4-star DL Dominic Kirks commits to Washington: 'It was just a no-brainer for me'

Cleveland (Ohio) Villa Angela-St. Joseph four-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks was wary of traveling all the way out to Washington the first time he visited Seattle.

Of the programs he was considering, it was definitely the farthest from home. That feeling changed immediately when he walked in the doors of the Huskies’ facility. Earlier this month, he returned for an official visit, and he knew for sure that he was home.

On Friday, he announced publicly for the Huskies, choosing Washington over Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Pittsburgh.

“When I went out there the first time on my unofficial visit, I wasn’t expecting too much,” he told On3. “When I first stepped into the facilities though, that’s when everything changed. I was thinking before I went out that I’d be so uncomfortable out there by myself, I wouldn’t be ready for that. But it just wasn’t that at all. It was the complete opposite. I was with my brothers and my coaches when I first stepped in there, and they made it feel like home.”

Dominic Kirks has built strong connections in Seattle

Kirks also took official visits to Pitt and Wisconsin in June, but as he came down to making a decision, Washington was ahead of the pack. The relationships he has built in Seattle, both with players and coaches, were second-to-none.

“Pitt was in front for a while, and it took me a couple weeks to really put Washington even in front of Wisconsin,” he said. “But the relationship I have with the coaches and the players, and Jeremiah Martin — he’s on the Browns now — you don’t really see that with players who don’t even go to the school anymore trying to pour into you and give you knowledge.”

He says the he really knew on the second day of his official visit, surrounded by his player hosts, who were also from the Midwest. After talking to them and hearing out their experiences, he knew distance from home didn’t matter.

“That’s when I was really like this is the place for me,” he added. “The relationship I have with the players, it was just a no-brainer for me. No disrespect to other schools, but Washington did it differently.”

Washington’s recent success and player development excites him

The Huskies are coming off their first 10-win season since 2018, and he believes Kalen DeBoer and his staff have the ship headed in the right direction.

“It’s a bit underrated because that coaching staff was at Fresno State. They weren’t really on the radar, but as soon as they got to Washington they started winning,” he said. “I love that part about them. Coach DeBoer, he’s a very laid-back person and a great head coach. I feel like you can talk to him about anything.

Kirks also feels like Washington is the best place he can be developed both for college and hopefully the NFL.

“How they can develop me, it’s perfect,” he said. “They have a great system, and I think we’re going to bring “EDGE U” to that program once they see what the University of Washington is all about.”

The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder is the No. 385 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 34 defensive lineman and the No. 14 player in Ohio.