Farria headed to Washington
Marcus Farria says it was always Washington. There was no serious internal debate, no runner up and no doubt in his mind. The four-star defensive end was sold well before he stepped off the Huskies' campus following an unofficial visit roughly two months ago.
He's known all along. He just didn't feel like sharing it.
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"I had made my mind up back then because I liked the school so much," Farria said. "All the resources they have … they have all the tools I need."
On Friday, he made things official. And when the 6-foot-4, 226-pound defensive end talks about his verbal commitment to Washington, those within an earshot are only left wondering what took so long.
"I just told (defensive line) coach (Tosh) Lupoi today," Farria said. "He was real excited about it. He's excited to work with me and I'm excited to work with him.
"He's the kind of coach that can really help me succeed."
Farria, the No. 16 defensive end in the class of 2013 and the 7th-ranked player in the state of Arizona, says it was a combination of things that sold him on coach Steve Sarkisian's Huskies. The campus played a part. So did the team's style of play. He even mentioned the opportunity for a quality education.
But youth, maybe more than anything else, could have been the primary selling point.
"The coaching staff is real young," Farria said. "I can relate to all of them."
His pledge came by phone on Friday afternoon, and the Washington coaching staff wasted no time filling its newest player in on how his unique talents might be best used on Saturdays.
"They said I'm going to be like a hybrid linebacker slash D-lineman," Farria said. "Pretty much, I'll be up on some snaps and down on others."
Farria chose Washington over offers from Tennessee, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Arkansas and Boise State among others.