Rising stars: The South Sound’s top 2026 high school football recruits this fall
High school football practices kick off Aug. 20 statewide, and Friday night lights are coming into view.
The South Sound has steadily produced NFL talent over the years — Steilacoom’s Emeka Egbuka, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of April’s draft, is the latest shining example — and more could soon achieve their dream of playing on Sundays. But who’s next?
The News Tribune breaks down the area’s top recruits making national waves:
DEREK COLMAN-BRUSA
Kennedy Catholic — Class of 2026
Defensive line, 6-5, 267
Colman-Brusa committed to his hometown Washington Huskies in May, the state’s top recruit in the 2026 class and No. 219 on ESPN’s 300. Kennedy Catholic’s dynamic pass-rusher and run-stuffer tackled 68 (25 TFL) with 12 sacks and five forced fumbles in 11 games as a junior, a four-star recruit who chose UW over Oregon, Ohio State, and others.
“The best pure pass rusher in the state since J.T. Tuimoloau,” 247Sports national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman told The News Tribune last month. “He’s so athletic, so strong, so quick off the ball. … I think his future is really bright.”
Colman-Brusa’s “1,000 percent” commitment to Washington reunites him with his older brother, Lowen, on the Washington frontlines.
ROBBY LAVATA’I
Curtis — Class of 2026
Edge, 6-6, 245
When coaches and recruiters from San Diego State and Nevada flocked to the Curtis Senior High weight room last spring for additional looks at explosive edge rusher Robby Latava’i, one asked: “Can you dunk?”
Latava’i scoffed with a smile: “Can I dunk?”
Recruiters had poked the bear. Soon enough, Latava’i and Vikings offensive tackle Kingston Kerkhoff led them into an adjacent Curtis auxiliary gym for a dunk-contest spectacle. Coaches grabbed cell phone cameras from their pockets as Latava’i threw down 360-degree hammers, inspiring the now-graduated Xavier Ahrens to join the show. Curtis head coach Darren McKay wouldn’t be surprised if the rim is still shaking.
“(Robby’s) biggest asset is his athleticism,” McKay said. “When we do condition-type drills, he’s always in front. He can run forever.
“He can time (throws) and bat balls down. It’s one thing to put your hands up, but he can actually time the jump and have a chance.”
It’s no surprise Latava’i, also a power forward for the Curtis basketball team, committed to San Diego State just eight days after his official June 17 visit. The state’s No. 12 prospect in the 2026 class is the nation’s No. 76 edge rusher, per 247Sports, choosing the Aztecs over Boise State, Eastern Washington, and others.
RAMZAK FRUEAN
Bethel — Class of 2026
Linebacker, 6-4, 215
Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, the state’s top 2025 recruit and TNT All-Area football player of the year, stole most of last year’s headlines — and for good reason — but Bison head coach Travis Domser believes that Fruean is Bethel’s next big-time linebacker. A versatile, plug-and-play defender shined at linebacker, safety, and cornerback last fall with a team-high 10 tackles for loss and committed to UCLA in June. Three-star recruit and No. 3 prospect in the state’s 2026 class.
ELIJAH DURR
Mount Tahoma — Class of 2026
Cornerback/Receiver, 6-1, 170
Durr will torment opponents on both sides of the football for another year at Mount Tahoma before projecting as a defensive back with the Washington Huskies next fall. The No. 10 overall recruit in the state’s 2026 class caught eight touchdowns, snatched three interceptions, and blocked four kicks for the T-Birds as a junior, earning TNT All-Area honors and earning offers from the likes of Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Arizona State before committing to hometown Washington. Three-star recruit.
LANCE McGEE
Sumner — Class of 2026
Halfback/Linebacker, 6-0, 230
Yakima’s three-star product is moving west, and the Spartans have their new running back. McGee enrolled at Sumner in June, adding a two-way playmaker to the defending champions in The Valley. The Davis High School star logged 115 tackles and six sacks last season, adding 868 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in nine games at running-back — a hand-in-glove fit for longtime Spartans coach Keith Ross’ ground-and-pound philosophy. “He’s tough, he’s powerful, and he’s not afraid of contact,” Ross said. “He finishes his runs, he holds on to the ball. ... He’s going to be a great Sumner back for us.” McGee, the state’s No. 11 prospect in the 2026 class, committed to Oregon State in June over Washington State, Boise State, and others.
BEST OF THE REST
Ah Deong Yang, Puyallup (2026)
Offensive line, 6-3, 343
Committed: Washington
Jasiah Denmark, Puyallup (2026)
Cornerback, 6-0, 160
Committed: Sacramento State
Ta’a Malu, Annie Wright (2026)
Defensive line, 6-4, 280
Committed: Washington
Zamarie Tellez, Federal Way (2026)
Receiver/Cornerback, 5-9, 175
Committed: Eastern Washington
Kingston Kerkhoff, Curtis (2026)
Offensive tackle, 6-6, 255
Committed: Idaho
ON THE HORIZON
QB Sione Kaho, Lincoln (2027) — He’s only halfway through his career as the Abes signal-caller, but this poised gunslinger has netted nine Division-I offers and counting from the likes of Washington, Oregon, and Stanford. Kaho directed Lincoln to consecutive state tournament appearances in 2023-24 and was the 3A PSL Narrows MVP as a sophomore, throwing 17 touchdowns (2,192 passing yards) and rushing for seven more. Four-star recruit is the state’s No. 2 prospect in the 2027 class, per 247Sports.
WR Braylon Pope, Sumner (2027) — After hoisting the 4A championship trophy with the Spartans last December, Pope returns to The Valley as Sumner’s top target. The four-star speedster is the state’s top receiving prospect in the 2027 class (and No. 36 in the nation) with 13 offers from Washington, Oregon, Miami, and more. “He’s got a lot of hype and a lot of offers, but he still has a lot left in the tank,” Sumner head coach Keith Ross said. “What we’ve seen from this spring, he’s more physical at the point of attack. It seems like nobody can run with him down the field.”
OL Gecova Doyal, Puyallup (2027) — Mature beyond his years, Puyallup’s interior lineman rose to prominence as a 6-5, 290-pound sophomore. The secret’s officially out: Doyal already has his choice of 14 Division-I schools — including Washington, Tennessee, and Penn State — with a chance to become one of the best linemen ever to wear purple and gold. Four-star recruit and 2024 TNT All-Area selection.
CB J’Isaiah Mitchell, Puyallup (2027) — Opposing quarterbacks are best to look away from Puyallup’s star corner, a three-star recruit with eight Division-I offers spanning from Washington to California. Sixth overall prospect in the state’s 2027 class.
CB Maurice Williams, Emerald Ridge (2027) — Yelm’s lockdown cornerback joins Emerald Ridge this fall, bolstering one of the 4A SPSL’s top defenses. Three-star recruit sports 10 offers from Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, and more.
This story was originally published August 9, 2025 at 5:45 AM.
