Washington has a new top recruit in the 2019 class following the commitment of DT Jacob Bandes. Read below to see why Bandes, No. 47 in the ESPN 300, could make an early impact for the Huskies:
What he brings: Bandes is an excellent football player who blends technique, ability and effort to be a disruptive and productive presence in the trenches. He has good overall size but is not a prospect who will just wow you physically, but where he does stand out is in his execution and style of play. The top-five DT prospect possesses an explosive get-off and is a powerful player. He can do a good job of firing out and playing with leverage. He demonstrates excellent ability to be active and violent with his hands. Those factors, combined with his high motor style of play, can make him tough to block and keep blocked.
How he fits: California is a key recruiting ground for the Huskies, and landing Bandes, a top-five prospect within that state, is a big commitment. There is room for refinement and improvement, but this is a good, tough football player who brings his lunch pail to work in the trenches. Between being a solid technician at this stage and possessing good size and strength, he combos that with a relentless style of play. Bandes is a prospect who could be expected to come in and be a quick contributor. Over time, as he continues to grow as a player, the four-star can become a key, impact-type contributor to the Huskies' defense.
Reminds us of: Though much bigger at the same stage in terms of bulk, Bandes reminds us some of the player former Stanford standout DL Harrison Phillips developed into. A productive player who was powerful and explosive and utilized active hands with a relentless style of play.
How the class is shaping up: After signing the No. 15 class in February, the Huskies are building another similar class in this cycle. ESPN 300 Dylan Morris is yet another four-star QB headed to Washington. Four-star RB Cameron Davis will bring a nice size-and-speed combo to the program. Four-star OG Sama Paama and three-star OT Nathaniel Kalepo are need-fillers, as is junior college center Corey Luciano. On defense, linebacker is paramount in the 2019 class, and Asa Turner, Miki Ah You and Alphonzo Tuputala have more than filled the need. ESPN 300 DT Bandes is a key pickup along the defensive line with impact potential. Four-star ATH Cameron Williams out of Northern California could end up on either side of the ball.