The Huskies will enter training camp with another body on their defensive line after landing Class of 2026 player Joseph Peko
The Washington Huskies football team's 2026 recruiting class has the honor of being the highest-ranked in program history.
As of national signing day Feb. 4, 2026, the Huskies' crop of 2026 recruits ranked 12th in the nation.
Several players from that class, including four-star wide receiver Jordan Clay, five-star offensive lineman Kodi Greene, four-star defensive lineman Derek Colman-Brusa and four-star edge rusher Ramzak Fruean all expected to contribute.
Several more players could earn playing time when it's time for training camp in the summer. Washington will have one more body on the defensive line who recently flipped his commitment.
According to a post on his official account on Instagram, three-star defensive tackle Joseph Peko has flipped his commitment from the Colorado Buffaloes to the Huskies.
Peko attended Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif. During his recruitment, he commanded additional offers from programs such as North Carolina, Arkansas, Arizona, BYU, Miami, Michigan, Southern California (USC), UCLA and Southern Methodist (SMU), among others.
He had a final two of Colorado and North Carolina before choosing the former. Peko committed Christmas Day 2025.
Peko was ranked as the 1,171st-best overall player, 124th-best defensive lineman and 87th-best player in California in the class per the 247Sports composite.
Peko committed to the Buffaloes in large part to play under his father, Domata Peko Sr.
Joseph Peko's father played his college ball for the Michigan State Spartans from 2004-05 after playing at Canyons Community College from 2002-03.
Domata Peko Sr. played 15 seasons in the NFL from 2006-2020 for the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.
Domata Peko Sr. was Colorado's defensive line coach last season. He was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as their new defensive line coach this offseason under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
Interestingly, Joseph Peko's brother, edge rusher Domata Peko Jr., also committed to the Buffaloes as a junior college (juco) transfer out of Ventura College. Domata Peko Jr. enrolled to Colorado in January, meaning he would have to enter the transfer portal if he wished to follow his younger brother to the Pacific Northwest.
Joseph Peko will have an upward climb if he wishes to carve out consistent playing time as a true freshman. In addition to other expected true freshmen contributors who got a full spring of work, such as Colman-Brusa and Fruean, several other players will be looking to put together a solid training camp after missing part of or most of spring, including Ohio State transfer and edge rusher Logan George and Mississippi State transfer and defensive lineman Kai McLendon.
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