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One-Time UW Signee Noah Carter Follows DeBoer to Alabama

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley  |  Last updated 1/25/24

Impatient Alabama followers, after watching a handful of elite prospects push away from the Crimson Tide in recent weeks, have deduced that Kalen DeBoer can't recruit.

Well, the former University of Washington football coach turned Nick Saban successor is finding a lot of people now picking through his Husky recruiting class signed in December and looking for treasures.

In fact, DeBoer himself backtracked and will bring edge rusher Noah Carter — Arizona's top high school player and a one-time UW signee — to Tuscaloosa, receiving an oral commitment from him on Thursday after he drew his scholarship release from Montlake.

The 6-foot-4, 228-pound Carter is an overly athletic defender, a 4-star recruit versatile enough to score eight times on receiving touchdowns as a wide receiver and twice more on punt returns and some think might have been the recruiting prize of this class.

"Elite player, all around," DeBoer said in December. 

That kid alone should tamp down a lot of DeBoer's critics in time. He's the first signee from the UW's 2024 class to find another place to play, though eight of the 15 have sought scholarship releases at some point, with linebacker Khmori House choosing to stay put with the Jedd Fisch staff. 

Dominic Kirks, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive tackle from Painesville, Ohio, was another UW high school commit for DeBoer who ultimately held out for an Ohio State offer that has come his way.

DeBoer also signed five portal transfers for the UW and three asked for scholarship releases, before quarterback Will Rogers reconsidered and will stay with the Fisch staff. Tight end Tre Watson, who played for DeBoer at Fresno State, will now play in the SEC at Texas A&M.

Yet another portal possibility for the Huskies was Arizona State defensive lineman B.J. Green, who appears headed to Mississippi or Colorado since DeBoer moved on.

While that entire UW recruiting class is somewhat fractured at the moment, it could turn out to be exceptional in the end, with the Huskies benefitting, Alabama getting a player or two and others finding some talent.

A breakdown of the UW's original 19 before Saban retired, DeBoer called for a moving van and players began to scatter.

UW 2024 HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES

Davit Boyajyan, OT, 6-6, 305, Clovis North HS, Clovis, Calif. — signed by UW.

Ratumana Bulabalavu, ER, 6-4, 260, Army and Navy Academy, Carlsbad, Calif. — asked for release from UW.

Noah Carter, ER, 6-4, 228, Centennial HS, Peoria, Ariz. — asked for release from UW; committed to Alabama.

Dermaricus Davis, QB, 6-4, 190, Etiwanda HS, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. — asked for release from UW.

Decker DeGraaf, TE, 6-4, 230, Glendora HS, Glendora, Calif. — signed by UW.

Paki Finau, OT, 6-4, 265, Oak Hills HS, Hesperia, Calif. — asked for release from UW.

Khmori House, LB, 6-1, 205, St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, Calif. — signed by UW; reaffirmed commitment to UW.

Elias Johnson, CB, 6-3, 160, Jesuit HS, Portland, Ore. — signed by UW.

Omar Khan, DT, 6-2, 270, Bridgeland HS, Cypress, Texas — signed by UW.

Joshua Lair, S, 6-1, 185, Fort Bend Marshall HS, Missouri City, Texas — asked for release from UW.

Paul Mencke Jr., S, 6-2, 185, Samuel Clemens HS, Schertz, Texas — signed by UW.

Jason Robinson, WR, 5-10, 160, San Juan Hills HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. — signed by UW.

Peyton Waters, S, 6-2, 170, Birmingham HS, Van Nuys, Calif. — asked for release from UW.

Keona Wilhite, DT, 6-5, 240, Salpointe Catholic HS, Tucson, Ariz. — asked for release from UW.

Justice Williams, WR, 6-4, 195, Oaks Christian School, Westlake Village, Calif. — signed by UW.

UW 2024 PORTAL TRANSFER SIGNEES

Drew Azzopardi, OT, 6-7, 315, San Diego State, Pacifica, Calif. — signed by UW.

Ethan Barr, LB, 6-3, 245, Vanderbilt, Flower Mound, Texas — asked for release from UW; committed to Central Florida.

Will Rogers, QB, 6-2, 215, Mississippi State, Brandon, Miss. — signed by UW; re-committed to UW.

Sebastian Valdez, DT, 6-3, 284, Montana State, Spring Valley, Calif. — signed by UW.

Tre Watson, TE, 6-5, 245, Fresno State, Rio Rancho, Calif. — asked for release from UW; committed to Texas A&M.

This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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