When Washington coach Steve Sarkisian took over in December 2008, he made the same vow as all of his predecessors -- that he would focus his recruiting efforts in state and assure that the best players stayed home.

As Sarkisian said when signing day 2011 rolled around, the Huskies are beginning to show they are living up to their words.

Washington had another consensus top-25 class built on nine products from the state of Washington, including all five members of the Seattle Times' Blue Chip list -- the first time the Huskies had achieved a clean sweep.

"Those are big wins for us in our opinion, and we are hopefully setting a precedent of what we are about when we are recruiting the state of Washington, and hopefully that is a little discouraging to some of these other schools to want to try to come up here and try to recruit against us in our own state," Sarkisian said.

The five Blue Chippers were wide receiver Kasen Williams of Sammamish, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins of Gig Harbor, defensive lineman Danny Shelton of Auburn, running back Bishop Sankey of Spokane and defensive lineman Taniela Tupou of Marysville.

Washington officially signed 23 players, 21 of them high schoolers, as Sarkisian -- who in January signed a new five-year contract -- attempts to build a long-term foundation.

One of the junior college players, linebacker Thomas Tutogi, is already enrolled and could serve as a replacement for the graduated Mason Foster.

Some Huskies recruitniks were left disappointed on signing day as Washington lost three players who had been previously listed as committed: offensive lineman Paulay Asiata of Honolulu; defensive lineman Stephan Nembot of Van Nuys, Calif.; and cornerback Kameron Jackson of Long Beach, Calif. Asiata and Nembot went to Colorado, and Jackson to Cal.

Washington has three main holes to fill heading into next year -- quarterback (Jake Locker graduates), tight end (where no one emerged in 2010) and linebacker (replacing Foster and Victor Aiyewa).

Seferian-Jenkins could be an immediate answer at tight end.

Washington added two potential quarterbacks in Derrick Brown (who had been committed to Utah) and JC transfer Antavius Sims, who could also be tried at corner. The Huskies were still waiting as of Feb. 3 on a decision from Jacoby Brissett of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., who appeared headed to Miami or Wisconsin but was said to still have Washington on his list.

Tutogi is one potential answer at linebacker, while Washington recruited a half-dozen other players who could end up at linebacker/defensive end.

"A very complete recruiting class, one that I think fit a lot of our needs not only for the immediate but for our future moving forward," Sarkisian said. "I think we signed a very athletic class, one that is long, rangy, possesses a lot of speed, and it's physical. And I think one of the things we have tried to address as a football program as we move forward is our physicality on the field, and I think that this class does that."

TOP OF THE CLASS

WR Kasen Williams (Skyline High, Sammamish, Wash.) -- Generally considered among the top receivers in the country, he was named as Parade Magazine's Player of the Year. His father, Aaron, was a wide receiver at Washington from 1979-82, which helped him make an early decision to become a Husky and jump-started the Class of 2011. Big and physical, he should make an immediate impact as a possession receiver.

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Gig Harbor High, Gig Harbor, Wash.) -- Basically tied with Williams as the top recruit in the state and considered among the top tight ends in the country. Also seriously considered Texas and UCLA before choosing Washington. Washington has no starter returning at tight end, so Seferian-Jenkins could emerge as an immediate starter and give the Huskies a receiving threat they didn't have in 2011. At 6-foot-7, 260 pounds, he is an imposing target, though some wonder if he may outgrow tight end.

QB Derrick Brown (Vista Murrieta High, Murrieta, Calif.) -- A three-star recruit, his value is greatest in the need he fills, giving Washington added depth at quarterback. Washington has only two other returning scholarship QBs in sophomore-to-be Keith Price and freshman Nick Montana. Brown initially committed to Utah, but the Huskies swayed him after he attended a Holiday Bowl practice in San Diego and he sensed a chance to make an immediate impact with Washington.

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