> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Big Game Hunting: Huskies Eye Four Five-Star Recruits in 2028 Class - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/washington-huskies-eye-five-star-recruits-2028-class/ - Published: 2026-07-03T18:36:58.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:14:17.000Z - Author: James McKedy - Tags: Analysis, Huskies Football, Washington Huskies Recruiting, Tytan McNeal, Tahj Gray, Jalanie George, Landen Wade Most recently adding a pair of offensive linemen to the collection, the Washington Huskies currently are putting the finishing touches on what should be a top 20 recruiting class in 2027\. Building off that success, Jedd Fisch and company have already turned their sights to the 2028 class by delivering dozens of offers to high schoolers around the country. The Huskies have offered about 15 five-star recruits the chance to don the purple and gold. Not all of these elite recruits will be winnable recruiting battles, but for the first time in program history, UW has a real chance to reel in multiple five-star prospects. 247Sports composite rankings shows that Washington has only received commitments from seven five-star players in the program’s history. Can UW add to these numbers? Here are the four most realistic possibilities on the recruiting trail: ### **Tytan McNeal** Easily the top target on Fisch’s board next year, McNeal is the No. 1 tight end in the country. Furthermore, he plays less than 30 minutes away from Husky Stadium at Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Washington. McNeal is a must-get considering his proximity to UW. With a massive 6-5, 230-pound frame, McNeal projects to have a Big Ten-level body before he’s even seen the inside of a college weight room. He plays basketball too and is a legitimate Division I prospect, having earned five offers to hit the hardwood from Sacramento State, San Diego, Arizona State, Oregon, and hometown Washington. McNeal’s hoops prowess would’ve earned him offers regardless of his football abilities, but should he ever be forced to pick a sport, choosing football should be an easy decision. He would likely have to sit a year or two for hoops coach Danny Sprinkle, but would play right away on the gridiron. Despite dropping from No. 30 to No. 36 in the 247Sports composite rankings, McNeal has every trait a tight end coach could ask for. He has elite physical and athletic traits, with the hands and blocking ability to match. He combines excellent straight-line speed with the agility of a player 30 pounds lighter. His ability to change direction at his size will allow him to run convincing routes at the next level. Not to be labeled a receiving tight end, McNeal has already shown the propensity to block at a high level. Already being utilized as an in-line blocker at the prep level, he has shown a mean streak and the play-to-the-whistle mindset by finishing blocks against his peers. His basketball acumen also shows on the football field, as McNeal repeatedly boxes out smaller defenders for jump balls in the red zone. Showcasing soft hands that will be a quarterback’s best friend once he gets to college. The top teams in McNeal’s recruitment as of today are Oregon and Washington, two bitter rivals. More blue bloods will likely get heavily involved once the 2027 class wraps up in December. McNeal is in no rush to choose and will likely take lots of visits, keeping UW fans nervous throughout next year's recruiting cycle. **Player Comp**: George Kittle/T.J. Hockenson **Commitment Odds**: 60% ### **Tahj Gray** The brother of recent UW commit Chaz Gray, Tahj Gray is also a fearless defender who might be looking to move across the country for college ball. The Gray brothers are from Montvale, New Jersey and play in one of the most competitive leagues in the Northeast. Scouts have ranked him as the top linebacker in the nation and the No. 24 ranked player overall, per the 247Sports composite. While most players fill out their frames when they get to college, Gray appears much further along physically than most players his age. Currently, he projects as a three-down stand-up linebacker who has the range to cover sideline-to-sideline while showing the mindset needed to tackle ballcarriers in run support. Already checking in at nearly 240 pounds, Gray might add on enough weight to play on the line as an outside linebacker or true edge. The Garden State product has reps at both edge and inside linebacker, giving defensive coordinators plenty of tape to dream on. The fact that his brother already plays for the Huskies will help trying to pull him to the Pacific Northwest, but there are plenty of blue bloods that will give him pause. Whether it be money or program recognition, certain schools can be hard to pass up for the best prospects in the nation, making this far from a done deal for UW. **NFL Player Comp**: Jihaad Campbell **Commitment Odds**: 50% ### **Jalanie George** Fisch has used his connections from a previous head coaching gig at the University of Arizona to start an impressive Arizona-to-Washington pipeline in the 2027 recruiting class. Seven of the current 23 commits are from Arizona and 2028 looks to be more of the same. George is the 247Sports composite second ranked edge in the country, ninth player overall, and first overall prospect in the state of Arizona. Hailing from Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, George has earned the praise of scouts across the country for his relentless motor and positional flexibility. He still relies heavily on his pure athleticism versus using a variety of pass rush moves to win, but that is the case for most players at his level. Already 6-4 and 245 pounds, George projects to be able to put on enough mass to play the 3-tech in college. He should be able to maintain his burst and bend around the edge as well so that he can have scheme versatility. Ryan Walters’ defense loves players who can set the edge in the run game on early downs, then kick inside to rush the quarterback in passing situations, and he would be the ideal player to be able to unleash in that capacity in the Big Ten. Another high-upside player with the potential to play on Sundays, Fisch and his staff will look to lock down the Grand Canyon state product, but there will be plenty of competition, as he has already welcomed 35 offers. **Player Comp**: Myles Murphy **Commitment Odds**: 30% ### **Landen Wade** Another Arizona product, Wade is another big and athletic edge that the Huskies are pursuing relentlessly. 247Sports composite has him ranked as the sixth best edge player in the nation and the 23rd best overall. Wade’s go-to tool is his power. He pairs a dominant bull rush with stout ability to set an edge to make himself a lineman who can play all three downs. Still learning how to use his hands, Wade will need to develop an actual pass rush plan at the next level. He also needs to improve his ability to bend around the edge if he wants to stay on the outside, but those flaws can be fixed with proper coaching. Improvements aside, Wade’s traits are unteachable and he will garner interest from every top program in the country. He could easily carry closer to 285 pounds and potentially kick inside on passing downs similar to George. Wade and George are not a packaged deal, despite being the top defensive lineman from the same state. If the recruiting pitch is early playing time, UW might limit themselves to only taking one of the edges. If Gray moves to more of a true edge, this could affect recruiting both heralded Arizona prospects as well. Fisch and defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi will have to pull out all the stops to reel them both in. **Player Comp**: Zach Allen **Commitment Odds**: 20%