Willingham courts No. 1 RB
One of the first things on new Husky coach Tyrone Willingham's plate was to get UW back on the recruiting trail and that is exactly what he has done the first order of business was to make contact with the nation's No. 1 running back who just happens to be from the Evergreen State.
If the Huskies are going to return to their glory years Willingham will have to take a page out of the Dawgfather's handbook – keep the local talent at home.
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Willingham is attempting to do just that. He has been able to the Huskies in the running for five-star running back Jonathan Stewart (5-10, 224, 4.5) from Lacey (Wash.) Timberlane.
Stewart will be going up to Washington this Sunday to meet Willingham.
Does that mean the Dawgs land Stewart?
Well it is too early to make predictions but it interesting that Stewart is showing any interest in Washington because he had very little interest in UW before.
Stewart has already taken visits to Washington State (Stewart's alleged leader), Tennessee and USC.
Stewart will visit Oregon on January 7th.
Stewart, it has been said, is the best running back out Washington since former Husky great and now New England Patriot running back Cory Dillon.
"I've seen them both," Timberline coach Kevin Young said. "I've had the privilege to coach Jonathan and I coached against Cory."
"I think there is a good comparison between the two," Young said. "In terms of size and speed there are similarities."
"At the high school stage of their careers, Jonathan may be the more polished player," Young said. "Of course, Cory has done a lot of great things since then."
Stewart certainly lived up to his reputation as one of the nation's great backs. He rushed for 2,301 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2004.
Stewart is a member of the Rivals.com Rivals100 team landing as the nation's No. 11 prospect at any position for the class of 2005. Rivals.com rates Stewart as the nation's No. 1 running and he rated as the State of Washington's No. 1 prospect at any position.