Seeking Elusive Second 2026 Edge, Huskies Still in Running for Texas Target

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 2:47 PM ET

For the University of Washington, finding a second edge rusher for its Class of 2026, to go with Derek Colman-Brusa, has left everyone involved, well, just a little on edge.

From Seattle's First Hill to Georgia's second-largest city over the past week, the Huskies have received rejection slips from desired edge targets.

Locally produced 3-star David Schwerzel went with UCLA over the Huskies while 5-star Tristian Givens must have been given an oil well or some such enticement to pledge to Texas A&M, and this was after he heard from just about everyone in the fan base on why he should play in Montlake.

Now comes a 4-star Texas target named Landon Barnes, who hails from Duncanville, affectionately known as D'Ville to its residents, which sits in the southwest Dallas suburbs.

On Tuesday, Barnes shared with On3 at a Rivals camp with 247Sports no doubt waiting in the wings listening in on how he's focusing on LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Washington leading up to his decision.

Duncanville (Texas) High On300 edge Landon Barnes is at the Rivals Five Star Challenge. LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Washington are the four he’s highest on. https://t.co/2E3NsX8HOT pic.twitter.com/Yb52guuMrG
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) June 24, 2025

However, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Barnes took his official visit to Montlake way back on April 25, which doesn't bode well for a school expecting to land his commitment.

What's interesting about Barnes' recruitment is he canceled out of a recent visit to Georgia -- or else the Bulldogs' filled up their edge quota and dropped out -- and he similarly has gone in a different direction from the major players in his neighborhood, Texas and SMU.

Either way, Barnes has a lot of credentials after piling up 43 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 pass break-ups, 2 fumble recoveries and and a fumble recovery for a 13-1 Duncanville High team that advanced to the 6A state semifinals.

Blue-chip EDGE Landon Barnes tells @Rivals he will commit next week

Washington, SMU, LSU and Ohio State are all in play: https://t.co/O08yCasrTW pic.twitter.com/W74onzgzLt
— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) June 24, 2025

The Huskies have had a fairly productive 2026 recruiting season with 15 commitments so far, yet landing that second edge rusher has been a decided challenge.

Maybe D'Ville will have a solution for the Huskies.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

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

More must-reads: