For the second time this year, four-star linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale has committed to Washington. The top player in the state of Washington and product of Bethel High School is one of the best defenders on the West Coast in the 2025 class and has pushed Jedd Fisch’s class up to No. 19 in the country according to 247Sports’ rankings.
“Washington is home and I want to put on for the hometown,” Rainey-Sale told 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman. “Coach Fisch and [linebackers] coach [Robert] Bala have made me feel like a priority from the time they got there.”
With four linebackers set to graduate following the 2024 season, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect who is ranked as the No. 14 player at his position has the opportunity to step in and play right away, which Fisch and Bala sold him on, along with the chance to play in his hometown.
“The biggest thing is Washington is close to home and UW made me feel like family,” he told Huffman. “When me and my family had our talk about the schools, I knew Washington was home.”
When Rainey-Sale made his announcement on Monday, he lit social media on fire, he became the first No. 1 in-state recruit (per 247Sports’ rankings) to stay home since Sav’ell Smalls in the 2020 class. Cornerback Caleb Presley dropped to No. 2 in the 2023 class after signing day, just behind USC offensive lineman Micah Banuelos.
