4. Jordan Lolohea, DL
With Tuipulotu gone, the long-term outlook for the Huskies on the defensive line is a little cloudy. Petersen needs to grab one or two prospects for the unit on signing day, with Lolohea standing out as the top talent likely to commit.
Lolohea is a three-star prospect ranked as the No. 32 strong-side defensive end in the country by the 247Sports composite. After racking up 98 tackles and 23 sacks as a senior at East High School in Salt Lake City, Lolohea is on the radar of a number of top programs around the nation.
At 6-3 and 240 pounds with good explosive ability off the snap, Lolohea has the kind of build that can make him a tough matchup for opposing offensive linemen in pass protection. Washington has a pair of three-star defensive end commits in Ali Gaye and Joe Tyron, but could be in trouble in 2018 with Vita Vea and Greg Gaines potentially set to leave.
The Huskies’ greatest need will be in the interior at defensive tackle, but there are no remaining uncommitted prospects at the position they have a good chance at signing, so Petersen might focus on adding elsewhere. While hometown Utah will be a factor for Lolohea, Washington is certainly in the mix after hosting him on January 13.
3. Chaz Ah You, S
With a pair of four-star cornerbacks and a good safety prospect in Brandon McKinney already committed, the Huskies can complete a fantastic secondary class by signing Ah You.
247Sports ranks Ah You as a four-star prospect and the No. 17 safety in the nation, just slightly ahead of McKinney’s rank in 21st. The 6-2, 190 pound Provo native recorded 56 tackles and two interceptions as a senior, while also contributing at multiple positions on offense throughout his high school career.
That versatility highlighted Ah You’s athleticism, and scouts have been raving about his range in both run stopping and pass coverage. Washington continues to send a number of players in the secondary to the NFL year after year, so it can always use more talent at safety to join promising freshman Taylor Rapp.
While BYU looks like a slight favorite as things currently stand, Washington isn’t far behind. Ah You visited Seattle back in mid-December and has stated Washington was among his leaders ever since.