UW Coaches Show Up In Force to See Four-Star Bethel Linebacker
zaydrius-rainey-sale
Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, a four-star linebacker from Bethel High School in the 2025 recruiting class and one-time Washington football commit, remains very much in play for the Huskies.
On Monday, the first day coaches could get out of the office and visit high schools after wrapping up spring camp last Friday, seven UW assistants made the 53-mile drive south to check in with Rainey-Sale ahead of his official visit to the school at the end of May.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick, linebackers coach Robert Bala, defensive line coach Jason Kafusi, cornerbacks coach John Richardson, safeties coach Vinnie Sunseri, along with running backs coach Scottie Graham and tight end coach Jordan Paopao visited Bethel on Monday, a true show of force in numbers to signify how important Rainey-Sale is for the coaches to keep close to home.
“It’s been good man – I love the energy,” Rainey-Sale told Athlon Sports in mid-April of his connection with the new UW staff, noting he has a great relationship with all the coaches.
“It’s funny as hell over there. They be making me laugh. It’s great vibes over there though.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior – ranked as the No. 1 prospect from the Evergreen State in this year’s class according to 247Sports – has made a few visits to campus since Jedd Fisch became coach.
During the first two weeks of spring when former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was at UW’s practices Rainey-Sale got the opportunity to meet both, a moment that left in him in awe.
“I dapped him [Steve Belichick] up in slow motion it felt like I ain’t gonna lie,” he said of meeting the Huskies DC. “And then he called Bill Belichick over and I didn’t know how [to react] – I was frozen up.”
Four schools have scheduled an official visit with Rainey-Sale; UCLA May 17-18, Arizona State May 31-June 1, Washington June 7-8 and Florida State June 14-15.
When the four-star Bethel linebacker makes his trip to UW he’ll be the only official visitor on campus, allowing the coaches ample time with Rainey-Sale to grow relationships in an effort to convince him to pick the school for a second time.
Back in January under former coach Kalen DeBoer, Rainey-Sale made an early commitment to the UW football program before the team faced Michigan in the 2024 National Championship.
Follow DeBoer’s departure to replace Nick Saban at Alabama the top-ranked player from the state decided to take a step back, but not fully close the door, on staying home and playing at UW.
After being re-offered by the Huskies on Jan. 20, and cultivating strong relationships with the entire new staff, Washington remains very much in play for Rainey-Sale.