The Washington Huskies have been sitting in a great spot with five-star edge rusher Jalanie George for a long time, and that standing was solidified on Thursday morning.
Rivals' Brandon Huffman and Steve Wiltfong both logged predictions for Jedd Fisch's staff to earn a commitment from the 6-foot-5, 245-pound product of Desert Edge High School in Arizona, who is ranked as the No. 9 overall player and No. 2 edge rusher in the 2028 class, according to the Rivals Industry.
In May, the coveted prospect cut his list of 35 offers down to a top six, placing the Huskies alongside Auburn, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. Now, as the battle for his services carries on, Washington and the Sooners are viewed as the top contenders for his services,
with the Huskies emerging as the heavy favorites.
"Big EDGE prospect who is the highest-rated prospect at the position early on in the 2028 cycle. Listed at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds with a frame that should pack on more weight," Rivals' Charles Power wrote in an evaluation of his film.
"Shows advanced play speed, tracking down ball carriers in backside pursuit. The combination of size and burst off the edge sticks out. Collected 16 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks during his sophomore season. Has positional versatility and upside along the defensive front."
The Huskies were able to host George for an unofficial visit on Junior Day in March, and the five-star prospect has been vocal about his plans to return to Montlake this fall for a gameday visit, where he'd possibly be flanked by some of his high school teammates, including four-star quarterback Blake Roskopf and three-star wide receiver Zerek Sidney, who are both pledged to Fisch's 2027 class.
If the Huskies are able to reel in a commitment from the talented pass rusher, that would be a major statement to the Big Ten that Washington's coaching staff can recruit elite talent at what is arguably the toughest position to do so right now in the college football landscape, which, if done consistently, could make Fisch's program a yearly contender for the College Football Playoff.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington football emerges as heavy favorite for 5-star edge rusher
