Derek Colman-Brusa. Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Why commitment from four-star edge-rusher was vital for Washington

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated May 5, 2025 7:12 PM ET

Washington football head coach Jedd Fisch is trying to do everything he can to bring the Huskies back onto the national stage.

Kalen DeBoer left Washington for Alabama after leading the Huskies to the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship. Fisch was then poached from Arizona and went 6-7 in his first season with Washington.

Rebuilding a program in your image is a slow process, but that's exactly what Fisch is looking to do via the transfer portal and recruiting trail. He got a massive commitment on Sunday evening from four-star edge Derek Colman-Brusa from Burien, Washington.

Colman-Brusa committed to Fisch and the Huskies over USC, Ohio State and Oregon, among others.

1000% COMMITTED
HOME ☔️@CoachJeddFisch @Coach_Walters @CoachKaufusi @LockedOnHuskies @ErikHamburg @UW_Football #BowDown
pic.twitter.com/U9YketmrgU
— Derek Colman-Brusa (@ColmanBrusa2026) May 5, 2025

Again, this is a massive win for the Huskies. If Fisch wants to rebuild Washington, he will have to lock down his borders within the state.

Colman-Brusa is ranked as the top 2026 recruit from the state of Washington, according to the 247Sports Composite. He's also ranked as the No. 18 edge-rusher in the country.

This is a statement recruiting victory by Washington, and it comes less than a week after Fisch and his staff flipped five-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene from Oregon.

Half the battle on the recruiting trail is momentum, and Washington has plenty of it right now. In fact, the Huskies' 2026 class is currently ranked No. 17 in the nation by 247Sports.

Having a top-20 recruiting class is no small deal, and Colman-Brusa is a major part of that puzzle. Greene is easily Washington's highest-ranked commitment, but Colman-Brusa is right behind him.

Earlier this year, Brandon Huffman of 247Sports told the Seattle Times that Colman-Brusa was a must-get for the Huskies.

“They absolutely have to get him," Huffman said then.

The Huskies needed to land him, and now, they've got him.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

More must-reads: