SEATTLE -- After listening to the Washington football office fax machine crank out the 23 signed national letters of intent Wednesday, coach Steve Sarkisian finally emerged to discuss his third class of recruits.
This time, at his press conference, he offered a stern gaze of confidence -- but behind it was a bit of frustration.
Sarkisian and his staff won most of the pivotal battles, and ended up putting together a class that was ranked near the top 20 nationally by the three major recruiting services (Rivals, Scout and ESPN) -- but it was a far cry from getting inside the top 10 like the Huskies had hoped.
A January flurry put them close, but a few lost recruits on signing day dropped them to 19th by Scout.com and to 23rd by Rivals.com and ESPN.com.
Perhaps those mini-setbacks at first distracted Sarkisian.
But once he started talking about each of the 23 signees, he loosened up. He even cracked a joke or two, especially when it came to elaborating on his two blue-chip in-state standouts -- Skyline High receiver Kasen Williams and Gig Harbor High tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
"By the way, it's great to talk about Kasen and Austin because I know you guys have wanted to talk about these guys for about two years now," Sarkisian said with a smile. "So I finally get to say their names and feel good about it."
First, the unfortunate news:
It started early Wednesday when cornerback Kameron Jackson, out of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High, decommitted and chose California -- marking the fourth time in the past six weeks the Golden Bears had won a recruiting showdown.
And later, Hawaii product Paulay Asiata, who had been wavering on his commitment to the UW, instead signed with Colorado.
Late in the afternoon, the Huskies had one more us-or-them battle against Colorado with offensive lineman Stephane Nembot, of Van Nuys, Calif. -- a guy who had given the UW an oral commitment after decommitting from Washington State.
In the end, the Buffaloes won again, grabbing Nembot.
Yet, as the recruiting period began winding down, it seemed apparent to more and more of the UW signees that a class ranking is just a number. It's not all-important. It's what happens on the field that matters.
"We have a great class as it is," Seferian-Jenkins said.
Sarkisian pointed out some of its highlights:
--The one player who has seemed to develop an extremely close relationship with Sarkisian is Seferian-Jenkins -- something the coach alluded to Wednesday.
"I really enjoy Austin. I think this is a kid I've watched mature in two years in front of my own eyes, even though he wasn't even here yet," Sarkisian said. "I really think he's matured, not only physically but mentally. And he's in a great frame of mind as he's getting set to enroll early. He's got the mindset to compete. He knows he has a lot to learn, but he's coming to compete."
Along with the Gig Harbor standout, Sarkisian mentioned Williams, Grant High (Calif.) safety James Sample and Dorsey High (Calif.) receiver Marvin Hall as incoming freshmen with opportunities to play immediately.
--Something the UW will examine closer this spring is playing more of a 3-4 defense, so the Huskies recruited "hybrid" players -- defensive ends who can play outside linebacker -- to best fit that style.
Three of those four types -- Oak Grove High's Scott Lawyer (6-foot-2, 197 pounds), Dorsey High's Matthew Lyons (6-2, 188) and Long Beach Poly High's Corey Waller (6-2 1/2, 210) -- hail from California. The other is Juanita's Jarrett Finau (6-3, 235), out of Kirkland.
"Our ability to find guys that can play on the edge, play in space, that have the ability to rush the passer but yet play zone (pass) coverage, play man-to-man coverage on tight ends and on running backs I think is going to be critical for us to take the next step here," Sarkisian said.
--The real signing-day addition came from Ventura College in California -- athlete Antavius Sims.
Sims played quarterback at Ventura for two seasons, nearly posting a 2,000-yard passing/1,000-yard rushing final year.
Sarkisian projects the Georgia native as a cornerback at the UW, but added he could play quarterback in specialized circumstances, such as the "Wildcat" formation.
It gives the Huskies two quarterbacks -- the other is Derrick Brown, out of Vista Murrieta (Calif.) High -- who can do other things. Sarkisian said Brown, who will remain at quarterback, will also work with the group of punters in the fall.
Extra points
Along with Seferian-Jenkins, Sarkisian expects "three or four other guys" to be enrolled by spring quarter but did not name them because they had not completed their high school graduation requirements. ... Last week, the UW hauled in Gonzaga Prep running back Bishop Sankey after he decommitted from Washington State. Wednesday, Sarkisian was asked about the whole concept of oral commitments. "This is the landscape of ... recruiting in college football," Sarkisian said. "Do I think it's perfect? No. But if you're not playing the game, you're getting beat, so you've got to continue to battle." ... Defensive lineman Tanilea Tupou was the first UW signee to fax in his letter of intent (7:13 a.m.), and Sims was the final one (11:50 a.m.). ... Rivals.com said defensive tackle Maataua Brown of Paramount (Calif.) High is committed to the Huskies, but did not sign a letter of intent and questions remain if he will qualify.
UW signees
Derrick Brown, QB, 6-3, 239, Winchester, Calif. (Vista Murrieta): Missing out on Arizona prep star Brett Hundley, the UW nabbed a bigger dual threat in this two-time Inland Division offensive MVP. Also a punter.
Dexter Charles, OT, 6-5, 280, Camano Island (Stanwood): One of the earliest commitments of this class, this still-growing teenager was a real ambassador to encouraging in-state recruits to stay home.
Connor Cree, DE, 6-5, 225, Sammamish (Skyline): Never underestimate players who come from winning programs. Cree is the long-armed, high-effort guy defensive coordinator Nick Holt craves to play on the strong side.
Travis Freeney, S/LB, 6-4, 201, Richmond, Calif. (Pinole Valley): One Steve Sarkisian description fits the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic league player of the year -- "freakish athlete." Wiry, strong and explosive playmaker.
Jarett Finau, DE/LB, 6-3, 235, Kirkland (Juanita): One of the recruits the Huskies really liked at their summer camp. And when he moved to Juanita last fall, he played a lot at outside linebacker -- adding to his versatility.
Marvin Hall, WR, 5-10, 168, Los Angeles (Dorsey): This big-time inner-city program produces game-changing pass-catchers, and Hall -- who runs the 100 meters in 10.4 seconds -- is the latest. Could return kicks.
Jamaal Jones, WR, 6-2, 180, Spanaway (Graham-Kapowsin): Missed his senior season because of a shoulder injury, but he should be ready by fall camp. With his long arms and range, a sleeper as a special-teams returner.
Scott Lawyer, DE/LB, 6-2, 197, San Jose, Calif. (Oak Grove): He earned first-team honors in the All-Mount Hamilton League at linebacker, but if he continues to grow, a speed-demon pass rusher is his future.
Matthew Lyons, DE/LB, 6-2, 188, Los Angeles (Dorsey): A highlight reel in his own right, Dorsey High's "Hitman" earned a well-deserved reputation for knocking opposing players' helmets off during tackles.
Joshua Perkins, WR, 6-4, 198, Cerritos, Calif. (Gahr): Slowly the Huskies are changing their receiver profile to the bigger, leaper-type athletes with excellent hands. Perkins fits that profile.
Marcus Peters, CB, 6-0, 179, Oakland (McClymonds): One of the more competitive recruiting battles the UW won, the Oakland Athletic League MVP is strong enough to battle receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Dezden Petty, RB/FB, 6-0, 213, Carson, Calif. (Gardena): A fullback in the mold of former USC standout Stanley Havili, a Sarkisian favorite. Ran for 1,000 yards as a senior, and could be short-yardage factor.
James Sample, S, 6-2, 191, Sacramento (Grant): Arguably the UW's top recruit of out of California in 2011, he is big enough to play in run defense, but athletic enough to cover slot receivers in man-to-man coverage.
Bishop Sankey, RB, 5-10, 194, Spokane (Gonzaga Prep): An original Washington State commit, the Greater Spokane League MVP heads west, giving the UW a near-sweep of the in-state elite players. Elusive and versatile.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, 6-6, 250, Fox Island (Gig Harbor): No recruit received a higher billing for his position nationally (No. 2 by Scout.com and Rivals.com) than the Tides' standout. Should play immediately.
Danny Shelton, DT, 6-3, 300, Auburn: The heir to Alameda Ta'amu's position at nose guard, some coaches think the two-time SPSL North lineman of the year would be equally effective as an interior offensive lineman.
Antavius Sims, CB, 6-2, 200, Americus, Ga. (Ventura College): Grabbed on signing day, the dual-threat quarterback at Ventura could be the UW's "Wildcat" weapon, but projects mainly as a defensive back.
Siosifa Tufunga, OG/C, 6-1, 297, Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Jordan): Hailing from UW recruiting coordinator Johnny Nansen's alma mater, the Moore League offensive line MVP hasn't played a lot of football, meaning his best years are yet to come.
Taniela Tupou, DE, 6-2, 265, Marysville (Archbishop Murphy): He dominated 2A competition last season, and the Cascade Conference defensive MVP did the same to bigger-school players at the UW summer camp.
Thomas Tutogi, LB, 6-0, 251, Chula Vista, Calif. (Southwestern JC): The team's only true inside linebacker recruit, he enrolled in January. A tremendous athletic and classic power run-stopper.
Corey Waller, DE/LB, 6-2, 210, Long Beach, Calif. (Poly): The one pass-rushing guy UW coaches most compared him to is Hawaii product Hau'oli Jamora. Also played middle linebacker in an injury-filled senior season.
Kasen Williams, WR, 6-2, 210, Sammamish (Skyline): The Parade All-America national player of the year for 2011 is the group's premier athlete. Should quickly skyrocket up the receivers depth chart.
Evan Zeger, S, 6-2, 200, Henderson, Nev. (Bishop Gorman): Played at Skyline High as a junior, the All-Sunset Conference defensive back is big already, and should be a middle-of-the-field force.