Huskies Receive Commitment from 4-Star Defensive Tackle Jon Ioane
Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch speaks often about getting bigger to compete in the Big Ten, and the Huskies tipped the scales toward that end with a commitment from Class of 2027 defensive lineman Jon Ioane on Thursday.
Iona, listed at 6-3, 295 pounds, plays on both sides at the line at Tustin (Calif.) High School. He chose UW over Penn State, UCLA, Stanford and Cal. Rated a 4-star “Athlete” recruit in 247Sports composite rankings because of his two-way abilities, Ioane is the 267th-ranked overall national recruit and No. 24 in California.
Ioane announced his commitment in the Tustin H.S. gymnasium in front of family, friends and fellow students on the CBS Sports YouTube Channel. Pulling off a Dub’s Club sweatshirt, he revealed a Michael Penix Jr. Huskies football T-shirt and said, “Go Dawgs, baby, let’s go. “We home baby, let’s go, baby” as the gym crowd cheered.
Ioane is the 10th known commit in the Washington 2027 class, which was ranked No. 4 nationally after Ioane’s addition. The class is expected to reach 20-25 members before signing day in December. Ioane is the second-highest rated recruit at .9142, just behind Sumner (Wash.) receiver Braylon Pope’s .9325.
While it’s too early to put much stock in a recruiting ranking, Ioane is a rare 4-star defensive lineman on the West Coast, a position UW will need to stack to hold up against the upper echelon of the Big Ten.
Ioane said he built good relationships with the final five schools on his list, but believes in the plan Fisch and defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi presented.
“I’m a big relationship guy, and that’s a (UW) staff I’ve known since their days at Arizona,” Ione said. “ And I feel like that connection we built over time was something I kept to my heart, and really being able to believe another man’s word. That’s a big thing in life that goes unnoticed — is being able to trust someone. I know I can trust them, so I’m willing to put all my chips in.”
Ioane played quarterback as a sophomore, passing for 475 yards and seven touchdowns. While likely to start on the defensive side of the ball, he also has the potential to play on the interior offensive line. He appreciated Washington’s plan to take advantage of his versatility.
His sophomore highlights begin with a 30-yard deep TD pass into the back of the end zone.
“Them just showing me what they think they can do with me,” Ioane said of appreciating UW’s recruitment. “One of my biggest things is versatility, so I think I’ll be able to get that out there over there at Washington, and go make some plays.”
While unlikely to throw passes as UW, Ioane’s film shows the potential to be a difference maker at multiple spots on the defensive line. At the high school level, he overpowers opponents while showing quick feet, strong instincts, and relentlessness to finish plays. He completed his junior season with 54 tackles, including 14 for loss and four sacks.
Ioane made his decision relatively early in the process and expressed a desire to know what he’s working toward. He did not directly discuss revenue share and NIL opportunities, instead believing the focus was more on relationships, playing football and developing.
“I just really felt like it was time to make the decision,” he said. “I just really had the feeling in my heart. Felt like home. Honestly, I just wanted an opportunity to play football. I know there’s a lot of outside noise and a lot more things involved in football nowadays. At the end of the day, if you’re not playing, what’s the point?”
