Huskies Re-Enter the Race for Arizona Offensive Tackle

The University of Washington football team is again in contention for highly-rated offensive tackle Ben Lowther, a standout player from Centennial High School in Peoria, Arizona. Lowther, a member of the Class of 2027, initially chose Stanford University but has since reopened his recruitment.

Recruitment Timeline and Decommitment

Ben Lowther originally committed to Stanford last November. However, on January 6, the 6-foot-8, 320-pound recruit decommitted from the Cardinal following the appointment of Tavita Pritchard as head coach. This development has allowed the Huskies to re-engage with the four-star prospect.

Current Top Schools

On Wednesday, Lowther narrowed his college choices to four schools: Stanford, Washington, Arizona, and Arizona State. He is scheduled to take official visits to each of these universities. His visit to the UW is set for June 5.

Upcoming Visit Schedule

  • Arizona State: May 1
  • Stanford: May 29
  • University of Washington: June 5
  • Arizona: June 19

UW's Offensive Line Success

This pursuit comes as the Huskies have been actively bolstering their offensive line. Recently, they secured commitments from John Mills (6-foot-6, 340 pounds), Kodi Greene (6-foot-5, 321 pounds), and Dominic Harris (6-foot-7, 356 pounds). Adding Lowther would continue this trend of recruiting oversized linemen.

Player Background and Interests

Lowther played for a 9-5 Centennial High School team coached by Andrew Taylor, following two seasons under his father, Richard Taylor. Interestingly, his high school is located just two miles from the Seattle Mariners’ spring training stadium. He also has a unique pre-game ritual, listening to Alice in Chains to prepare.

Early Offer and Recruiting Class

The University of Washington first extended an offer to Lowther on May 12 of last year. The Huskies’ current recruiting class is ranked as high as No. 9 nationally, boosted by recent commitment from defensive tackle Jon Ioane. Currently, the class includes 10 committed players, with seven on the defensive side.

Arizona Pipeline

The Huskies have a strong track record of recruiting players from Arizona, currently boasting five on their roster, including starters Demond Williams Jr. (quarterback), Dezmen Roebuck (wide receiver), Alex McLaughlin, and Rylon Dillard-Allen (safeties). They already have commitments from two Arizonans in the Class of 2027: Zerek Sidney and Jeremy Adejanyu.

Lowther’s father is a mechanical engineer, a factor that initially drew him to Stanford. However, the Huskies are hoping to capitalize on their success in attracting talent from the state.

This article was written by Dan Raley, a veteran sportswriter with four decades of experience covering University of Washington athletics.