How the South Sound’s top high school football recruits performed in Week 1
The South Sound is loaded with Division I-bound talent again this fall.
Here is how the area’s top 10 recruits in the 2023 class, and top five recruits in the 2024 class fared in Week 1.
Note: Rankings order and star ratings per 247Sports.com Composite.
2023 CLASS
Jasiah Wagoner
Spanaway Lake
Committed to: Oklahoma
Wagoner collected three catches for 44 yards, while also adding eight tackles on defense and lining up as a punt returner in a loss to Gig Harbor. He is considered the No. 1 recruit in Washington in the 2023 class by ESPN, the No. 2 recruit in the state by 247Sports and No. 4 by Rivals. He is also the highest-ranked of four seniors in the state on the ESPN 300 (No. 196 overall in the nation), and one of three on the Top247 list (No. 164) in the class. Wagoner committed to the Sooners in July over offers from 15 more FBS programs. He was the 3A PCL co-defensive back of the year last season as a junior and a first-team wide receiver. He is a two-time TNT All-Area first-team pick.
Gabarri Johnson
Lincoln
Committed to: Missouri
Johnson guided the Abes offense to a season-opening win over Auburn Riverside, completing 8-of-13 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, and added 96 rushing yards on 18 attempts. Considered the No. 3 recruit in Washington in the class by Rivals, No. 4 by ESPN and No. 5 by 247Sports. Also one of four seniors in the state on the ESPN 300 list (No. 263 overall). Johnson committed to Missouri in May over offers from eight more Division I programs. Was the 3A PCL MVP last season, and is a two-time TNT All-Area first-team pick.
Micah Banuelos
Kennedy Catholic
Committed to: USC
Started at left tackle and played every snap for a Lancers team that collected 300 yards of total offense in a loss to Eastside Catholic, while also starting on the defensive line. Banuelos is considered the No. 4 recruit in the state in the class by 247Sports, No. 5 by Rivals and No. 6 by ESPN. He committed to USC in July over offers from eight more FBS programs. Was the 4A/3A NPSL Red Division offensive lineman of the year last season, as well as a first-team pick on the defensive line.
Jacob Lane
Emerald Ridge
Committed to: Washington
Contributed at both tight end (four catches, 33 yards) and defensive end (two tackles, one assist, one sack) in a loss to Puyallup. Considered the No. 9 recruit in the state in 2023, the No. 14 recruit by 247Sports and No. 15 by ESPN. Committed to UW in June — and was the Huskies’ first in-state commitment in the class — over offers from eight more Division I programs. Was a 4A SPSL first-team pick on the defensive line as a junior.
Dorian Thomas
Kentridge
Committed to: Oregon State
Projected as a tight end in college, but played quarterback and linebacker for the Chargers in a season-opening shutout of Auburn Mountainview. Considered the No. 9 recruit in the state in the class by 247Sports and No. 13 by ESPN. Thomas committed to Oregon State last November over four more Division I offers. Was a 4A/3A NPSL Red Division first-team wide receiver and second-team linebacker last fall.
Xe’ree Alexander
Kennedy Catholic
Committed to: Arizona State
Alexander piled up 16 tackles and added six carries for 34 yards, a 16-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion carry in a loss to Eastside Catholic. Considered the No. 11 recruit in the state in 2023 by ESPN and No. 16 by 247Sports. Alexander, the younger brother of UW wide receiver Lonyatta Alexander Jr., committed to Arizona State in August over offers from four more Division I programs. Was a 4A/3A NPSL Red Division first-team linebacker as a junior.
Andre Piper-Jordan Jr.
Federal Way
Committed to: Oregon State
Found the end zone on both offense and defense in a season-opening rout of Todd Beamer. He caught two passes for 65 yards and scored touchdowns on both receptions, and added a 54-yard pick-six on defense. Also collected 34 rushing yards. Considered the No. 11 recruit in Washington in the class by 247Sports and No. 14 by ESPN. He committed to Oregon State in July over five more Division I offers. Was the 4A/3A NPSL Red Division defensive back of the year and returner of the year on special teams last fall as a junior, as well as a first-team selection at both wide receiver and cornerback. Also a TNT All-Area selection as an all-purpose player.
Nathan Pritchard
Auburn Riverside
Committed to: Washington State
Started at left tackle for an Auburn Riverside offense that collected 233 total yards in a loss to Lincoln, and added two tackles on defense. Considered the No. 17 recruit in the state in the class by ESPN and No. 18 by 247Sports, Pritchard committed to WSU in April over seven more Division I offers. Was a 4A/3A NPSL White Division first-team offensive lineman last season as a junior.
Leo Pulalasi
Lakes
Committed to: BYU
Key contributor in all three phases for the Lancers in a season-opening win over Kentwood. Collected 47 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries and added two catches for 13 yards and another touchdown on offense. Added five tackles, including two for losses, at linebacker. Also had a kickoff return for 37 yards, and one punt for 38 yards on special teams. Considered the No. 13 recruit in the state in 2023 by 247Sports, Pulalasi committed to BYU in June over seven more Division I offers. Was the 3A PCL offensive player of the year and a first-team linebacker as a junior, as well as a TNT All-Area first-team pick.
David Wells
Lakes
Committed to: Oregon State
Finished with three carries for 18 yards and two catches for 14 yards on offense, one tackle on defense and a 19-yard kickoff return on special teams in a season-opening win over Kentwood. Wells is considered the No. 18 recruit in the state in the class by ESPN and No. 19 by 247Sports. Committed to Oregon State in June over offers from 10 more Division I programs. Wells was a 3A PCL first-team pick at wide receiver, cornerback and as a returner on special teams last season as a junior. Was also a TNT All-Area first-team selection.
2024 CLASS
Brayden Platt
Yelm
Offers: Arizona, California, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Washington State
A standout on both offense and defense for the Tornados, Platt piled up 178 yards and four rushing touchdowns on 17 carries, 33 yards on three catches and added seven tackles, including one for a loss in a season-opening rout of 4A power Camas. Considered the No. 3 recruit in Washington in the class by 247Sports and the No. 4 recruit by both ESPN and Rivals. Platt is also on both the ESPN 300 (No. 242 overall) and Top247 (No. 80) lists in the 2024 class. Was a 3A SSC first-team selection at both running back and linebacker last season as a sophomore, as well as a TNT All-Area first-team pick.
Rahshawn Clark
Federal Way
Offers: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, Washington, Washington State
Clark finished with two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown on offense, and added six extra points for the Eagles in a win over Todd Beamer. He is considered the No. 4 recruit in the state in the class by 247Sports and No. 6 by Rivals, and is one of six recruits from Washington in the class on the Top247 list (No. 94 overall). Was a 4A/3A NPSL Red Division honorable mention cornerback as sophomore last fall.
Malachi Durant
Puyallup
Offers: California, Florida Atlantic, Fresno State, Missouri, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State
Finished with six catches for 54 yards and a touchdown in a win over Emerald Ridge, and added three tackles on defense. Durant is considered the No. 7 recruit in the state in 2024 by 247Sports and No. 10 recruit by Rivals.
Unterrio Latin-Henley
Washington
Offers: Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Washington State
Collected 98 yards on seven carries and 41 yards on one catch on offense, and added one tackle and one pass defended on defense in a loss to North Thurston. Considered the No. 12 recruit in Washington in the class by 247Sports. Was a 2A SPSL first-team pick at wide receiver as a sophomore.
Jake Schakel
Emerald Ridge
Offers: Colorado State, Florida Atlantic, Nevada
Completed 23-of-36 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns to one interception in a loss to Puyallup. Schakel is considered the No. 17 recruit in the state in 2024 by 247Sports. Was a 4A SPSL first-team selection at quarterback last fall as a sophomore.
