National Signing Day: Huskies harvest beaucoup crop

Washington Huskies recruiting coordinator Chris Tormey finally had something to smile about Wednesday afternoon.

The fax machine spooled out 26 national letters of intent to give the Huskies one of their highest-ranked classes in years, and coach Tyrone Willingham gave Tormey a public thanks for the job well done.

Tormey, who also serves as the team's linebackers coach, said, "There has been a lot of negative publicity, you could say, but I don't think it affected our recruiting effort."

The 4-9 2007 season ended with speculation about Willingham's job security, athletic director Todd Turner's abrupt resignation and the firing of two coaches, including defensive coordinator Kent Baer. Willingham offered that job to UCLA's DeWayne Walker and invited Walker to bring two assistants with him -- including his linebackers coach. (Walker turned down the job and new coordinator Ed Donatell is keeping the staff as is.)

There were also newspaper articles about rampant criminal activity from 2001 Rose Bowl team members, reports of a booster offering money for Willingham's job and more.

"In almost every case, kids didn't seem to let it bother them," Tormey said. "As we touched base with them, we always brought it up, but it wasn't an issue in our discussions."

Apparently not with the Huskies raking in 12 recruits from in state to headline a class that Scout.com ranks as the 14th-best in the nation and third in the Pac-10 behind No. 9 UCLA and No. 13 USC.

Rivals.com put Washington at No. 25 and behind four other Pac-10 schools. Still, Rivals.com hadn't had the Huskies in its top 25 since 2004.

The 2004 class -- ranked 19th by Rivals.com and 22nd by Scout.com -- didn't pan out, though, with its top two players never materializing. Quarterback Matt Tuiasosopo opted to sign a professional baseball contract and defensive back Keauntea Bankhead did not qualify academically.

The top recruit of the '07 class is Lakes High's Kavario Middleton, one of the top-ranked tight ends in the country.

Middleton felt some late heat from national champion LSU, he said on KJR-AM/950 on Wednesday, but still signed his letter of intent along with teammate Jermaine Kearse at the Lakewood school.

Tormey said that goes with the territory.

"You call them every day down the stretch and make sure everything is good. We were able to hold on and keep them in the boat, and there's really not much you can do except make that phone call and hope they believe their original choice was the right one," he said.

"In most cases, that was true this year."

In one case, however, it was not.

Quarterback Kevin Prince of Encino, Calif., made a late change of heart and signed his letter of intent to UCLA.

"He just fulfilled what he thought was his childhood dream," Willingham said. "He was a ball boy at UCLA and the opportunity presented itself."

Still, the Huskies have two quarterbacks in this class -- Dominique Blackman of Carson, Calif., and Evergreen's Luther Leonard.

Prince's switcheroo was the only surprise for the Huskies on a festive day for the program.

The evening wrapped up with a dinner celebration at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

"I think we did our homework in evaluating these kids. We're happy with the players we got," Tormey said. "At the end of the day that is what is going to be what is most important -- did you do your job in evaluation in putting productive players on the field? Yes."