​Four-star offensive lineman DaJohn Yarborough is set to decide this Saturday, July 11, among California, Florida State, Mississippi State, and Washington, as the Huskies aim to finalize a strong offensive line class that recently added in-state product Gecova Doyal and Washington legacy Tye Kennedy. Yarborough is ranked as the No. 25 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports Composite, though he primarily lined up at right tackle for Basha (Ariz.) as a junior. What immediately stands out about the Huskies’ target is his enormous size compared to his peers, a frame that might typically suggest a slow, heavy-footed mover. Yet Yarborough is anything but that. His junior-year film shows him exploding out of his stance and covering ground with impressive quickness.
That movement ability is a major reason offensive line coach Michael Switzer is eager to bring Yarborough to Montlake. He would help the Huskies grow bigger to compete in the Big Ten trenches while still fitting Washington’s wide zone run scheme with his athleticism. The 6-foot-5, 340-pound junior also exhibits a relentless finishing mentality, constantly driving his feet and driving his blocker to the ground with power. He isn’t a one-dimensional road grader either; his stand-up reps in pass protection display advanced hand technique and strong grip strength that allow him to control defenders.
These high-level traits could help Yarborough contribute early if he lands in Seattle. Depending on where the Huskies move starting left guard John Mills after right tackle Drew Azzopardi’s eligibility concludes, Washington could have a vacancy at left guard or right tackle by the time Yarborough arrives on campus. Jedd Fisch and the rest of the staff haven’t hesitated to play freshmen on the offensive line before. They helped Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea become a second-round NFL draft pick after throwing him into the fire as a first-year college player. Mills earned consensus Freshman All-American honors last season with starts at left guard and right tackle, and five-star Kodi Greene is expected to assume the starting left tackle job as a first-year college player this season.
Yarborough’s footwork is also ahead of what you might expect for a 340-pound high schooler. Even after a fractured ankle cut his junior year short, he moves in pass protection with smoothness and balances his weight well, consistently winning collisions with defenders. With his prototypical size and technique, Yarborough projects as a player who could reach the NFL relatively quickly, provided he lands with the right coaching staff and develops during his college career.
Considering Washington’s recent track record of turning high school tackles into high-level guards, the Huskies’ chances to capitalize on Yarborough’s arrival appear promising. If he lands in Seattle, he could become a cornerstone piece in an offensive line room that is aiming to push the program’s ceiling higher and accelerate their development of interior and edge blockers for future NFL opportunities. As the decision approaches, Washington fans will be watching closely to see if Yarborough chooses the Huskies over the other compelling programs on his list.