UW Adds 3-star DL to 2026 Class

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INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 13 : Washington Huskies defensive lineman Anterio Thompson (54) adding pressure during the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies on December 13, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In a surprise, UW has a late add to its 2026 recruiting class: DL Joseph Peko from Oaks Christian High School in California.

Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian DL Joseph Peko has flipped his commitment from Colorado to Washington and went in-depth on why he chose the Huskies

"When I visited Washington back in April, I knew that was home."

Intel: https://t.co/h1tmubzqGvpic.twitter.com/URjXvUqi2H

— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) May 27, 2026

Peko is the son of Domata Peko, the current DL coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a 14-year NFL veteran.

Joseph Peko is listed at 6’3” and 310 lb. He originally committed to Colorado back in December of 2025, but never actually signed with the Buffs. At the time of his commitment, his dad was the DL coach for Colorado. But since his dad made the move to the NFL, Joseph opened up his commitment.

“I’m very excited to be a Dawg,” Peko said. “Colorado was great but when my pops left CU to coach in the NFL, I had to look around. I was still giving Colorado a hard look but when I visited Washington, I knew that was home.”

Coach Kaufusi started recruiting Peko while he was coaching at Arizona, so it has been a long relationship.

Peko will be one of 4 DL recruits expected to start at UW in June. The others are JD Hill, David Schwerzel (another flip), and Ta’a Malu.

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