The Washington Huskies had two members of the 2026 class, left tackle Kodi Greene and cornerback Jeron Jones, named to On3's Preseason True Freshman All-America team when it was released on Tuesday, but one name was noticeably absent.
Edge rusher Ramzak Fruean has been the talk of fall camp, as he's found his way into the backfield at seemingly every practice for a sack or a tackle for loss, displaying elite athleticism and explosiveness that defensive coordinator Ryan Walters stated could play in the nickel, but with his size and length, the closer he is to the line of scrimmage, the better.
The former four-star recruit from in-state Bethel High School has become so consistent that Jedd Fisch named him a starter following Washington's mock game,
and practically every member of the coaching staff can't help but smile when asked about the 6-foot-5, 235-pound pass rusher.
“He’s grown 20 pounds,” Fisch said in mid-August, stating Fruean is going to be a difference maker up front. “He’s grown in maturity. He’s grown in understanding how to practice. He’s grown in understanding the value of being a great teammate."
"On top of that, as he continues to work with (outside linebackers coach Aaron) Van Horn, Coach Walt, (defensive line coach Jason) Kaufusi...pass rushing has gotten better. Understanding how to set the edge has gotten better. Understanding to stay away from the quarterback during practice has gotten a lot better. Every part of Ramzak and his maturity, when you watch him run, when you watch him make plays…I think I’ve seen an interception from him, a fumble recovery from him, and I can’t imagine he’s not going to be a force on special teams, also.”
With the start of the season less than two weeks away, Fruean has also made a big impression on his teammates.
"He's got a different motor," cornerback Dylan Robinson said on Tuesday. "He'll give you 100 percent each and every play. He's chasing down screens, you'll see him show up on the opposite side of the field somehow, and it's from the D-line, and I'm not even over there, so he's pushing everybody to hustle to the ball and get better."
Freshman OLB Ramzak Fruean setting the edge pic.twitter.com/rYt6EqQXhu
— Roman Tomashoff (@rtomashoff34) April 11, 2026
"At first it was his get-off," defensive tackle Elinneus Davis added when asked what makes Fruean special. "He was at linebacker at the start of winter, but they moved him to end. And it seems like his get-off and how far he's come, I feel like that's so awesome to see. And he knows the talent he has, and he's totally embraced it and wants to work extra to sharpen his toolbox. So, just seeing how far, how far he's come, I feel like it's very special, but honestly his get-off was one thing I noticed, and I was like, 'Oh, damn.'"
Although his absence from the True Freshman All-America team is ultimately meaningless in the preseason, with former five-stars Luke Wafle (USC) and Zion Elee (Maryland) taking up the two edge rusher spots, Fruean has all of the traits needed to establish himself as a standout defender in the Big Ten right away.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington OLB deserves Preseason Freshman All-America recognition
