Huskies Are Getting Key Recruits

Two-and-a-half weeks before high-school football players can sign letters of intent, the University of Washington has commitments to fill two-thirds of its class.

A near sweep of talent in the state and a Pac-10 restriction of 15 scholarships has speeded up the process for the Huskies and forced them to be very selective.

"I wish they were still recruiting Wilbert Smith. He would have made an outstanding running back for them," said George Giannini, the coach at Montclair Prep in Van Nuys, Calif. "We also have a tight end they didn't recruit for some reason."

The reasons are both scholarship restrictions and talent on hand. At tight end, the Huskies have Mark Bruener and Ernie Conwell, and are high on two young players, Jeremy Brigham and Cameron Cleeland.

Not only are the Huskies not recruiting tight ends, but they've passed on quarterbacks and kickers as well. They have four quarterbacks with at least two years left: Damon Huard, Ted Stark, Mike Smith and Shane Fortney. And although they've lost all their kickers - John Werdel, Jason Crabbe and Travis Hanson - they don't think a kicker would be the best use of the few scholarships they have.

It was a big week for Washington, primarily because of commitments from the South Kitsap linemen - Benji Olson and Tony Coats - and George Keiaho, running back from Ventura, Calif.

Coats is regarded nationally as the best player in the state. Certainly, as a first-team USA Today and Parade All-American, he was the most publicized. Stanford made him a top priority, but a familiarity with the coaching staff at Washington seemed to make the difference.

Olson still must reach the 700 SAT score to be eligible next year, but he said he would attend Washington and pay his own way for one year even if he weren't eligible.

Washington has commitments for nine of its 15 scholarships. The Huskies also seem close on Woodinville center Brad Hutt, who is scheduled to visit the Air Force Academy this weekend but has admitted he probably will attend Washington.

The Huskies have commitments from seven in-state athletes: Olson, Coats, linebacker Chad Wright from Fife, defensive lineman Josh Smith from Sehome, wide receiver Marvin Kasim from Sealth, running back-wide receiver Ty Fotheringill from Kelso, and offensive lineman Aaron Dalan from Sequim.

The lone "big-name" player in the state who has not yet committed is Cascade lineman Paul Mickelbart, who is visiting Notre Dame this week and talks of a final three of Washington, Colorado and Notre Dame.

A commitment by Mickelbart would give Washington a sweep of linemen in the state it wanted most, assuming Hutt commits. One other possibility is Bremerton lineman Chris Lang, 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, who is visiting Washington State this weekend after looking at Washington and Oregon.

A different game begins now for the Huskies as they decide who to award the final five or six scholarships.

Bishop Amat's Rodney Sermons is the most highly regarded running back in the West and after Olson and Coats, the Huskies' No. 1 priority.

Washington had hoped to get a commitment from Sermons last weekend after his visit, but didn't. Sermons is supposed to be visiting USC this weekend.

The Huskies also have recruited running back Teniel Etheridge of Helix High School in San Diego, but Etheridge has not achieved a qualifying score on the SAT test, his high-school coach said.

Keiaho, 5-9, 200, gives the Huskies the bigger, stronger, fullback-type back. They still appear to lack a long-term replacement for Napoleon Kaufman and might have all their eggs in Sermons' basket, since they are not recruiting any other backs and Etheridge might not qualify. Sermons reportedly has run 4.46 in the 40, is elusive and the kind of one-back runner the Huskies want.

A loss this week was Long Beach Poly cornerback Kelly Malveaux, who made a commitment to Arizona, despite indications he might go to Washington.

NOTES

-- Auburn cornerback Roderick Givens (5-11, 175) is looking at the University of Oregon this weekend and will visit Eastern next weekend. He already has taken a trip to the University of Montana.

Teammate Don Sims, who became the South Puget Sound League's all-time leading single-season rushing leader, probably will end up at a small college, Coach Bob Jones said, because of his small build. He's 5-8 and 160 pounds. He has talked to coaches at Western and also is looking at some NAIA schools.

Auburn receiver Jason Torgerson is considering playing both football and baseball at Walla Walla Community College, Jones said. Defensive tackle B.J. Prince (6-2, 240), an all-state choice, also is considering Walla Walla, as is Kentridge's Jon Peninger.

Defensive back Kevin Chiles, also from Kentridge, is visiting Boise State this weekend and University of Idaho the next weekend.

Kennedy's Keth Crotty, the Seamount League rushing and scoring champion, is planning to visit the Air Force Academy sometime in the near future, Kennedy Coach Tom Merrill said.

Hazen's Nic Grauer, a running back and linebacker, visited the Naval Academy this weekend and will head to West Point next weekend. Quarterback Casey Hughes has visited Linfield and plans a visit to Central along with teammate Coleman McClaren, an all-league receiver. Hazen Coach Rick Stubrud said linebacker Nick Cheichi is leaning toward playing baseball at WSU.

----------------- HUSKY COMMITMENTS ----------------- PLAYER POS. HT. WT. HIGH SCHOOL . Chad Wright LB 6-3 233 Fife . Josh Smith DL 6-4 225 Bellingham (Sehome) . Ben Kadletz OL 6-4 275 LaCanada, Calif. . Marvin Kasim WR 5-9 165 Seattle (Sealth) . Ty Fotheringill RB 5-10 170 Kelso . Aaron Dalan OL 6-8 290 Sequim . Benji Olson OL 6-4 280 Port Orchard (South Kitsap). George Keiaho RB 5-9 200 Ventura, Calif. . Tony Coats OL 6-7 280 Port Orchard (South Kitsap).