Here’s where things stand with the top high school football recruits in the South Sound
High school football practices begin later this month, with several of the state’s top recruits set to return to football fields across the South Sound.
Here is a look at several of the area’s top recruits in the senior and junior classes — including six seniors who are considered among the state’s top 20 recruits in the 2024 class by 247Sports, and four juniors considered in the top five in 2025 — with commentary from 247Sports National Recruiting Editor Brandon Huffman.
All the recruits listed hold at least one Power Five offer, and four have already announced college commitments.
2024 CLASS
Brayden Platt
Yelm
Linebacker, 6-2, 240, sr.
Considering: Oklahoma, Oregon
One of the most dominant two-way players in the state at running back and linebacker, Platt had a monster junior season, leading Yelm to the 3A state title — the first championship in program history. Offensively, rushed for 1,242 yards and 24 TDs on 132 carries and caught 12 passes for 227 yards and a TD. At linebacker, tallied 69 tackles, including five for loss, and had an interception. He was the 3A SSC MVP in 2022 and named to TNT’s All-Area and all-state teams.
Platt, considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports, is the top-ranked recruit in the state in the 2024 class, possessing a coveted blend of speed, size and pure football nastiness. Also a two-time 3A state champion in the shot put for the Tornados, who won a 3A team title in track and field this spring. Husky fans might want to look away — UW isn’t in the picture for the state’s top recruit — Platt is now deciding between Oregon and Oklahoma. He’ll announce his decision on Labor Day.
Huffman: “Announcement date set for Labor Day, Sept. 4. Been busy with track all summer. Did a couple camps. Got invited to All-22 camp at Elite 11. He was the MVP of the All-22 regional in Eugene. With Oklahoma, there’s a nice history of linebacker production. (Sooners’ head coach Brent) Venables has had good success. It’s a defensively strong staff, defensively minded head coach. With Oregon, the proximity to Yelm is working for them, but also that he aspires to do track in college. They got Rodrick Pleasant, the fastest kid in California to come to Eugene. The track program is kind of an ace in the hole for Oregon.”
Marquise Thorpe-Taylor
Mount Tahoma
Offensive tackle, 6-5, 315, sr.
Committed to: UCLA
The Tacoma product has seen his stock rise sharply the past couple of seasons and was an integral part of a much-improved T-Birds team in 2022 on the way to 3A PCL first-team honors. Thorpe-Taylor is considered a three-star recruit and the No. 9 player in the state in the 2024 class by 247Sports. He committed to UCLA shortly after visiting in May.
Huffman: “Made the commitment to UCLA. He’s been working his way back, was dinged up this summer from something that slowed him. Didn’t do many camps in the latter part of summer. Locked in to UCLA. He had scheduled visits to Washington, Oregon, but committed within a week (of his UCLA visit), locked himself in there. The big thing he has going for him is positional versatility. He can play tackle, play guard. UCLA is bringing him in as a swing lineman.”
Malachi Durant
Graham-Kapowsin
Wide receiver, 6-2, 160, sr.
Committed to: Oregon State
Durant will still be playing in the 4A SPSL this fall but will be wearing different colors after transferring from Puyallup to Graham-Kapowsin. At Puyallup, Durant led the Vikings in receiving yards per game (62.6) and TDs (seven), tallying 563 yards on 37 receptions. He’ll join a Graham-Kapowsin offense that figures to be one of the state’s most dynamic units this fall, with new teammate Jabez Woods — a TNT all-state selection last fall — and three-star tight end Noah Flores coming back from an injury-plagued 2022 season. Durant, considered a three-star recruit and the No. 10-rated player in the state by 247Sports, committed to Oregon State in June.
Huffman: “I think it’s going to be very interesting to see how he factors into that offense. There are only so many balls to go around between Noah Flores, Jabez Woods, Khris Norris. (Graham-Kapowsin quarterback) Daveon Superales is gonna have some nice targets. (Durant) has had a fantastic offseason with the 7-on-7 circuit. He’s poised for a big senior season. He could really showcase his ability.”
Isaiah Patterson
Yelm
Linebacker, 6-3, 235, sr.
Committed to: UCLA
While most of the attention has deservedly gone to Platt, Patterson was a difference-maker for the Tornados last season after transferring to Yelm and was a disruptive pass rusher when he turned it on. Considered a three-star recruit and the No. 12-rated player in the 2024 class in the state by 247Sports, the 3A SSC first-team linebacker committed to UCLA in May shortly after an official visit. Will once again be a key part of Yelm’s 3A title defense attempt with pass-rush skills and the ability to drop into pass coverage. Won a state title in discus at the 3A track and field championships in the spring.
Huffman: “I think Isaiah’s biggest thing has been trying to escape the shadow of his teammate. And deservedly so, Brayden Platt is the best player in Washington, in my opinion. Isaiah has done everything he can to get out of that big shadow. I love his competitiveness. He would do 7-on-7 to show his pass defense. … This is Isaiah Patterson showing he’s every bit the Power Five player that his recruitment showed.”
Dylan Sikorski
Sumner
Interior offensive lineman, 6-5, 300, sr.
Committed to: Oregon State
Longtime Sumner coach Keith Ross has been singing Sikorski’s praises for a while now, and why shouldn’t he? On both sides of the ball, Sikorski was a physically dominant presence for the 4A SPSL champion Spartans in 2022 and was a 4A SPSL first-team pick on offense and defense, and a TNT All-Area selection last fall. Sikorski, considered a three-star recruit and the No. 16-rated player in the state in the 2024 class, committed to Oregon State in June.
Huffman: “I like the fact that he made the decision to commit to Oregon State. It’s his mom’s alma mater, so Oregon State has always been the dream school for him. … He has positional versatility. I think he slides inside and plays guard in college. (Oregon State offensive line coach) Jim Michalczik is the best O-line coach and developer in the Pac-12. You look at what he’s done with (former Mount Tahoma offensive lineman) Taliese Fuaga.”
Luvens Valcin
Auburn
Athlete, 6-3, 218, sr.
Offers: WSU, Utah State, Weber State
Washington State is the lone Power Five offer for Valcin and if he ultimately commits to WSU, the Cougars are likely hoping they found a diamond in the rough with Valcin, an explosive football and basketball standout for the Trojans. Valcin was a star for Auburn last fall, racking up 296 rushing yards and three TDs and at wide receiver, 758 yards and five TDs on 56 receptions on the way to 3A NPSL offensive back of the year and first-team receiver honors. His future at the next level likely lies on defense, though — Valcin’s athleticism makes him an ideal edge prospect. Valcin is considered a three-star recruit and the No. 17-rated player in the 2024 class by 247sports. He took an official visit to WSU in June.
Huffman: “I’ve been watching Luvens since he was in middle school. He was on my son’s basketball team at Mt. Basker and I said back then, ‘This kid needs to play football.’ I like him as an edge or outside linebacker, though he could play a flex/Y role on offense, but he’s got plus athleticism, hooper’s feet and has a natural feel.”
2025 CLASS
Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
Bethel
Linebacker, 6-2, 220, jr.
Four-star linebacker is considered the South Sound’s top recruit in the 2025 class by 247Sports. Was a key contributor on Bethel’s defense as a sophomore last fall, piling up 53 tackles, 5.5 for losses and a team-leading four sacks during the regular season to earn second-team honors at linebacker in a stacked 4A SPSL. Also helped lead Bethel to an appearance in the district playoffs against eventual 4A state champion Lake Stevens. Has picked up 10 offers since November, including nine from Power Five programs in Arizona, Colorado, Florida State, Miami, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, UW and WSU.
Huffman: “He’s a stud. He’s a guy, what’s crazy about him, he’s only 15 years old. He won’t turn 16 until November. He’s so young for his grade. He’s raw, but the jump he’s made from the sophomore year to spring to summer, he’s playing with confidence, swagger. He’s physical, nasty. He can play in coverage, rush the quarterback. He’s that perfect outside backer, edge type.”
Jonathan Epperson
Auburn Riverside
Athlete, 6-0, 195, jr.
3A NPSL first-team linebacker last season led the Ravens with 77 tackles as a sophomore, including 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and added an interception and fumble recovery. Four-star recruit impacted all three phases for an Auburn Riverside program that reached the 3A district round, collecting 400 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in 2022. Has reported 10 offers since January, including Power Five offers from Arizona, BYU, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, USC, Utah, UW and WSU.
Huffman: “Love Jonathan. … He’s a football player. That’s one of the highest praises I can give someone. I think he’s a linebacker all the way. Just a guy that loves playing the game of football. Washington is on him. He was at the Oregon Saturday Night Live camp (last Saturday). That was his fourth time in Eugene.”
D’Aryhian Clemons
Spanaway Lake
Athlete, 6-0, 170, jr.
An impact player on both offense and defense as a sophomore, Clemons earned 3A PCL offensive back of the year honors last fall. Piled up 1,037 yards and seven TDs on 152 carries for a Spanaway Lake program that reached the 3A state first round, added 12 tackles, one for loss and an interception at defensive back and averaged 122.8 all-purpose yards per game. Has five Division I offers from Cal, Louisville, Nevada, UW and WSU.
Huffman: “He’s a very confident kid. He’s kind of the epitome of fast. You look at what he’s done at some camps this offseason — 4.3 laser time, reportedly ran a 4.4 last weekend at Oregon. It translates to the football field. He just needs to get more eyes on him.”
Noah Flores
Graham-Kapowsin
Tight end, 6-4, 230, jr.
Missed much of his sophomore season due to injury but still tallied 17 catches for 159 yards and a pair of TDs and played defense last fall, including appearing in Graham-Kapowsin’s state semifinals game against eventual 4A champion Lake Stevens in late November. Tallied 17 catches for 159 yards and a pair of TDs in five appearances last fall. Three-star recruit has nine Division I offers — including picking up seven since the first week of May — from Arizona, Hawaii, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, UW and WSU.
Huffman: “He’s just gotta stay healthy. He got hurt at the PLU showcase, missed a big chunk of last season. When he’s healthy, he’s as good as any pass catcher in the region. Schools love his ability to catch the ball.”
Q&A WITH BRANDON HUFFMAN
TNT: What’s your take on the 2024 class in Washington as a whole?
Huffman: It’s solid. There was this stretch there for a few years with elite top-end national guys. When you’re looking online, seeing mock drafts, and there are two Washington kids in the top 10, that’s more the exception to the rule. There hasn’t been that elite top-end guy since Josh Conerly, but there’s some good talent in this class. It’s a deep class. A lot of Power Five guys. I don’t know if this year’s second tier is as strong as some previous classes were.
TNT: From the 2024 class, whose stock has risen the most during the offseason?
Huffman: One particular guy, (Kelso offensive lineman and Oregon State commit) Payton Stewart. With him, he’s such a big athlete. Athletic guy. Coming off a year, two years ago, there were five, six Power Five linemen from early in their careers. This class didn’t really have a second lineman that was getting the attention early on after (O’Dea lineman Isendre Ahfua). Payton was a basketball guy, didn’t have any recruiting action going until November, December. Committed to Northwestern, decommitted, ended up at Oregon State. He’s a guy that is barely scratching the surface of his potential.
TNT: What’s your take on the 2025 class in Washington? At this point, it seems to have less high-end talent than the last few classes in the state.
Huffman: It does. The top guy in the class (Kamiak four-star recruit T’Andre Waverly) is a big, jumbo athlete. I think he’s going to end up as an outside backer, edge. It’s not as strong at the top and there’s not a strong second tier. It’ll be a solid class but I’m really excited for the 2026 class.
TNT: Who’s a player from either class that’s flying under the radar right now that you think is due for a big 2023 season this fall?
Huffman: A guy that I think has a chance to really emerge this year is (Eastside Catholic defensive back) Bryson Ross. I think we saw a little bit of it this spring. With (WSU commit) Tyson Weaver and Ambrose Marsh there, Bryson kind of got lost in the shuffle. It’s a stacked secondary. He came to Avery Strong Showcase with no offers, left with Nevada, UNLV offers. I think Bryson Ross is a guy that’s really going to make that jump. Has the desire, size, length, can play corner, could be a safety. I think he could end up being a Pac-12 guy.
