Washington riding recruiting momentum into the summer

To put this surge in perspective, Stanford had three recruits committed by the time UW got their first verbal.

Coming into mid-April, Husky fans were getting antsy with the lack of news on the recruiting front. Despite snagging local 2018 QB Jacob Sirmon (who just picked up another offer from Michigan) Washington wasn't looking the healthiest on the more urgent class. The two commits included Connor Wedington, the top rated in-state running back, and CB Keith Taylor from Servite High School in Anaheim. And although the Dawgs seemed to be making a good impression on a lot of the top players in the west, all of them had yet to say "I do."

That changed April 23rd when Terrell Bynum, the west's 4th ranked WR, followed up his effusive praise for Washington and committed, joining his former teammate, Taylor. As WR has been an especially vexing position for UW lately, this verbal had fans plenty excited but Bynum hadn't exactly kept his love for the program a secret; it felt in ways more like a confirmation of what fans had been expecting rather than an exciting surprise.

The latter would come three days after Bynum and was particularly satisfying because, if you're Washington, the way to make a great get even greater is for him to come from right under the nose of your most hated rival. Enter Marlon Tuipulotu, ESPN/247 Top 300 DT and the second-highest rated recruit in Oregon. Tuipulotu is a quick, athletic lineman whose commitment surprised a lot of people, including Coaches Petersen and Malloe.

UW followed up a week later by securing the commitment of Eastside Catholic TE Hunter Bryant, a fellow 4-star and top 300 player, as well as WR Alex Cook a mere hours later. The former of these is probably even a stronger victory than the poaching of Tuipulotu from the Beavers and Ducks since Bryant is a highly coveted in-state recruit and to keep him home involved fending off UCLA, Auburn, Nebraska, both Oklahoma schools, Oregon, Penn State, Nebraska, and then some. Not only is this an exciting victory for Washington but also - with his offers from schools across the country - it's a victory for the Pac-12, as the SEC and co. have increasingly stolen west coast recruits who feel that the midwest and southern brands of football are more prestigious. After Bryant, Cook's commitment that afternoon was the icing on the cake.

This leaves the Huskies at six guys for 2017 and seemingly in the run for a lot more as many of the current  commits have been outspoken in their friendly competition of who's the best recruiter.

For now, Mr. Bynum seems to be on it:

I can promise you a new Dawg in the next month.. #WOOF

— Terrell Bynum (@TDBynum) April 26, 2016