Blakley being pulled in two directions
Uncertainty had set in for a time.
When Steve Sarkisian left Washington for USC, four-star tight end Chase Blakley got uncomfortable. He doesn't deny that. For a short while, he wondered if there was reason for alarm. Turns out, any worrying he did was unnecessary.
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Things are more relaxed these days. Back to normal, even. All it took was a chat or two with the program's new head coach. Following that conversation, his worry was put to rest and his standing as a member of the Huskies' 2014 class was reaffirmed.
"I talked to Chris Petersen two days ago and again today," Blakley said. "He just clarified when the staff was going to arrive. He wants me to take my official in January when everybody is there. So we are going to wait for the full staff before I do my visit.
"I know that he is bringing some guys from Boise but I'm not sure who or how many or anything."
And so Blakely, a senior at Idaho's Coeur d'Alene high school, remains committed. Life is largely unchanged. He'll proceed toward enrolling at Washington next fall. There is, however, the matter of the SEC.
While Washington was facing coaching uncertainty, Blakley received a scholarship offer from Florida, which had been involved in his recruitment early before cooling for a few months. Still, the relationship was in place. The Gators' late pitch carried some weight upon arrival.
Blakley certainly doesn't plan to ignore Florida. When Will Muschamp came calling, he started listening. It's not as though the offer was a cold call.
"They were on me really early last year," Blakley said. "That's a great school. They have great tradition there, and Coach Muschamp is a hell of a coach. They want me to visit in January. We're going to see how things go with U-Dub then decide if I am going to visit or not."
The No. 9 tight end in his class and the top senior in the state of Idaho, Blakley says Florida and Washington are the only schools actively recruiting him at this time.