Washington’s Breakout Underclassmen- DEFENSE
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The Washington breakout underclassmen list features athletes who will make a nice jump up the rankings board when updated in the coming weeks. If you are already ranked you will likely not see yourself mentioned here. Individuals referenced below project…
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Continue ReadingThe Washington breakout underclassmen list features athletes who will make a nice jump up the rankings board when updated in the coming weeks. If you are already ranked you will likely not see yourself mentioned here.
Individuals referenced below project as 1st or 2nd team all-conference athletes, with some even being potential all state kids. Have a look as we talk on 15 offensive and defensive standouts.
DEFENSE
*No Particular Order
Micah Robison Micah Robison 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Skyview | 2025 State WA 6-1 170 S 25′ Skyview
The multi sport standout stepped up as a junior, helping Skyview to an 8-1 regular season. Robison’s 3 INTs and 17 tackles were crucial for a Storm team that has a real chance to make a run in the playoffs.
Logan Knaevelsrud Logan Knaevelsrud 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Mount Si | 2025 State WA 6-4 225 DE 25′ Mount Si
Knaevelsrud is a physical presence at 6-4 225 coming off the edge. The three sport athlete put up some good numbers with 20+ tackles, and multiple sacks on the year for a Mount Si team that always has a chance in the playoffs.
Keagan Howard Keagan Howard 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Lake Stevens | 2025 State WA 6-1 205 LB 25′ Lake Stevens
Howard should make a significant jump on the rankings board, having a player of the year type season on D, and accounting for 90+ tackles and close to 20 tackles for loss. Lake Stevens’ only loss thus far was to Oregon #1 West Linn.
Peyton Howard Peyton Howard 6'0" | 240 lbs | DL Gig Harbor | 2026 State WA 6-0 235 DE 26′ Gig Harbor
The Sophomore has looked like one of the top underclassmen statewide, playing with ability beyond his years. On the season Howard has put up legit numbers across the board with 60+ tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks.
Shan Jones Shan Jones 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Mount Tahoma | 2026 State WA 6-2 205 LB 26′ Mount Tahoma
The T-Birds should be good in the coming years. Jones played varsity ball as a freshman and was a primary contributor this season with 35 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Expect him to jump up the rankings board among 2026 recruits.
Cooper Rodarte Cooper Rodarte 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Enumclaw | 2025 State WA 6-2 210 SS 25′ Enumclaw
The returning 1st team all league TE projects at LB and has had a phenomenal year for his 9-0 Enumclaw team. Rodarte has legit size, and continues to up his stock, averaging close to 8 tackles per game with double digit tackles for loss on the year.
Leonidas Maiava Leonidas Maiava 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Roosevelt | 2025 WA 6-3 235 DE 25′ Roosevelt
This kid was everywhere during the year putting up one of the most ridiculous stat lines in the state. Maiava was a big reason Roosevelt went 8-1 during the regular season, causing all sorts of problems for offenses and accouting for 50+ tackles, 30 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks.
Jonathan Haas Jonathan Haas 6'2" | 205 lbs | DL Graham-Kapowsin | 2025 WA 6-2 200 DE 25′ Graham Kapowsin
GK looks poised to win another state title, currently heading into the playoffs with a 9-0 record. Haas has been a big reason why, doing an incredible job on the defensive side of the ball. He put up one of the most impressive stat lines among juniors with 28 tackles, 6 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss through 8 weeks.
Dominique Ervin Dominique Ervin 5'8" | 190 lbs | DB Mount Tahoma | 2025 State WA 5-8 190 WLB 25′ Mount Tahoma
The undersized LB has been one of the best defensive players in the state among underclassmen with close to 70 tackles during the regular season. His ability to anticipate is impressive on film, helping his team to an undefeated record in conference.
Isaiah Olson Isaiah Olson 5'8" | 155 lbs | ATH Glacier Peak | 2026 State WA 5-8 145 CB 26′ Glacier Peak
Olson stepped up as a sophomore ranking among the state leaders in INTs with 4, for a Glacier Peak team went 6-3 with respectable losses to Lake Stevens and Camas. Isaiah will project as a 1st team all-conference kid the next few seasons.
Barry Morrissette
Barry
Morrissette
6'7" | 210 lbs | DL
Sammamish | 2025
WA
6-7 210 DE 25′ Sammamish
You have to like the 6-7 frame. Sammamish had a decent year as a team going 5-4, largely in part to Morrissette’s play on the defensive side of the ball, where went for over 40 tackles, with 6 sacks and 5 tackles for loss.
Elijah Durr Elijah Durr 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Mount Tahoma | 2026 State WA 6-1 170 DB 26′ Mount Tahoma
Look for Durr to be one of the most talked about DB’s in WA over the next few seasons. At 6-1 he has good size playing multiple spots on the secondary. He’s a physical kid who has accounted for close to 40 tackles with multiple PBUs and INTs.
Elijah Muliufi
Elijah
Muliufi
6'6" | 205 lbs | ATH
Bethel | 2026
State
WA
6-6 200 DE/TE 26′ Bethel
Bethel has to be excited about their future with kids like Muliufi returning. The 6-6 two-way standout should be considered one of the fastest rising prospects in his class, for a Bison team battled in the state’s toughest conference. He may project at TE but did well on D, making double digit tackles with multiple sacks on the year.
Franklin Pihl Franklin Pihl 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Long | 2025 WA 5-11 170 WLB 25′ R.A. Long
It’s been a tough year at (1-8) for R.A Long but Pihl has been off the charts good, putting up some of the best stats in Washington. His 100+ tackles and 5 sacks on the year, have him in a class by himself statistically during the regular season.
Trayce Teagle Trayce Teagle 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB River View | 2026 State WA 5-10 175 CB 26′ River View
Teagle is one of the region’s top baseball players but showed off his overall versatility on the football field on both sides of the ball. He led the state in INT’s (6) among small school athletes, and also impressed offensively averaging 19.7 yards per reception with 8 TDs during the regular season.