a loss and 34 sacks during four seasons at Kennedy Catholic High. Colman-Brusa was initially offered by former UW coach Kalen DeBoer during the summer after completing eighth grade, and enrolled at Washington in January to participate in the team’s offseason workouts.
“I’m just trying to get my feet under me,” Colman-Brusa said on Feb. 4. “Just trying to figure out the strength and conditioning program and whatnot. But I just love it here.”
The Huskies don’t necessarily need Colman-Brusa to make an immediate impact because of their returning production. But this spring will be the first chance to see how quickly the abilities that made him the consensus top player in Washington translate to the college level.
Washington’s had mixed recent experiences with edge rushers from the North Puget Sound League. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka developed into a first-round NFL draft pick at UW despite a relatively unheralded career at Hazen High, back when the Highlanders were still an NPSL team. Sav’ell Smalls spent his final high school season at Kennedy Catholic, where he was a composite five-star prospect, but departed UW after three seasons before converting to tight end at Colorado, where injuries prematurely ended his football career.
Colman-Brusa will certainly get every chance to crack Washington’s edge rusher rotation. His physical frame is already similar to Lane, Hyde and the departed Zach Durfee. Each was listed 6-5 and hovered between 250-260 pounds in 2025, meaning Colman-Brusa already possesses the size and weight to potentially play immediately.
Advertising
Skip Ad
The Seattle native, whose brother Lowen Colman-Brusa is a redshirt freshman offensive lineman with the Huskies, said he’s excited to be part of the group and has enjoyed the transition to college football.
“The people here definitely took me in,” he said. “It’s very special.”
2. OL Kodi Greene
Fisch wasted no time expressing his confidence in Kodi Greene during his early signing period news conference on Dec. 3.“I’m expecting him to walk in here as a starter,” Fisch said. “I’m expecting him to come in here and be a very similar player to John Mills. Walk in and be able to compete right away.”
Greene, a 6-6, 320-pound offensive lineman, is the first composite five-star prospect to sign with UW since quarterback Sam Huard. Originally from Renton, Greene played two seasons at Eastside Catholic High before transferring to Trinity League powerhouse Mater Dei High in Southern California.
He was considered the No. 25 player in the 2026 recruiting cycle, the No. 3 player in California and the No. 3 offensive tackle nationally.
Advertising
Skip Ad
Skip Ad
Skip Ad
“He’s got the size,” Fisch said. “He’s got the feet. He’s got the brain. He’s got the athleticism. He is a special player.”
Fisch said Greene will compete for the open job at left tackle. Washington returns four starters — right tackle Drew Azzopardi, right guard Geirean Hatchett, center Landen Hatchett and Mills, the sophomore left guard — but must replace the NFL-bound Carver Willis, a consensus All-Big Ten honorable mention by coaches and media in 2025.
Greene will primarily face competition from Sam Houston transfer Kolt Dieterich, a 6-6, 310-pound tackle who started 12 games for the Bearkats in 2025. However, Fisch has a proven history of playing true freshmen offensive linemen, including starting Mills during the past season. Spring practices will offer the first opportunity to see how the highly-touted Greene fares against college competition.
“Very excited,” Fisch said, “about Kodi being part of this team.”
1. RB Brian Bonner Jr.
Washington’s running back room suffered some unexpected attrition during the offseason. Adam Mohammed, long viewed as Jonah Coleman’s successor at running back, abruptly announced intentions to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 17, eventually landing at California.Mohammed’s exit created an opening at running back. And Brian Bonner Jr., the highly rated freshman from Valencia, Calif., represents one of the most interesting options to step into the starting role.
“He’s got great vision,” Fisch said on Dec. 3. “He’s very elusive. And he loves football. He’s an all-around great get for the program.”
Bonner, a 6-1, 185-pound tailback, enjoyed a prodigious three-year stint at Valencia High. He totaled for 3,043 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns on 389 carries while adding 1,480 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns on 81 catches. Bonner averaged 9.3 yards per carry during his senior season.
He was the No. 93 player nationally, the No. 6 running back and the No. 12 player in California during the 2026 cycle. Bonner is the highest-rated running back to sign with UW since 1999, when recruiting sites began tracking the information.
Before Mohammed’s departure, Bonner might not have cracked this list. He may still need to add some weight, too. Coleman, Mohammed and Cameron Davis all weighed 200 pounds or heavier while playing at UW under Fisch and position coach Scottie Graham.
Bonner also isn’t guaranteed to start. Sophomore running back Jordan Washington, who rushed for 233 yards and a touchdown in 2025, returned to compete for an expanded role in 2026. Redshirt freshman tailback Quaid Carr was close to breaking into the rotation late in the season before an ankle injury limited him during UW’s final four games. Washington added former Oregon running back Jayden Limar and Troy transfer Trey Cooley from the portal, too.
But Bonner’s pedigree, paired with the suddenly vacant featured back role, seems like the perfect alignment of personnel and situation. And while Fisch was hesitant to compare Bonner to any of his previous players, the UW coach was quick to praise the incoming freshman’s unique talents.
“I don’t know if I want to say he’s like somebody,” Fisch said. “But I do believe his skills are pretty special.”
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.