Top 10 Huskies’ Freshmen Poised to Make Impact in 2026
The Washington Huskies’ football program has a long history of playing true freshmen who impact winning on the field. Bringing in coach Jedd Fisch’s best recruiting class - and the best in school history (No. 12) - the Huskies have quite a few freshmen who project to get significant playing time this year.
Fisch preaches that he wants players playing as soon as they are ready regardless of class, stating, “If we make a commitment to go get a great player in high school, why would we not expect to play that player?”
Developing young players is important, but Fisch believes the best path toward development is live-game reps.
“There is too much to learn. We are such a young team... we have to look at the tape and teach off of it... we have to keep learning,” Fisch said.
In 2024, Decker DeGraaf was thrust into a starting role after multiple injuries to the tight end room. His insertion into the starting lineup paid immediate dividends, as his play resulted in him being named a Freshman All-American.
The following year, Texas native John Mills won the starting left guard job over a sophomore blue-chip prospect in Paki Finau. Choosing the freshman again proved to be the right call, as Mills earned Freshman All-American honors as well.
Will the Huskies have a third straight Freshman All-American? Who else might start in their first year? Here are the top 10 freshmen ranked based on projected playing time and impact this year:
1. Kodi Greene
The first five-star prospect UW has had since Sam Huard in 2021 and only the seventh since in the last 25 years, Greene is listed at 6-6, 325 pounds and looks every bit the premier left tackle ready to jump right into action in the Big Ten. He has been getting all the reps with the first team and should start every game this year.
Regarding Greene’s abilities, Fisch said, “He’s got great size, he’s got the feet, he’s got the brain, he’s got the athleticism. He is a special player. He’s also coming from a winning team, a winning organization. He’s been coached exceptionally well at Mater Dei.”
2. Ramzak Fruean
Simply an athletic freak, Fruean was a mid-tier three-star recruit for most of the recruiting cycle, but came on late to become a four-star and top-300 recruit in the country, according to 247Composite.
Initially recruited as an inside linebacker, Fruean has been the talk of practice, showing immense upside at edge. He is lightning-quick and has unreal bend despite being so new to the position.
UW defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi said of Fruean’s talent, “His speed, you talk about elite bend coming around the corner... He’s starting to mature a little bit more physically, and also just mature himself. And so, I expect great things from him.”
Fruean will need to be coached up on hand usage and how to set the edge in the run game, but the sky is the limit. Listed at 6-5 and 225 pounds, he definitely needs to add some weight, but if he does, he could be starting by the end of the season.
3. Derek Colman-Brusa
Another recruiting coup for this UW staff, Colman-Brusa and Greene were flipped from rival Oregon in the same week. Colman-Brusa is another physical specimen who notably already looks to have an NFL build at 6-5 and 290 pounds.
Initially recruited at edge, he has slid inside more and more at practice, as he has put on about 30 pounds in the last year. He will likely play inside and out in defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ scheme.
During spring ball, Walters said of Colman-Brusa, “He still has the twitch and athleticism he had when he was a little lighter and on the edge. So to have that athleticism coupled with the 6-5 frame and 295 pounds, he has a chance to be pretty special in there.”
The only reason Fruean is ranked ahead of Colman-Brusa is that there are more high-end contributors on the interior of the line, which makes Fruean’s path to playing time a little clearer. Don’t be surprised, however, if Colman-Brusa is starting alongside Fruean this year at some point.
4. Jordan Clay
Washington has a truly open competition at wide receiver this year outside of Dezmen Roebuck and Clay intends to take full advantage. Signed out of San Antonio, Texas, Clay was a top-200 recruit coming to Montlake. He has certainly backed that up in camp so far.
Clay’s best trait is his ability to elevate. He can high-point a ball remarkably well for a freshman, routinely beating veteran defensive backs at the catch point in practice. He needs to be more consistent, however, as he has had some issues with drops and overall consistency.
As things stand, Clay is a high-risk, high-reward player who looks to be right behind Christian Moss and Rashid Williams for the outside starting receiver spots for now.
In May, receivers coach Kevin Cummings said, “I think Jordan Clay is going to be awesome. I think he’s going to be amazing. I think his size, his physicality is all there.”
If Clay can clean up the mistakes and expand his route-running tree, he has more upside than any other wide receiver on the roster, but time will tell if that is realized enough to make a big impact as a freshman.
5. Jeron Jones
A four-star defensive back out of Mission Viejo, California, Jones is known as a man-coverage lockdown artist. A willing tackler, he is someone who wants to man up and take opposing No. 1 wide receivers out of the game.
Fisch commented on how Jones doesn’t play like a freshman, stating, “Jeron’s confidence is elite.”
The starting outside cornerback spots are locked down with Dylan Robinson and Emmanuel Karnley, so Jones is unlikely to displace those two from the starting lineup b. But he will strive to be the first reserve to come in should one of them miss time.
6. Trez Davis
Another high-end, four-star receiver who flipped to Washington late in the recruiting cycle, Davis projects as another outside receiver but looks like he will need some more time to develop.
Davis isn’t nearly as game-ready as fellow freshman Clay. Yet the lack of proven production in the wide receiver room will allow Davis to be in the running all season long if he improves rapidly under the coaching of Cummings.
7. Brian Bonner Jr.
The second-highest-rated recruit behind Greene, Bonner brings elite speed to the running back room. After losing Jonah Coleman to the NFL and Adam Mohammed to the transfer portal, running backs coach Scottie Graham is looking for someone to break out.
Second-year player Quaid Carr seems to be the current leader in the room, but Jayden Limar and Trey Cooley are right on his tail. All are more game-ready than Bonner given their experience and time spent in a college weight room. Yet Bonner has more upside than anyone else on the roster.
If Bonner is able to take that next step in his development and make a fast leap, he could become a part of the rotation sooner rather than later due to his game-breaking explosiveness.
8. Ansu Sanoe
Another player wanting to throw his hat in the ring for running back reps, Sanoe projects more as a thumper as opposed to Bonner’s electric speed.
Despite his freshman status, Sanoe is the biggest back in the room. Listed at 6-0 and an eye-popping 240 pounds, Sanoe will compete with Cooley for goal-line and short-yardage reps.
9. Mason James
The last wide receiver on this list, James also has a path to playing time on a cloudy wide receiver depth chart. He has shown great speed, even earning some punt-returner reps. He runs great routes and posses soft hands to reel in passes over the middle.
More of a slot receiver compared to his peers, James looks like he has secured the backup slot position behind star Dezmen Roebuck.
10. J.D. Hill
Last but not least, Hill might be the most interesting member of this loaded freshman class.
Initially recruited as an interior defensive lineman, Hill has also gotten some run with the edge group in camp. Similar to fellow first-year player Colman-Brusa, he seems like a player who is versatile enough to play the three-technique or five-technique in Ryan Walters’ defense.
There is a healthy amount of depth along the defensive line, but most players are unproven. Hill will have every chance to show that he’s ready for Big Ten football come September.
Conclusion
Washington has a chance to make the playoffs this year, with a schedule that could translate to 10 wins to start the season. Jedd Fisch won’t just depend on his upperclassmen to achieve that means, as he will look to his stacked freshman class to contribute immediately and help the cause in year three in the Big Ten.
Don’t be surprised if as many as six of these players start at some point in 2026, with plenty more earning meaningful playing time for a ranked team.
