Washington signed the top-rated defensive lineman from the state of Colorado in the 2026 recruiting class in TI Umu-Cais. He was the third-ranked player out of the Centennial State last year overall. Now, the Husky coaching staff is working on recruiting two of the top four recruits from Colorado’s 2027 class. Among its Junior Day visitors this weekend, Washington will be hosting three-star EDGE Troy Mailo and three-star offensive lineman Reis Russell.
Colorado Recruits Visit UW for Junior Day
EDGE Troy Mailo
Out of Mullen High School, Mailo is a multi-sport athlete who excels as an EDGE rusher on the football field. Mailo also plays basketball and volleyball for the Mustangs. The 6’-3.5” and 245-pound EDGE is ranked inside the top 50 at his position nationally, and he is off of a standout junior season. He tallied 44 tackles, including 16.5 for loss, eight sacks, and 32 quarterback hurries. Mailo also forced a pair of fumbles and blocked two field goals during the 2025 season in Denver, Colorado. The year prior, he had 14 tackles for loss as a sophomore with 52 total tackles and seven sacks.
Mailo’s first offer came from Washington State in early 2024, and the Huskies offered the Colorado native in August before the 2025 season. In November, Mailo was on campus at Washington for the Huskies rivalry game against Oregon. In addition to Washington and Washington State, Mailo also holds offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, and Colorado, among others. The three-star has yet to narrow his search, but the Husky staff will make their case this weekend.
OL Reis Russell
At 6’-3” and 290 pounds, Russell is the second-ranked offensive lineman from Colorado and the fourth-ranked player from the state overall. Out of Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch (CO), Russell narrowed his college selection to six schools in early February. In addition to Washington, it includes Oregon, SMU, Florida, Miami, and Georgia.
Washington’s offensive line coach, Michael Switzer, made an in-home visit to Russell on the night of the CFP National Title in January of this year. The Colorado native visited Washington for its home-opener against Colorado State in August. And Russell was also in attendance at Washington’s Junior Day event in 2025 when he received his offer to play for the Huskies. The relationship between Russell and the Husky staff is strong. Russell currently has two official visits set up this Summer. The first is at Georgia in April. And he’s slated to visit Washington over the weekend of June 19th.
Main Photo: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
