Rahshawn Clark commits to Washington Huskies; 4-star athlete staying home
With only one of the nation's top 250 prospects uncommitted entering Wednesday's late signing period, there weren't many major recruiting prizes left on the board.
But Garfield (Washington) four-star athlete Rahshawn Clark certainly qualified.
The versatile 6-foot, 180-pound playmaker, projected as a defensive back at the collegiate level, is rated the nation's No. 21 athlete.
After decommitting from both Cal and Arizona late in the process, Clark experienced a third recruitment.
On Wednesday, he finally put an end to the process, announcing his commitment to the in-state Washington Huskies over fellow finalist Arizona.
"I would say what made Washington home, for me, in the end was honestly the relationship I built with Coach (Jedd) Fisch, Coach J-Rich [John Richardson) and Coach (Armond) Hawkins Jr.. I’ve never had a relationship with a head coach like I have with Coach Fisch before, and I truly believe what he built in Tucson he can and will do at Washington."
Clark is the first in-state commitment in Washington's class, a fact the Garfield star doesn't take lightly.
"It’s a true blessing, because the amount of love I have from the fans and the whole state of Washington runs so deep," he said.
Coming to that decision, however, took time.
After commitments to both Cal and Arizona, Clark was careful making a final decision this week.
Choosing Washington, therefore, wasn't a "eureka" moment, but rather a developing feeling.
"It was a slow build, because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t reacting on emotion and (U-Dub) was actually the right place for me and it was right to follow my coaches," he said.
Clark has an affinity for the offensive side of the ball, but projects to playing time more quickly as a returner and on defense, where he could bounce around the secondary based on need.
Here's what 247Sports had to say about the Washington product as a recruit:
"He's rated as an athlete because we've always felt his highest ceiling was as a cornerback or nickel but his heart has long been at receiver. ...Whichever side of the ball he ends up playing, he will impact the game. He's also a good returner, a player who can use his speed and vision to break off long returns. As a receiver, he's a natural pass catcher and probably projects best inside as a slot but could split out wide too depending on the offense. Defensively, he has some of the best ball skills of any defender in the class and plays with a nice, physical edge to him, not afraid to initiate contact at all."
Senior season highlights
