Four-star WR Austin Osbourne spurns Tennessee, commits to Playoff contender

This CFP contender got stronger for the future with this commit.

The Washington Huskies have what many believe could be a breezy path to a return trip when it comes to the 2017 College Football Playoff. However, head coach Chris Petersen can't afford to focus all of his attention on 2017 and what might come to pass during that season. With that in mind, the Huskies secured a potentially impactful commitment for the Class of 2018 on Friday with four-star wide receiver Austin Osborne.

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Osborne put together a polite announcement that thanked  "all of the colleges who have offered (him) scholarships" but the 6-foot-3, 185-pound wide receiver chose Washington above them all. The rising senior from Mission Viejo (Calif.) rates as one of the top 30 wide receivers in the 2018 class according to the 247Sports composite and, with that, Osborne is also one of the top 25 prospects from the talent-rich state of California.

It is, as always, very difficult to get a full picture of next year's recruiting class in mid-February but this is a very solid addition for Washington. The Huskies are set to lose a great deal of production on the outside, headlined by John Ross, from the 2016 team and stocking the cupboard for the future is paramount to maintain the sky-high level of play that Washington is now accustomed to under Petersen's leadership.