The Washington Huskies just added another key piece to their growing defensive puzzle - and this one comes with some built-in chemistry.
Just two days before signing day, the Huskies secured a commitment from linebacker Ramzak Fruean, a 3-star prospect out of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington. What makes this pickup even more intriguing?
Fruean isn’t just another in-state recruit - he’s a former high school teammate of Zayrdius Rainey-Sale, the standout freshman linebacker who’s already making noise in Seattle. The duo played side-by-side in 2024, and now they’ll reunite at the next level, bringing a level of familiarity and trust that’s tough to teach.
Fruean, who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 210 pounds, originally committed to UCLA. But after the Bruins made a coaching change, parting ways with DeShaun Foster, Fruean reopened his recruitment. That decision paved the way for Washington to step in and land a player who also had offers from BYU and Arizona.
“I can be the hometown kid at Washington and show that the best in Washington play for Washington, so I’m excited about my decision,” Fruean said.
It’s a sentiment that resonates across the Huskies’ 2026 class - a group that’s clearly being built with a defensive edge. Fruean marks the 21st commit in the class and the second linebacker, joining Ezaya Tokio, another 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect out of Oceanside, California. Like Fruean, Tokio is a 3-star recruit, and together they add size, length, and versatility to a linebacker room that’s already rich in experience and depth.
Fruean’s journey to the Pacific Northwest is a familiar one. Originally from Kapolei, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, he moved to Washington to expand his football opportunities.
In 2024, he posted 45 tackles on a Bethel defense led by Rainey-Sale, helping anchor a team that finished 5-5. While the record didn’t turn heads, the individual talent did - especially on defense.
Now, Fruean steps into a linebacker unit that’s as deep as it’s been in recent years. The Huskies are expected to return five players who started games this past season: Jacob Manu, Buddah Al-Uqdah, Xe'ree Alexander, Deven Bryant, and of course, Rainey-Sale. Manu, Al-Uqdah, and Alexander all transferred in - from Arizona, Washington State, and Central Florida, respectively - while Bryant and Rainey-Sale came in through the Huskies’ own recruiting pipeline.
BREAKING: Spanaway (Wash.) Bethel LB Ramzak Fruean has committed to Washington and broke down why he chose the Huskies https://t.co/LXF4hFBmJ1 pic.twitter.com/Kpe6FzFJk4
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) December 1, 2025
That mix of veteran leadership and young, emerging talent gives Washington a solid foundation at the second level of the defense. And with Fruean and Tokio now in the fold, the Huskies are doubling down on their defensive identity.
Head coach Jedd Fisch and his staff have clearly prioritized that side of the ball during this recruiting cycle, with up to 12 defensive commitments already on board. It’s a strategy that reflects where Washington wants to go as a program - fast, physical, and disciplined on defense - and Fruean fits that mold.
There’s still room for one or two more additions before signing day makes everything official, but Washington’s 2026 class is already shaping up as one built to compete in the trenches and at the second level. Fruean’s commitment isn’t just about adding talent - it’s about reinforcing a culture and reuniting a tandem that already knows how to make plays together.
For the Huskies, that’s a win on multiple levels.