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<p><strong>The Washington 4A Preseason All-State team is structured to highlight those individuals who project to be the most valuable on their individual teams. It is NOT a list with just the top recruits. Instead of honorable mention picks you will see extended 1st & 2nd team selections. Also referenced will be the Offensive & Defensive POY candidates. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>Please note that this is not an all-conference breakdown, so it will be much more difficult to make this team when incorporating the entire state. Check it..</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Defensive POY Candidates (#1-4)</strong></p>
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<p><strong>1.[player_tooltip player_id='402789' first='Derek' last='Colman-Brusa'] 26' DE Kennedy Catholic</strong></p>
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<p><strong>2.[player_tooltip player_id='693687' first='David' last='Kuku'] 25' CB Kamiakin </strong></p>
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<p><strong>3.[player_tooltip player_id='693691' first='Nikko' last='Speer'] 25' LB Camas </strong></p>
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<p><strong>4.[player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] 25' Camas </strong></p>
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<p><strong>Returning 4A POY [player_tooltip player_id='693687' first='David' last='Kuku'] will once again have the inside track on POY honors after committing to Washington St. a few months back. That said as I would expect top ranked 2026 recruit [player_tooltip player_id='402789' first='Derek' last='Colman-Brusa'] to be a favorite for the award, after putting up one of the most ridiculous stat lines nationwide among DE's last season. As a sophomore he accounted for 75 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>Much like Kennedy Catholic, I expect Camas to be in 4A title contention with returning GSHL Defensive POY [player_tooltip player_id='693691' first='Nikko' last='Speer'] and Washington St. commit [player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] leading the D. Both the Papermakers and Skyview have a real shot at making a title run.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Another big man who doesn't play for a traditional 4A power but could be dominant is [player_tooltip player_id='693846' first='Josiah' last='Asuega'] of South Kitsap. He has a stock which has shot the roof.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>As everyone knows Yelm loses an unreal group of athletes to graduation and are moving up to the 4A level, but will return one of the top D lines in the state, with Boise St commit [player_tooltip player_id='928102' first='Jacob' last='Tracy'], DT [player_tooltip player_id='693697' first='Chris' last='Hauss'], and 2026 heavyweight wrestling state champ [player_tooltip player_id='928117' first='Jonah' last='Smith'] leading the way.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>A pair of Washington commits will highlight the LB group, with #1 recruit [player_tooltip player_id='348147' first='Zaydrius' last='Rainey-Sale'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273753' first='Jonathan' last='Epperson Jr']. both hopeful to elevate their programs come playoff time. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='693768' first='Keagan' last='Howard'] of Lake Stevens will likely have another big season after being ranked among the state leaders in multiple statistical categories as a junior. His 127 tackles, with 27 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks, to go along with a state championship speak for itself. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>DB's [player_tooltip player_id='726148' first='Zamarie' last='Tellez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='693693' first='Casey' last='Larson'] were the only players to earn 1<sup>st</sup> team all-state honors on both sides of the football. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>Kennedy Catholic features the top secondary in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='726164' first='Joey' last='Thomas'] III, [player_tooltip player_id='945853' first='Landen' last='Kahai'], and [player_tooltip player_id='726151' first='Dante' last='Saladino'] representing. Eastern Washington has been doing a good job on the recruiting front and got a big commitment from Kahai. 2026 Safety Saladino is one of the top baseball players in the NW and could also be a major D1 recruit on the football field. He finished last season with 49 tackles and 6 INTs. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>3* [player_tooltip player_id='726165' first='Jasiah' last='Denmark'] will lead an up-and-coming Puyallup team which will feature multiple high profile 27's including [player_tooltip player_id='1188082' first='Gecova' last='Doyal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1188105' first='J'Isaiah' last='Mitchell']. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>1ST TEAM DEFENSE</strong></p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='402789' first='Derek' last='Colman-Brusa'] 26' Kennedy Catholic</p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] 25' Camas </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='693846' first='Josiah' last='Asuega'] 25' South Kitsap </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='928102' first='Jacob' last='Tracy'] 25' Yelm </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='928117' first='Jonah' last='Smith'] 26' Yelm</p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='348147' first='Zaydrius' last='Rainey-Sale'] 25' Bethel </p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='693691' first='Nikko' last='Speer'] 25' Camas </p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='273753' first='Jonathan' last='Epperson Jr']. 25' Auburn Riverside</p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='936091' first='Colby' last='Johnson'] 26' Eastlake </p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='693768' first='Keagan' last='Howard'] 25' Lake Stevens</p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='693687' first='David' last='Kuku'] 25' Kennewick </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='726148' first='Zamarie' last='Tellez'] 26' Federal Way </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='945853' first='Landen' last='Kahai'] 25' Kennedy Catholic</p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='726165' first='Jasiah' last='Denmark'] 26' Puyallup </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='693693' first='Casey' last='Larson'] 25' Woodinville</p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='726151' first='Dante' last='Saladino'] 26' Kennedy Catholic </p>
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<p><strong>2ND TEAM DEFENSE</strong></p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='693697' first='Chris' last='Hauss'] 25' Yelm </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='945862' first='Connor' last='Aney'] 25' Glacier Peak </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1136344' first='Logan' last='Knaevelsrud'] 25' Mount Si </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='348167' first='Levi' last='Webb'] 25' Skyview </p>
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<p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='584889' first='Sean' last='Ponce'] 25' Sumner </p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='348165' first='Hezachariah' last='PoChing'] 25' Skyview</p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1165398' first='Austin' last='Gilvar'] 26' Sumner </p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1095829' first='Braeden' last='Harvey'] 25' Mead </p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1136314' first='Cooper' last='Macpherson'] 25' Chiawana</p>
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<p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1095831' first='Kaden' last='Hamlin'] 25' Skyview </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='693683' first='Xavier' last='Ahrens'] 25' Curtis </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='928074' first='Maurice' last='Williams'] 27' Yelm</p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='726164' first='Joey' last='Thomas'] III 26' Kennedy Catholic </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='693728' first='Jayden' last='Rice-Claiborne'] 25' Curtis </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='348164' first='Josiah' last='Paaga'] 25' Kennedy Catholic </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1136335' first='Bryson' last='Hodges'] 25' Eastlake</p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1095833' first='Micah' last='Robison'] 25' Skyview </p>
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<p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='348162' first='Seanje' last='Finister'] 25' Puyallup </p>
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