Whether it's the best class Tyrone Willingham has recruited at Washington won't be known for a few years.

What was immediately apparent, however, was that it was the biggest, which in itself was a victory.

After suffering a lot of attrition the last few years, the Huskies had pressing needs in many areas -- and needed depth just about everywhere.

So the Huskies signed 27 players, including 25 high school players who figure to form the foundation of Willingham's rebuilding efforts for years.

The Huskies didn't sign a bunch of prep All-Americans and the class was generally regarded as in the middle of the Pac-10 Conference, at best. Willingham didn't really argue that the class wasn't full of five-star players, but said that wasn't the point.

"I think it's a good class, a deep class," said Willingham. "There's maybe not one guy who will burst out in front of all the other guys, but it's a class that will offer us a lot of good football players."

The Huskies filled some key needs by bringing in five running backs -- they have just three returnees -- as well as three cornerbacks and a punter and a kicker, other spots where UW lost starters from 2006.

TOP RECRUITS:

--RB Willie Griffin, Oakland -- The 5-8, 200-pounder is one of five RBs signed by the Huskies and one who could play immediately. He also had offers from Oregon State and Colorado, among others, after leading McClymonds High to the CIF Oakland Section championship in 2005 and 2006. He led Warriors to a 78-37 win over San Francisco City champion Lincoln in the inaugural TransBay Bowl, rushing for 191 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries in a game in which he didn't play most of the second half.

--RB Brandon Johnson, Compton, Calif. -- Tabbed by some as maybe the most ready of the five RBs signed by UW to play immediately. Also had offers from Cal and Oregon after rushing for 1,665 yards and 30 touchdowns.

--WR Anthony Boyles, Gardena, Calif. -- Maybe the most highly-touted player in the class turning down the likes of Oregon and Nebraska. A dynamic receiver who played in the Offense-Defensive All-America Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., following his senior season and was named MVP of the West team after catching two passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. As a senior, caught 53 passes for 790 yards and seven touchdowns

--WR Devin Aguilar, Denver, Colo. -- Highly-decorated receiver who figures to have a chance to play immediately. Named the Rocky Mountain News' All-Colorado offensive player of the year as a senior and also named the state's offensive player of the year by the Denver Post after catching 53 passes for 1,339 yards and 18 touchdowns.

--Receivers coach Eric Yarber left UW for Arizona State in December to join Dennis Erickson, for whom he played at Idaho and later coached with at Oregon State and in the NFL. Yarber was regarded as one of UW's best recruiters, but the Huskies were able to hold on to the players he was most responsible for, including Johnson and Boyles. UW has yet to name a replacement.

--Backup QB Johnny DuRocher has been forced to give up football after being diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. DuRocher had surgery late last year and is recovering nicely but has decided to concentrate on a new career in baseball for the Huskies.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This class has the feel of a lot of the classes that we brought in during the early '90s. I think a lot of those classes, if you go back and look, had a lot of kids that were two- and three-star type guys, the way the so-called gurus rated them -- guys like Steve Emtman and Charles Mincey and Donald Jones. And they all went on to be great players. This class has that same flavor." -- UW recruiting coordinator Chris Tormey, who was part of UW's staff from 1984-94 and then returned in 2004.

GLANCE AT 2007: The Huskies will return 13 position starters (seven offense, six defense) and virtually every key backup from the 2006 team that appeared to make a step forward by finishing 5-7 and winning at Washington State in the season finale. The real excitement for next year, however, revolves around the likely debut of redshirt freshman QB Jake Locker, who many view as potentially the program's best QB since Marques Tuiasosopo led UW to the Rose Bowl in 2000. UW, however, has little depth in the backfield, on the offensive line and in the secondary and will need some young players to step up as playmakers.

PRO POTENTIAL:

--QB Isaiah Stanback -- Stanback suffered a major foot injury in the seventh game of the year that knocked him out for the rest of the season. But he has been improving ahead of schedule and has been invited to the NFL Combine where he will be able to do throwing drills, though likely not anything involving running or agility. He is considered as a possible second-day pick as a QB, though some teams may also look at him as an athlete.

--CB Dashon Goldson -- His production was spotty as a collegian but he has solid measurable qualities (6-2, 205 and good speed) and played only one year at cornerback after moving from safety. He had a solid performance as a cornerback at the East-West Shrine Game which scouts said solidified his status as at least a second-day draftee.

--P Sean Douglas -- Has a big leg, which he showed at the East-West Shrine Game, and is sure to get a chance at least as a free agent.

ROSTER REPORT: Carl Bonnell, who ended the season as the team's starting quarterback, had off-season surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder that showed more significant damage than anticipated and he may not be available for the start of spring practice, which would make Jake Locker the No. 1 QB.

Tyrone Willingham said on signing day that every other UW player expected to be available for spring should be available. That includes RB J.R. Hasty who sat out last year for academic reasons. Willingham said he is on schedule to return as a full team member in the fall.