BROCK AND SALK

Sarkisian: Lupoi’s energy sets him apart as a recruiter

Jan 22, 2012, 9:44 PM | Updated: Jan 23, 2012, 3:20 pm

By Pete Treperinas
Special to 710Sports.com

This time of year, college football teams are trying to lock up recruits and build their freshman classes. However, the biggest recruiting news out of Montlake this offseason hasn’t been a new player, but a new recruiter in Tosh Lupoi.

Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian joined “Brock and Salk” Friday to talk about the Huskies’ busy offseason and how the addition of Lupoi — who has built a reputation as one of the best recruiters in college football — will impact the program.

toshlupoi
Tosh Lupoi

“He doesn’t fade. He’s consistent in it,” Sarkisian said of Lupoi as a recruiter. “I think he’s got a great imagination for it and how to keep things fresh and light, because sometimes you’re recruiting these kids for two years and that can get long and drawn out. … Ultimately I think it boils all down to his energy and his ability to do it at a high level day in and day out.”

Washington lured Lupoi from his position as the defensive line coach at Cal. He’ll hold the same position for the Huskies in addition being the defensive run game coordinator.

The Huskies’ new defensive coordinator, Justin Wilcox, spent time coaching at Cal with Lupoi. Ever since the Wilcox hire, Lupoi had been on Sarkisian’s radar.

“It took a little longer than Justin and I would have liked, but we were able to get Tosh on board,” Sarkisian said.

Sarkisian added that since Wilcox and Lupoi have worked together in the past, they share a mutual understanding of the defensive philosophy and schemes that they will carry out at Washington.

In his four seasons with the Bears, Lupoi’s biggest recruits included defensive linemen Cameron Jordan and Tyson Alualu, both of whom went on to be first-round NFL draft picks.

This offseason, highly touted safety Shaq Thompson of Sacramento, Calif. committed to Cal, but since news broke that Lupoi would no longer be on the staff, he has rescinded his commitment and is deciding whether or not he will play for the Bears. Thompson’s top three choices now appear to be Cal, Washington, and Oregon.

The effects of Lupoi leaving Cal didn’t stop with Thompson rethinking his decision. The Bears’ receivers coach, Eric Kiesau, will also join the Huskies’ staff. Kiesau takes over for former Washington offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who took the same position at Alabama last week.

Brock and Salk podcast

Brock and Salk

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Mike Salk

Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away

As the Seattle Mariners return for 2024, Seattle Sports' Mike Salk writes about seasons, scars, frustration, hope and baseball.

14 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Payton Wilson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: ‘Twitched up’ LB fills a need

Next up in Brock Huard's Seattle Seahawks draft profiles is a very intriguing defender in North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

18 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks Sam Howell...

Brandon Gustafson

New Seahawks QB Sam Howell describes trade, his role and more

The Seattle Seahawks have a new QB in Sam Howell, and he joined Brock & Salk on Wednesday to describe the trade that sent him to the Hawks.

20 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Getting to know new Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Howell

What do Seattle Seahawks fans need to know about new QB Sam Howell? What will he bring to the QB room and competition this season? He joined the Brock and Salk show toady to talk about what type of QB the Seahawks are getting. Can he be a piece that helps this team get back […]

22 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Brock Huard’s NFL Draft Profile: Payton Wilson, LB – NC State

Today on Brock and Salk, Brock Huard looked at a potential fit for the Seattle Seahawks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Why does Brock think NC State LB Payton Wilson might be a defensive fit for the Seahawks? What else could he bring to the defense other than LB depth? Watch his breakdown of him […]

22 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez...

Brandon Gustafson

Passan: Mariners’ Rodríguez can take game to another level in 2024

The 2024 MLB season can be when we see "the absolute apex" of star Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, ESPN's Jeff Passan said.

1 day ago

Sarkisian: Lupoi’s energy sets him apart as a recruiter