Edmonds-Woodway star gets ‘amazing opportunity’ to play for UW

Published 10:30 pm Tuesday, January 24, 2017

EDMONDS — Edmonds-Woodway senior defensive end Ali Gaye announced Monday night on Twitter and later confirmed with The Herald that he has committed to play football at the University of Washington.

Gaye, listed at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, is a three-star prospect who Scout.com ranks as the third-best defensive end in the state and No. 101 in the country.

Gaye had offers from numerous other Division I schools, including Southern California, Louisville, Mississippi, Arizona State and Washington State. Washington offered him a scholarship on Jan. 13 and Gaye made his official visit to UW this past weekend, ahead of the Feb. 1 National Signing Day. Gaye said that UW’s proximity to home was a big factor in his decision.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me to further my education, as well as play football and continue my career,” Gaye said, before later adding, “I would like to thank my family and my coaches, especially my head coach, and all of the schools that offered me and gave me an opportunity. It’s made me work hard as a football player, pushed me to work hard in the classroom and gave me something to look forward to in the future.”

Gaye recorded 76 tackles, eight sacks and 21 quarterback hurries last season while keying an Edmonds-Woodway defense that allowed just 18 points per game. He was a first-team All-Wesco 3A South selection and a first-team Herald All-Area pick.

“As a player, he’s a difference-maker,” E-W coach John Gradwohl said. “If you played us, you knew where he was and you either would double-team him or run it the other way. So he had a big impact.

“I’m really happy for him,” Gradwohl added. “He’s a good kid and obviously (UW is) a great program. It’s going to be nice to have him in the hometown and go watch him play. He had a big decision to make and it was a tough one, but he’s real happy with the decision he made.”

Born and raised in the small West African nation of Gambia, Gaye moved with his family to the Edmonds-Woodway area about five years ago. Though he’d never played football before coming to the United States, Gaye began playing in eighth grade and picked up the game quickly. Gradwohl said that Gaye has improved every season and that he has considerable upside.

“He’s a great kid with a lot of great skills, but he’s got a lot of room still to grow (and) keep getting better,” Gradwohl said. “I’m excited to see (him) once he gets into college on their food program and weight-training program. He’s got a big upside to him.”

Gradwohl said the Warriors will miss Gaye not only as a player, but also as a leader and role model.

“He’s a phenomenal kid from a great family,” Gradwohl said. “He’s just a real solid ‘yes sir, no sir’ type (of) kid and he does whatever you ask him, whenever you ask him. … He leads us on and off the field and he’s a very popular kid in school. Everybody knows him, he knows everybody and he’s kind to everybody. And that’s a great role model to have on your team.”