Washington’s season opener on Sunday, September 6th at Huskies Stadium is shaping up to be more than just the first game of the year.
The Huskies will meet Washington State in the 118th Apple Cup, and for the first time in the rivalry’s long history, it will also be the season opener for both teams. With the long weekend giving the staff a little extra room to work, Washington has been pushing to pack the stands with as many top prospects as possible.
The early list of expected visitors is already a long one, and it includes a strong group of 2027 commits. That list features QB Blake Roskopf, RB Jeremy Adeyanju, WR Braylon Pope, WR Zerek Sidney, WR Tre Moore, TE Zach Albright, OL Gecova Doyal, OL Reis Russell, EDGE Chaz Gray, DL Tevita Nonu and CB Maurice Williams.
Washington is also lining up a sizable group of 2028 targets. Among the quarterbacks are Hunter Fujikawa of Mililani, Hi., AJ Tuivaiave of Graham-Kapowsin, Wa., and Jamar Howard, Jr. of Clovis West, Ca. The running back spot includes James Curoso of Cardinal Newman, Ca.
At receiver, the list is loaded: DeAndre Bidden of Harper Woods, Mi., Quincey Clay of Capital, Id., Tyler Trusel of Brother Rice, Mi., Mylan Griggs of Cass Tech, Mi., Avery Thompson of Paducah Tilghman, Ky., and Barrett Price of Spain Park, Al.
The tight end group includes Tytan McNeal of Eastside Catholic, Wa., Presley Delance of Lake Oswego, Or., and Mike Taylor of Desert Pines, Nv. Up front, the Huskies are expecting Kyler Harden of O'Dea, Wa., Antijuan "Shaq" Wilkes of Cass Tech, Mi., and Jordan Henry of Martin Lutheran King, Mi.
The defensive targets are just as deep. On the edge, Jalanie George of Desert Edge, Az. is on the list.
Along the line are Aedyn Havili of Eastside Catholic, Wa., Tory Clark of Woodward Academy, Ga., and Isaac Kalubi Lukuni of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, Ga. At linebacker, Washington is tracking Tahj Gray of St.
Joseph Regional, NJ, Kaicen Carter of Federal Way, Wa., and Julian Bruno of Grant Union, Ca.
In the secondary, the visitors include Jermaine Cobbins of Springfield, Tn., Nekhi Lambeth of Desert Edge, Az., and Jordan Hicks of Calvert Hall, Md.
The 2029 class is smaller for now, but it still has local names worth watching: WR Justin Suega of Federal Way, Wa., OL Xavier Berry of Federal Way, Wa., OL/DL Kamari Wilson of Mount Tahoma, Wa., and DL Kitiona Tupua of Puyallup, Wa.
Because all of these are unofficial visits, the final count can still change. Plans can fall through, and more players could be added before kickoff. A final list is expected either Friday or Saturday.
In Other News...
Washington Recruiting Momentum Just Put Danny Sprinkle In A Huge Spot
Washingtons mens basketball recruiting push is starting to look like a real early test for Danny Sprinkles staff, with the Huskies working hard on top talent from the Classes of 2027 and 2028. One of the biggest names on that board is five-star shooting guard Jordan Mize, a nationally ranked prospect with a growing list of major offers, and his presence on the Huskies radar says plenty about how aggressively Washington is trying to build forward momentum.
Mize is set to make an official visit to campus in September, and that trip figures to be a key moment in the process as Washington tries to turn interest into something more concrete. If the Huskies can keep making progress there, it would be another signal that Sprinkle is not just chasing talent, but beginning to stack up real momentum with the kind of player who can change the direction of a recruiting class. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Gets An Early Chance To Shake Up The Rivalry
The 2026 season will open with a familiar edge for the Huskies, who are set to face Washington State right away in a rivalry game that already carries extra weight. Washington comes in ranked No. 17 and favored to handle the Cougars, but the backdrop matters too: the Huskies have had their share of growing pains since moving into the Big Ten after thriving in the Pac-12, and early September will offer a quick read on where they stand.
A big reason for optimism is Demond Williams Jr., who is back as the starting quarterback after a strong previous season and gives Washington a steady hand as it tries to settle into its new conference life. The rivalry matchup gives the Cougars an early chance to make things uncomfortable, and for the Huskies it is the kind of game that can either reinforce expectations or expose how much work still remains. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Faces A Huge Apple Cup Test With Elite Recruit Watching
The Apple Cup already carries plenty of weight in Washington State rivalry week, but this one has an added recruiting wrinkle with four-star tight end Tytan McNeal set to be in the building. McNeal is working through official visits and will take in the matchup between the Huskies and Cougars, giving Washington a chance to show off the program in front of one of the top offensive prospects in the country.
For the Huskies, the timing matters as much as the opponent. A strong showing in a game like this can leave an impression on elite recruits, especially one weighing multiple schools and looking closely at how a program handles pressure atmospheres. Washington has plenty to sell, but the result on the field could shape how much momentum it carries with McNeal once the visits keep rolling. [Read more 🡒]