The News Tribune’s 2020 class of Northwest Nuggets – the region’s top football recruits
The News Tribune’s annual presentation of the Northwest Nuggets features the top high school football recruits from the region, who are projected to make big impacts in college, and perhaps eventually the NFL.
The 33rd class includes eight seniors from Washington and Oregon. Each of them signed their National Letters of Intent during the early NCAA signing period in December, and several have already enrolled, and plan to participate in spring practices.
TNT has been producing the Northwest Nuggets — which is the longest-running recruiting package on the West Coast — since 1988, when 24 players were named to the inaugural class. Including the 2020 class, there have been 363 players honored, including 233 from Washington, 98 from Oregon, 26 from Idaho, five from Alaska and one from British Columbia.
THE NEWS TRIBUNE’S 2019 CLASS OF NORTHWEST NUGGETS
SAV’ELL SMALLS
Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)
Defensive lineman/linebacker, 6-4, 245
Signed to: Washington
When Smalls got going, he was a one-man wrecking crew for the Lancers, blowing up offensive tackles and getting after opposing quarterbacks before they could even blink. He finished his senior season with 40 tackles, 15 tackles for losses, 35 quarterback hurries, seven sacks and an interception. And many feel the five-star recruit is just scratching the surface of his potential. “The crazy thing is, he still has so much upside,” said Sam Huard, Kennedy Catholic’s quarterback and a UW commit. “For how good he is now, that sounds crazy but it’s true.” Smalls’ road to Montlake was a tumultuous one, considering he removed the Huskies from his list of potential schools at one point during his recruitment process. But, eventually, the allure of playing in Seattle in front of friends and family for a defense that has a track record of graduating players to the NFL recently won out. Smalls figures to compete for playing time as a true freshman. He was an AP all-state selection in 2019, and picked the Huskies over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “When he’s at the top of his game, he’s the best prospect in the state of Washington and among the top pass rushers nationally.”
GEIREAN HATCHETT
Ferndale (Ferndale, Wash.)
Offensive lineman, 6-4, 280
Signed to: Washington
The Huskies hope the pipeline from Ferndale — a small town tucked about 15 miles south of the Canadian border — pays off as well as it did last time around, when quarterback Jake Locker stepped on campus after playing his high school ball for the Golden Eagles. Hatchett won’t make the same type of obvious visible impact as Locker did for the Huskies, given his position, but the four-star lineman was just as prominent of a recruit, with offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan, multiple Pac-12 schools and several more Power Five programs. “He just has a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism for a lineman,” Ferndale coach Jamie Plenkovich said. “The reason he was so widely recruited — you don’t find big guys as athletic as him that can also get on second-level players. He wasn’t just blocking D-linemen, he pulled a lot in our system. … (His recruitment) never changed his work ethic. He’s still grinding in the weight room, wanted to be better than just great in high school. He had bigger goals.”
What a recruiting analyst says: “Really athletic offensive lineman. Excels in run blocking and continues to improve as a pass blocker.”
GEE SCOTT JR.
Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
Wide receiver, 6-2, 205
Signed to: Ohio State
Not everyone loves the grind of a football season or an offseason, but count Scott — who simply looks the part of a next-level player — among those who live and breathe the sport. “He’s competitive,” Eastside Catholic coach Dominic Daste said. “He loves everything that comes with football. You can’t say that about everyone. Whether it’s the weight room, practice, meetings, watching film — he loves every aspect.” Scott was a first-team AP all-state selection at receiver, racking up 1,453 yards and 15 touchdowns on 76 receptions. Few players in the region can match his playmaking ability through the air. “He has the ability to high-point a ball, control his body and get himself into a position to make a play on the ball. What he makes look ordinary are really tough catches,” Daste said. Scott helped lead the Crusaders to the Class 3A state title in 2019. He chose the Buckeyes over offers from LSU, Notre Dame, USC, Wisconsin, numerous Pac-12 schools and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “The best receiver in the Northwest. One of the top playmakers in the country.”
AYDEN HECTOR
Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
Defensive back, 6-0, 200
Signed to: Stanford
It probably comes as no surprise that the Stanford signee was one of the most intelligent players on a loaded Eastside Catholic team last fall. “He’s a bright kid, he loves to study film. He’s a student of the game,” Daste said. Hector, a four-star recruit, was an AP all-state first-team selection at defensive back as a senior and helped lead the Crusaders to the 3A state title. At cornerback, he could do it all. “His ability to change direction and close is special,” Daste said. “We asked him to set the edge a lot of the time. He’s physical. That combination of closing on balls and anticipating — he always knows what the other team is doing.” Hector chose Stanford over offers from Alabama, Arizona, USC, Oregon, Florida and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “Tremendous ball skills and instincts. Ability to jump routes is uncanny. Just a high football IQ.”
LEVI ROGERS
Woodinville (Woodinville, Wash.)
Offensive lineman, 6-5, 270
Signed to: Stanford
Rogers moved all the way from Boston to Washington ahead of his junior season, and it was around that time he began to thrive as a left tackle for Woodinville. He plays with a mean streak and is a dominant run blocker. “It’s one thing to strike up and get in a guy, but to now do that and physically manhandle you with his power base, and his mentality he has to just finish — he’s got it all,” Woodinville coach Wayne Maxwell told The Seattle Times in September. “He’s got the physicality and the mentality together and that makes him a very dominant run blocker.” Rogers’ father, Daniel, was a lineman at Georgia. Rogers is considered a four-star prospect and chose Stanford over offers from USC, Cal, Oregon, UCLA and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “Best offensive lineman in the Northwest for the past two years as a left tackle. Athletic, tremendous footwork, physical and has a chance to be a multi-year starter at Stanford.”
D.J. ROGERS
Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
Tight end, 6-3, 230
Signed to: Cal
The immediate comparison that many make is to former UW tight end Hunter Bryant, another Eastside Catholic grad, who declared for the NFL Draft following the Huskies’ 2019 season. And why not? They’re similar in stature and skillset, with good hands and speed that doesn’t often accompany players of their size. “He’s that athletic,” Daste said. “His ability to stretch the field is not something you see every day. His range, also — his wingspan is huge. He sees the field better than anyone we have.” Rogers’ senior season was cut short by an injury, but in the eight games he saw the field, Rogers tallied 452 yards and six touchdowns on 33 receptions. He was an AP all-state first team selection at tight end. The four-star recruit chose Cal over offers from Alabama, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, a handful of Pac-12 schools and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “Smooth, athletic pass catcher and route runner. Will be used in the passing game in college as he continues to develop as a blocker.”
SAM ADAMS II
Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
Athlete, 6-1, 195
Signed to: Washington
It’s a name Seattle Seahawks fans will likely recognize. Adams’ father, Sam Adams, was a first-round draft pick in 1994 and went onto a 14-year NFL career, playing defensive tackle for the Seahawks, Ravens, Raiders, Bills, Bengals and Broncos, after a standout college career at Texas A&M. Adams II might not have the same size as his dad, but the talent was certainly passed down. The four-star recruit drew attention throughout his high school career as an explosive running back prospect. And for the 3A state champion Crusaders, he was another high IQ player for Daste. “He’s really, really bright,” Daste said. “He comes to me and asks, ‘Why are we blocking this way? Why are they doing this?’ He wants to know every aspect of what’s going on. … He will run you over in a heartbeat. His combination of speed and power, and his work ethic is unbelievable.” There’s some question as to which side of the ball Adams will play on in college. Former UW coach Chris Petersen recruited him as a running back, but new coach Jimmy Lake — who comes from a defensive background — might prefer his talents be featured at safety. “I see him playing on offense,” Daste said. “He didn’t have the season he wanted to on offense this year. He was a little banged up, fought through some stuff. … But, I think he could play anywhere. He can physically play many, many spots. There’s only so many people that can handle our mental load and be effective. He can handle all that stuff. He’s a physical specimen.” Adams chose the Huskies over offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, a handful of Pac-12 schools and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “Versatility is the biggest strength of his game. He’s a future Pro Bowl safety if he wanted to settle in on the defensive side of the ball.”
CASEY FILKINS
Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
Running back, 5-11, 190
Signed to: Stanford
Simply put, Filkins was the best player in Oregon his final high school season. He was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year and was the 6A player of the year both his junior and senior seasons, as voted by the state’s coaches. He rushed for 2,262 yards and 37 touchdowns in 13 games and caught 20 passes for 210 yards and a score as a senior. “He’s got great vision when he has the ball in his hands and he’s very elusive in space,” Lake Oswego coach Steve Coury said. “In today’s game, offenses are getting guys in space. He’s really good in space.” There was perhaps no player in Oregon more versatile than Filkins. Seven games into the season, the team moved him to quarterback, and Filkins led the team to the 6A state championship game. “We thought, let’s get the best player in the state the ball every play,” Coury said. Filkins threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns. Originally a Cal commit, Filkins flipped after he received an offer from Stanford, his dream school. His versatility makes him an intriguing option for the Cardinal, with an ability to both run the ball and catch it out of the backfield. Coury originally had Filkins pegged as a slot receiver at the next level, before Filkins added about 20 pounds of muscle to his frame between his junior and senior seasons. “I see him at running back, a guy they’ll move around, maybe fly some motion, get him out of the backfield,” Coury said. “I think he’ll be that versatile type guy. Don’t think he’ll be a 25-carry guy at that level, but they’ll find ways to get him the ball.” The three-star recruit picked the Cardinal over offers from Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, USC and others.
What a recruiting analyst says: “He’s a jack of all trades, can be used in a number of ways. He can run between the tackles, can catch the ball in space. He’s the kind of guy you want to get the ball in his hands.”
BEST OF THE REST
ATH Sawyer Racanelli, Hockinson (Bush Prairie, Wash.)
Signed to: Washington
LB Carson Bruener, Redmond (Redmond, Wash.)
Signed to: Washington
DB Alphonse Oywak, Kentwood (Kent, Wash.)
Committed to: Arizona
OL Caadyn Stephen, Camas (Camas, Wash.)
Signed to: USC
ATH Justin Baker, Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)
Signed to: Cal
DB Donovan Clark, Lincoln (Tacoma, Wash.)
Signed to: Boise State
LB Andy Alfieri, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)
Signed to: Cal
LB John Miller, Tualatin (Tualatin, Ore.)
Signed to: Oregon State
OL Gaard Memmelaar, Middleton (Middleton, Idaho)
Signed to: Washington
DL Tanoa Togiai, Rigby (Rigby, Idaho)
Considering: Kansas State, Nebraska, Utah, Washington
RB Jalen John, Lakeridge (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
Signed to: Arizona
WR Silas Starr, Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.)
Signed to: Stanford
