The News Tribune’s 2023 class of Northwest Nuggets – the region’s top football recruits

The News Tribune’s annual presentation of the Northwest Nuggets features the top high school football recruits from the region, who are projected to make big impacts in college and perhaps eventually the NFL.

The 36th class includes nine seniors from Washington, Oregon and Idaho. All nine signed their National Letters of Intent during the early signing period in December, and four have already enrolled ahead of spring practices.

The TNT has been producing Northwest Nuggets — the longest-running recruiting package on the West Coast — since 1988. Including the 2023 class, 390 players have been honored, including 252 from Washington, 104 from Oregon, 28 from Idaho, five from Alaska and one from British Columbia.

THE NEWS TRIBUNE’S 2023 CLASS OF NORTHWEST NUGGETS

Micah Banuelos

Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)

Offensive lineman, 6-3, 290

Signed to: USC

What stood out most to college coaches about Banuelos during the recruiting process? “His nastiness, and his feet and athleticism,” said former Kennedy Catholic coach Sheldon Cross, who coached Banuelos during his four seasons playing varsity for the Lancers. “The thing that stood out immediately when he was young and all the way through (high school) is his nastiness at the finish of blocks and finish of plays. He plays with a great effort and nastiness throughout the entire play, and that’s something that every coach noticed immediately.” Banuelos spent his high school career blocking for one of the state’s most productive offenses, primarily playing left tackle. The Lancers led the 4A classification in scoring last fall on the way to a state championship game appearance, averaged 412.8 yards per game on offense and scored 72 total TDs. “He’s just a great football player,” Cross said. “Great tenacity on the field, but then just an awesome person off the field.” Banuelos also played defensive line throughout his career, and “caused a lot of havoc” for opposing offenses, Cross said. He is projected as an interior offensive lineman in college, but has the skill set to excel anywhere on the line, playing tackle, guard or center. “When you look at his feet and the way he moves, he’s one of the most athletic linemen in the country,” Cross said. Banuelos is considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports Composite and the No. 6 player in Washington in this class. He is rated a four-star recruit and considered the top player in Washington in this class by 247Sports, and the state’s only player in this class in the Top247 national rankings, checking in at No. 228. He was an all-state pick by both TNT and SBLive Washington this fall, and on both the Under Armour All-America Game and Polynesian Bowl rosters this winter.

What 247Sports.com National Recruiting Editor Brandon Huffman says: “It’s been a lineman-friendly state the last few years. … His positional versatility makes him good. Can play left tackle, right tackle, in college he can be a punishing guard. He can play four out of the five sports in college. He’s got tremendous length and he is a nasty, nasty lineman. He doesn’t just play to the whistle, he plays through the whistle and maybe even after the whistle sometimes. Just physical, mean and nasty.”

Landen Hatchett

Ferndale (Ferndale, Wash.)

Offensive lineman, 6-3, 300

Signed to: Washington

First, it was Geirean Hatchett becoming a national recruit in the 2020 class while attending Ferndale. Then, younger brother Landen became just as highly-coveted nationally after bulldozing defenders from the center position during his high school career. Ferndale runs the Wing-T, and it’s not typical for Jamie Plenkovich to pull his centers in the offense. Hatchett, though, isn’t an average high school center. “For a guy to pull after snapping the ball with the QB under center, he makes it look easy,” Plenkovich said. “It’s not easy. It allowed us a lot of flexibility.” Hatchett started his career at center out of necessity — playing the position gave him the best chance to get on the field as a freshman. He never switched, though, flourishing in the position. “He’s the quarterback of the offensive line, made all our calls,” Plenkovich said. “His understanding of the game, his technique sets him apart. He’s able to make all the calls, understand the game. … His ability to pull to get to second-level defenders. Oftentimes, high schoolers getting to second-level defenders whiff or don’t maintain contact, or struggle with the more athletic bodies in space. He doesn’t.” Hatchett blocked for a Golden Eagles offense that piled up 4,192 yards of total offense and 53 total TDs last fall on the way to a 3A state quarterfinals appearance. A consensus four-star recruit, Hatchett is considered the No. 5 player in Washington in this class by 247Sports Composite. He is also checks in at No. 287 on the ESPN300 national recruiting list. Hatchett was an all-state pick by both TNT and SBLive Washington this fall, and on both the Under Armour All-America Game and Polynesian Bowl rosters this winter. Will enroll in March and join older brother, Geirean, at UW.

Huffman: “Best pure center in the West. … He’s just a pure, natural center. That’s an under-appreciated position. So many schools run out of the shotgun. A lot of tackles and guards don’t know how to snap. He can snap, make all the line calls, block. He can go up with a 350-pound nose tackle, go up with the twitchy guys. He’s really a one-size-fits-all. Don’t be surprised if he plays the earliest of any guy Washington signs in their class.”

Gabarri Johnson

Lincoln (Tacoma, Wash.)

Quarterback, 6-1, 195

Signed to: Missouri

Johnson is headed from Tacoma to the SEC after lighting up defenses through the air and on the ground throughout his career with the Abes. “A true dual-threat quarterback who can throw it, but is just as good of a runner,” Lincoln coach Masaki Matsumoto said. “ … He can obviously air it out, but also keep the ball on zone reads and make a lot of things happen. Also when things break down, his legs will save him and he will be able to extend the plays.” Johnson has “a complete game,” Matsumoto said, and that played out on the field throughout four high school seasons, including three as Lincoln’s starting quarterback, when he posted a 21-6 record. He completed 133-of-190 passes for 2,301 yards and 25 TDs this season, and added 177 carries for 1,639 yards and 21 TDs in pacing the Abes to the 3A state quarterfinals. He piled up 8,903 total yards and 111 total TDs in his career, including 6,165 passing yards and 71 TDs, 2,605 rushing yards and 39 TDs and 133 receiving yards and one score. “They’re getting a special one (at Missouri), and a great kid who has a great attitude and who was a pleasure to coach all four years,” Matsumoto said. A consensus four-star recruit, Johnson is considered the No. 4 player in Washington in the 2023 class by 247Sports Composite. He is also on both the Rivals250 (No. 229) and ESPN300 (No. 262) national recruiting lists. He was The News Tribune’s All-Area player of the year in 2022, an all-state pick by both TNT and SBLive Washington in the fall and on the Polynesian Bowl rosters this winter.

Huffman: “He can make you pay with his legs as much as his arm. … He had to run the ball more this year than any season previous. He’s a guy that still wants to beat you with his arm. He’s very dangerous running with the ball tucked away. He’s got that arm, can make the throws, is really good with the deep ball, but will really chip you away with the short, intermediate routes and then make you pay over the top.”

Sam Leavitt

West Linn (West Linn, Ore.)

Quarterback, 6-2, 200

Signed to: Michigan State

Leavitt spent his high school career carving up defenses, completing 61.6 percent of passes for 7,215 yards and 81 TDs, including finishing 169-of-244 passing for 3,065 yards and 36 TDs his final season. “I think Sam is known for his arm strength and quick delivery and his accuracy,” West Linn coach Jon Eagle said. “He’s exceptional at all three. He’s just got real arm talent.” And Leavitt has more than just pocket presence — he can also make plays with his feet. That was on display during West Linn’s 6A state championship win over Sheldon last fall, when Leavitt led all rushers with 20 carries for 171 yards and a touchdown, while also passing for 131 yards. “He’s got great feet, he can make people miss and he just took the game over,” Eagle said. Leavitt finished his career with 865 rushing yards and nine TDs — including 693 yards and eight rushing scores as a senior. He is also driven, knowledgeable and a quick decision-maker on the field. “We could run any offense and he’d figure out a way to win,” Eagle said. “He’s just that kind of kid.” Leavitt compiled a 27-8 career record in high school. He is considered a four-star recruit and the top player in Oregon in the 2023 class by 247Sports Composite. He was Oregon’s Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year as a senior, and named the 6A offensive player of the year by The Oregonian/OregonLive and SBLive Oregon. Leavitt was initially committed to Washington State before signing with the Spartans during the early period.

Huffman: “One thing that evolved this season was his willingness to flash his athleticism. He’s a pro-style QB, wants to beat you with his arm, but he has athleticism that can make you pay. … He will pick you apart defensively. A lot like Gabarri (Johnson), he’ll pick you apart short, bring those guys up into the box and then boom, hit you deep. Really saw his game jump to another level. … Really good distributor of the ball, does a good job spreading the ball around.”

Jayden Limar

Lake Stevens (Lake Stevens, Wash.)

Running back, 5-11, 190

Enrolled at: Oregon

Limar made a splash before he even started high school at Lake Stevens. During a combine in the summer following his eighth grade year, Limar ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40.5-inch vertical jump, wowing Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri and his staff. Those marks were among the best Lake Stevens had ever recorded since Tri started hosting the combine in 2007. “That’s when I really went, ‘OK, he has special talent that we haven’t seen around here before,’ ” Tri said. It wasn’t long before the secret was out and the state witnessed Limar’s immense talent and athleticism. He became a workhorse running back for Lake Stevens, leading the Vikings to back-to-back 4A state championship game appearances in 2021 and 2022, including the program’s first state title last fall. His senior season, he rushed for 2,018 yards and 36 TDs on 235 carries. Limar runs a 4.4 40-yard dash these days, and that blazing speed showed up on the field, but wasn’t the only attribute that made him a nationally-coveted recruit. He’s a complete-package running back. “He’s good at everything,” Tri said. “He’s not superior at one thing. He’s got that straight-line speed, he knows how to stick his foot in the ground, lower his shoulder and go downhill. He has great vision. He can set up his cutbacks as well as any back we’ve ever had. He can also get to the edge. He can catch the ball. … He’s versatile enough to play receiver. He’s got great hands, pass (protects) really well.” A consensus four-star recruit, Limar is considered the No. 2 player in Washington in the 2023 class by 247Sports Composite. He is considered the state’s top-ranked player by Rivals, and on the Rivals250 national recruiting list at No. 150. Limar was Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, and named the state player of the year by both TNT and SBLive Washington. Was also on the Polynesian Bowl roster this winter. A one-time Notre Dame pledge, he flipped late and signed with Oregon during the early period.

Huffman: “Just a workhorse back. Can carry the ball 20, 25 times a game. Can catch the ball out of the backfield. Tremendous vision, great balance, acceleration. Almost as big of a weapon catching the ball out of the backfield. If he gets the ball in his hands, he’s good for at least 4, 5 yards. He runs a lot like Myles Gaskin did. He can accelerate, stop on a dime.”

Caleb Presley

Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)

Cornerback, 6-0, 180

Signed to: Washington

Most corners aren’t known for their love of contact on the football field, but Presley isn’t most corners. During his junior and senior years at Rainier Beach, he punished opposing players. “Most corners are prima donnas,” Vikings coach Corey Sampson said. “He goes in there and bangs out, he don’t mind throwing his body around.” That’s not to say physicality is Presley’s only attribute — he has all the traits college coaches covet in high-level, lockdown corners. He’s fast, physical, quick, can outleap receivers and boasts high-level ball skills. “He’s the complete package of a DB,” Sampson said. “He’s a smart kid, physical, like a sponge, just soaks everything in. He’s a competitor. He diagnoses defenses, studies film. He sees the play before it happens, understands route concepts.” Led the Vikings to the 3A state first round last fall. A consensus four-star recruit, Presley is considered the top recruit in Washington in 2023 by 247Sports Composite, as well as ESPN. He is also on both the Rivals250 (No. 157) and ESPN300 (No. 220) nationally recruiting lists. He was an all-state pick by both TNT and SBLive Washington this fall, and on the All-American Bowl roster this winter. A one-time Oregon commit, Presley flipped late and signed with the hometown Huskies in December.

Huffman: “Physical, can play corner, can move inside, play nickel, play safety. Probably the most physical DB in the Pacific Northwest. Has good ball skills. One of the rare corners who treasures contact. He wants to lay a big hit on you.”

Kenyon Sadiq

Skyline (Idaho Falls, Idaho)

Athlete, 6-3, 220

Enrolled at: Oregon

Skyline coach Scott Berger played Sadiq at wide receiver, tight end and even in the backfield. Everywhere he played, he was a matchup nightmare for defenders, with the size to bulldoze smaller players and the blazing speed to race past everyone else. Two-time 4A All-Idaho player of the year hauled in 62 catches for 1,303 yards and 18 TDs in his senior season, leading the Grizzlies to their third consecutive 4A state title. He rushed for 233 yards and four TDs. He also racked up 39 pancake blocks, averaged 41.8 yards per punt, and had 32 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks and caused two fumbles. “He’s just one of those once-in-a-lifetime type kids,” Berger said. “He’s a man among boys. … His skill set, he’s a mismatch for smaller DBs and then he’s a mismatch for linebackers trying to cover him, also. He likes the physicality of the game.” In one game, Sadiq caught six passes for 240 yards and five TDs. “His speed — he’s got that extra gear,” Berger said. “When he wants to turn it on, you can tell he’s going to turn it on. He loves to block. That’s what really sold it with a lot of the colleges, too. He’s willing to mix it up.” A consensus four-star recruit, Sadiq is considered the top-ranked player in Idaho in the 2023 class by both 247Sports and ESPN. He is also on both the Top247 (No. 78) and ESPN300 (No. 151) national recruiting lists. Sadiq was Idaho’s Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year as a senior, and also named the state player of the year by SBLive Idaho.

Huffman: “Just a freak athlete. Best athlete to come from the state of Idaho in maybe a decade. What makes him so crazy, he’s going to play tight end at Oregon but he can be a receiver. … I think he could be an NFL safety, linebacker. He has a lot of position versatility. He catches everything. Very wide catch radius, tracks the ball well, can high point it. Serious yards after catch. He’s a matchup nightmare for safeties and corners, and linebackers can’t run with him, even if they have similar size.”

Teitum Tuioti

Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)

Edge rusher, 6-3, 220

Enrolled at: Oregon

Tuioti joined Sheldon’s program last winter after playing in Nebraska earlier in his career, and it didn’t take coach Josh Line long to realize Tuioti could make an impact anywhere on the field. “Just a real versatile athlete,” Line said. “When I think of Teitum, first I think he’s a great teammate, and second I think he’s just got great versatility.” In his one season playing for the Irish, Tuioti tallied 446 receiving yards and six TDs on 24 catches playing primarily tight end on offense. He also scored a rushing touchdown in Sheldon’s 6A state title game appearance. On defense, he piled up 84 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two quarterback hurries, one interception returned for a touchdown, two passes defended, one caused fumble, two recoveries and a safety. “He’s really fast for a kid his size, he’s got great mobility, can start and stop really well, changes directions really well,” Line said. “All of that is really impressive for anyone, but for his size, it’s even more impressive.” Tuioti was also a leader in Sheldon’s program this season, and helped inspire confidence in his teammates. “He was a builder for sure,” Line said. “He did a fantastic job of that.” Tuioti is considered a three-star recruit and the No. 2 player in Oregon in this class by 247Sports Composite. He is listed as a four-star prospect and the state’s top recruit by both 247Sports and ESPN. He is ranked the No. 211 player in the class on the Top247 national recruiting list. He was named the 6A offensive player of the year by The Oregonian/OregonLive and SBLive Oregon as a senior, and was on the Polynesian Bowl roster this winter. Tuioti has enrolled early at Oregon, joining his dad, who is the Ducks’ defensive line coach.

Huffman: “One of the most intriguing players in this class. Played in Nebraska sophomore and junior year. … At 6-3, 220, just a tremendous pass rusher. Quick first step, explosive, good leverage, has an arsenal of moves he can use. Will use moves to get under you, around you, can drop into coverage if necessary. He could be an effective outside backer. His ability to get to the QB will make you pay. Super high football IQ.”

Jasiah Wagoner

Spanaway Lake (Spanaway, Wash.)

Cornerback, 5-11, 170

Enrolled at: Oklahoma

Wagoner is projected as a cornerback in college, but was an impact player on everywhere on the field for Spanaway Lake during his high school career, during which he paced the Sentinels to their first league title in 20 years as a sophomore and to back-to-back appearances in the 3A state playoffs as a junior and senior. Wagoner is an “electric” player, Spanaway Lake coach Cameron Robak said. He piled up 2,287 all-purpose yards — including 326 rushing and 1,421 receiving — and 21 total TDs in 31 career games with the Sentinels. He had 120 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, six interceptions, 13 passes defended, three caused fumbles and one recovery on defense. “He can hold the edge, no one gets outside, he’s great at shedding blocks,” Robak said. “He’s physical, and he can line up — so far that I’ve seen — against anybody.” Wagoner spent much of his high school career at cornerback, limiting opposing offenses. “He was able to shut down an entire side of the field,” Robak said. “People didn’t want to throw his way.” He shifted to safety last fall, and dealt with injuries during his senior season, but was still key in the Sentinels’ run to the 3A state first round. A consensus four-star recruit, Wagoner is considered the No. 3 player in the state in this class by 247Sports Composite. He checks in at No. 245 on the ESPN300 national recruiting list. Wagoner was also on the All-American Bowl roster this winter.

Huffman: “Most instinctual DB in the region. His ability to diagnose plays, read and react, his closing speed is top notch, ball skills are tremendous. The biggest knock on him is he’s on the slighter side, but he’s never ducked competition, physicality. The way he can break on a ball, the way he can read and react to a QB, running back, receiver, he’s so instinctual and so good at diagnosing plays. He doesn’t get beat. Good recovery speed. Incredible ball skills. His closing speed makes him super dangerous as a DB.”

BEST OF THE REST

LB Xe’ree Alexander, Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)

Signed to: Idaho

TE Tucker Ashcraft, O’Dea (Seattle, Wash.)

Signed to: Wisconsin

RB Isaiah Carlson, Ferndale (Ferndale, Wash.)

Signed to: UCLA

ATH Kade Eldridge, Lynden Christian (Lynden, Wash.)

Signed to: USC

TE C.J. Jacobsen, Rocky Mountain (Meridian, Idaho)

Signed to: Utah

TE Cooper Jensen, Glacier Peak (Snohomish, Wash.)

Signed to: Oregon State

CB Andre Jordan, Federal Way (Federal Way, Wash.)

Signed to: Oregon State

EDGE Jacob Lane, Emerald Ridge (Puyallup, Wash.)

Signed to: Washington

ATH Trey Leckner, Glacier Peak (Snohomish, Wash.)

Signed to: Washington State

OL Heath Ozaeta, Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.)

Signed to: Oklahoma

ATH Leo Pulalasi, Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.)

Signed to: Washington State

TE Dorian Thomas, Kentridge (Kent, Wash.)

Signed to: Arizona