It was an all-Big-Ten recruitment for four-star running back Brian Bonner from Valencia, California.
He thought about staying in-state and playing for UCLA. He also considered a Big Ten power in Penn State and a potential sleeping giant in Nebraska.
Ultimately, the 6-foot, 185-pound speedster decided to commit to Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies and this is a huge win for that program, considering his rankings.
Bonner is ranked as the No. 6 running back in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. On3/Rivals is even higher on him, ranking him as the No. 4 running back in the country.
Bonner is a track and field star, but he’s also a raw running back recruit considering the fact that 2024 was his first season at the position full-time. He knows how to use his speed to his advantage, though, and his experience as a wideout makes him a dual-threat target as a running back.
He ran the 100-meter in 2024 with a time of 11.22 and the 200-meter with a personal best time of 21.85. On the football field, Bonner rushed 197 times for 1,493 yards and 25 touchdowns. A former receiver, he caught 40 passes for 498 yards and four touchdowns out of the backfield.
Bonner is an elite running back recruit, without a doubt, and now he’s the 18th member of the Huskies’ 2026 class. That’s a class that’s now ranked No. 17 nationally.