Washington set to host Arizona DL transfer Isaiah Ward

Arizona transfer defensive lineman Isaiah Ward is not wasting any time in the portal.

He is expected to visit Seattle this weekend, a source tells On3. The trip to Washington allows Ward to spend time with his former head coach, Jedd Fisch, and other members of the old Arizona coaching staff.

Ward’s former outside linebackers coach Jason Kaufusi is now with Washington as the run game coordinator and defensive line assistant. After playing in three games as a true freshman and taking a redshirt, he played in every game this season at Arizona. Isaiah Ward tallied 30 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound lineman was a key contributor in a defense that finished No. 48 in the nation in team defense this past season, allowing 357.9 yards per game. Arizona finished the season 10-3, ranked No. 11 in the final polls after beating Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. The Wildcats also allowed just 21.08 points per game, finishing No. 29.

The Colony, California, native was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. If he decides to transfer to Washington after the visit, he will join former teammate Jonah Coleman.

Washington gearing up for Year 1 with Jedd Fisch in Big Ten

Earlier this week On3 reported that former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers planned to withdraw from the portal and stick with his commitment to Washington, giving Fisch and the Huskies their quarterback for the 2024 season. Rogers transferred to Seattle in December, well before the national championship appearance and Kalen DeBoer leaving for Alabama.

Rogers decided to play for Fisch after looking at some Big Ten and SEC schools. Working with Fisch will be another step in his maturation into an NFL prospect. It’s a big pickup for the first-year Washington head coach, who has seen most of the roster enter the transfer portal since DeBoer left for the SEC.

The Huskies open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Weber State.