Pac-12 Football Recruiting: The 10 Best Recruits to Come From the State of Washington

This is the first in a weekly series we are putting together taking a look at the best recruits to come out of the Pac-12 region states, other than California, during the Internet recruiting age. This week we are taking a look at the state of Washington, which historically has probably been the most productive state out West after California, though I think that Arizona has now caught up to it.

1. Jake Heaps QB Class of 2010 - Sammamish - Skyline - BYU

Heaps put up some of the best numbers a high school quarterback ever has and was regarded by many as the best quarterback in the country, if not the best player at any position. Heaps wasn't that big or athletic but had great accuracy, production and savvy and ultimately went in the direction of his faith in his recruitment, signing with BYU. Heaps started a bit in his first two seasons at BYU, but never really impressed that much and lost the starting job before transferring to Kansas where he will be eligible next season.

2. Max Browne QB Class of 2013 - Sammamish - Skyline - USC

Incredibly, only three years later, Skyline produced another quarterback who many regarded as the best in the country in Browne who is bigger than Heaps and was nearly as productive. Browne throws a beautiful ball and is just plain a winner and could have gone anywhere he wanted in the country, but settled in on USC early. He enrolled there this Spring and is in competition to win the job as a true freshman.

3. Jonathan Stewart RB Class of 2005 - Olympia - Timberline - Oregon

Stewart had NFL size and speed coming out of high school at 5'10 220 and was about as strong of a running back as you could ever see at that level. Stewart was maybe the top-rated running back in his class and had been recruited by Oregon since he was a freshman, so he was the Ducks to lose and he ended up signing with them. Stewart was injured for much of his first two years at Oregon but had a big junior year and left early to the NFL where he was a first round draft pick.

4. Kasen Williams WR Class of 2011 - Sammamish - Skyline - Washington

Williams was on the receiving end of a lot of passes from Heaps and Browne and was National Player of the Year of a senior. At 6'2 215, Williams was a track star and as strong of a receiver who has ever come out of the West Coast. Williams followed the path of both of his parents, signed with Washington and has been a standout in his first two seasons with the Huskies.

5. Taylor Mays S Class of 2006 - Seattle - O'Dea - USC

A 6'3 215 track stars that could play safety or receiver, Mays is one of the most interesting athletes to ever come out of the state of Washington. Mays' Dad played for the Huskies in the 80s, but he committed early to Pete Carroll and USC. Mays was a key member of a number of USC Pac-10 champion teams and was a perennial All-Pac-10 player while in college.

6. Steve Schilling T Class of 2006 - Bellevue - Michigan

The best of a number of great players to recently come out of Bellevue High School, Schilling was one of the best linemen in the Class of 2006 and was the best player on multiple state championship teams. Schilling left the West Coast where became a solid, four-year starter for Michigan, though never a star and was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

7. Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Class of 2011 - Gig Harbor - Washington

6'6 250, Seferian-Jenkins is the best tight end to ever come out of the state of Washington and was a high school All-American. He decided to stay home and go to Washington where he has quickly turned into one of the best tight ends in the nation.

8. Joshua Garnett G Class of 2012 - Puyallup - Stanford

Arguably the best guard in his class, Garnett is as good of an interior offensive linemen that the state of Washington has ever produced. Despite that his Dad played for the Huskies, Garnett became a Stanford lean early and eventually signed with the Cardinal. He played sparingly as a true freshman in 2012 and has a very bright future up front.

9. Kavario Middleton TE Class of 2008 - Lakewood - Lakes - Washington

At 6'6 250, Middleton was Seferian-Jenkins before there was Seferian-Jenkins as he also was one of the top tight ends in the country coming out of high school. Middleton signed with Washington and looked like he was going to be the next great Washington tight end for a while until his career ended prematurely due to off-the-field issues and he transferred to Montana.

10. Zach Banner T Class of 2012 - Lakewood - Lakes - USC

At 6'9 300, Banner had as much physical potential as any recruit you will ever see at any position and as the son of former NFL Pro Bowler, Lincoln Kennedy, he had great bloodlines. He hadn't quite figured out how to perfectly use his body at left tackle yet, but he was still regarded as one of the best offensive linemen prospects in the country in 2012 and ended up signing with USC. He redshirted his freshman year at USC.

Others considered

David DeCastro C Class of 2008 (Bellevue-Stanford), Myles Jack LB Class of 2013 (Bellevue-UCLA), Jake Locker QB Class of 2006 (Ferndale-Washington), Sione Potoa'e DT Class of 2010 (Lakewood-Lakes-Washington), Matt Tuiasosopo QB Class of 2004 (Woodinville-Washington)