UW Huskies nab 4-star football recruit from uncharted territory

Jedd Fisch has done something no UW Huskies head coach has done this century.

Gonzaga could have unique advantage now that UW, WSU can’t get

The Huskies on Thursday secured a commitment from four-star class of 2026 wide receiver Mason James, who hails from Norman, Okla. According to 247sports.com’s recruiting database, James is the first UW commit from the state of Oklahoma since at least 1998. The site’s database goes back to the 1999 recruiting class.

James, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound product of Norman North High School, announced his pledge on social media. He’s the first receiver and fourth four-star recruit to join UW’s 2026 class.

James hauled in 56 receptions for 1,233 yards and 17 TDs as a junior last season. He’s also a two-time state qualifying sprinter in track and field.

JUNIOR SZN WR Highlights🍿‼️

12 games
56 REC
1,233 YARDS
17 TDS

▫️Deep threat
▫️Route runner
▫️Body control
▫️4 Star WR@NNCoachJones @SkysTheLimitWR @coachbrettjones @ParkerThune @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @adamgorney

2 min preview⬇️. FULL VIDEO HERE: https://t.co/OK1fadSTl4 pic.twitter.com/46Nnppn9KR

— Mason James✞ (@MasonJames_1) November 27, 2024

The second-ranked player in Oklahoma and No. 180 nationally, James chose UW over offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas, among others.

Here’s what 247sports analyst Gabe Brooks wrote about James in his recruiting profile:

Athletic, APB-sized passing game weapon with experience as a high-volume target in multiple receiver spots. Combine testing data yields a mixed bag, but strong track and field numbers support functional athleticism in pads. Immensely productive in volume and big-play rate. Projects as a slot but has shown competency when moving around the formation. Put on a route-running display at Under Armour Dallas in Feb. 2025. Revealed explosive suddenness to create separation early and late vs. a talented DB group.

Comfortable working all levels and willing to put his body in harm’s way. Tracks well in the vertical game. Flashes above average run-after-catch creativity with juice to turn short targets into chunk plays. Smaller-framed but plays to strengths, such as sudden agility and acceleration. Can get more consistent in off-the-line quickness to apply urgency early in the route, but shows encouraging snap and late-separating ability in myriad scenarios. Projects as a high-floor, potentially plug-and-play slot weapon who also possesses the verified athleticism and in-game production that often point to long-term NFL Draft candidacy.

UW Huskies recruiting update

James’ commitment adds to what’s been fruitful week for Fisch and the Huskies. UW received pledges from three-star tight end Sam Vyhlidal and three-star athlete Dre Pollard (both class of 2026) on Tuesday, and transfer punter Trevor Allen on Monday.

Vyhlidal, a product of Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Ore., is the fifth-ranked recruit from Oregon. He held offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado State, Nevada and others.

Pollard, who is UW’s third 2026 commit from Las Vegas, is the fifth-ranked recruit from Nevada. He rushed for 707 yards and had 568 yards receiving with 12 total TDs as a junior last season. He had 32 tackles and an interception on defense, and returned two kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns.

Pollard is the second 2026 pledge for the Huskies from Las Vegas’ Clark High School, joining three-star offensive lineman Dominic Harris. Pollard’s other offers included Auburn, BYU, Duke, Minnesota and Stanford.

Allen averaged 39.4 yards on 76 punts with a long of 62 for NCAA D-II Adams State last season. He had 10 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

The Huskies’ 2026 recruiting class is ranked 15th in the country by 247sports.

UW Huskies land two new recruits for 2026 class

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