Finding huge defensive lineman on the West Coast might be difficult. So Washington turned to the source.
Caleb Smith, a three-star edge rusher from A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, committed to the Huskies on Friday. He is the 16th player to make a public pledge to Washington’s 2025 recruiting class.
Smith, a 6-foot-4.5, 268-pound pass rusher, picked Washington over offers from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Purdue, UCF, and West Virginia, among other Group of Five schools. He was among seven players that paid an official visit to UW on June 21.
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, he is Alabama’s No. 36 player and the country’s No. 90 defensive lineman.
Smith is the third edge rusher to commit to Washington in the 2025 recruiting cycle, among seven defensive additions. On June 11, Devin Hyde, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound pass rusher from Menlo-Atherton High School in the Bay Area, became the University of Washington’s first defensive commit in the class. On June 23, the Huskies signed local Kamiak High School standout Victor Sanchez Hernandez Jr.
1000% Committed!! ALL GLORY TO GOD!! @UW_Football @CoachJeddFisch @CoachKaufusi @Ballhawk__8 @CoachJRich @UWCOACHMAC @CoachWarren23 @JaylonCrawford @CoachL__ pic.twitter.com/MTy61V35zn
— Caleb Smith (@caleb_smith19) June 28, 2024
Washington’s attention on defensive ends is most likely because to the Huskies’ lack of true or redshirt freshman edge rushers on the 2024 roster. Jacob Lane and Jayden Wayne, local standouts from Emerald Ridge High School and Lincoln High School in Tacoma, respectively, were both part of the 2023 recruiting cycle but burnt their redshirts and will now begin their sophomore seasons.
UW signed two edge rushers for the 2024 cycle, four-star recruits Noah Carter and Ratumana Bulabalavu, but they were dropped from their contracts of intent after coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. Carter also joined the Crimson Tide, and Bulabalavu committed to USC.
Based on eligibility, the Huskies figure to lose only one edge rusher after the 2024 season: senior Voi Tunuufi.
Washington benefited from a May 30 settlement between the United States Justice Department and the NCAA, which restored a year of eligibility for players who missed a season due to now-defunct transfer restrictions.
Senior edge rusher Zach Durfee, who only appeared in one game during the 2023 season due to multi-time transfer limitations, had to appeal for his eligibility to be reinstated prior to the settlement.
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