Washington State adds two defenders to its 2027 recruiting class, including in-state linebacker Nate Obasanjo and cornerback Noah Clark

Washington State moved to strengthen its defense for the future by picking up two commitments for the 2027 class, adding linebacker Nate Obasanjo and cornerback Noah Clark. The pledges, announced as the Cougars work through recruiting season, give WSU its 11th and 12th members of the 2027 recruiting group and reflect a continued emphasis on building defensive depth across multiple positions.

Obasanjo is the in-state addition, a linebacker prospect expected to develop within Washington State’s system and join the program’s long-term defensive plan. By targeting a local player for a future recruiting class, WSU is also reinforcing its ability to recruit in the Pacific Northwest pipeline, where competition for recruits can be intense across college football’s regional footprint.

Clark, meanwhile, is the California piece of the pair, coming to WSU as a cornerback prospect from Inglewood. According to the report, Clark is rated as a three-star prospect and was part of the Cougars’ competition against other programs while narrowing his list.

Both commitments were described as wins for Washington State against Pac-12 opponents. That detail matters in the college football recruiting landscape, because direct conference competition often translates into long recruiting battles, frequent in-person recruiting touches, and tighter geographic and style-of-play overlap. It also suggests WSU believes its coaching pitch and defensive needs align with what those prospects want from their next step.

The commitments also offer a quick look at how WSU is thinking about roster construction, with one athlete targeted for the linebacker group and the other for the secondary. In most college programs, those positions tend to require different developmental timelines, with linebacker assignments often tied to scheme fit and physical growth, while cornerback prospects frequently need time to master coverage responsibilities at higher speed.

For now, Washington State’s class positioning is about adding bodies and diversity of roles, rather than making immediate impact claims. Even without details on projected immediate roles, two additional defenders can help coaches plan spring and fall depth charts farther ahead, reduce future recruiting pressure, and create competition for starting spots once those recruits reach campus.

The next item to watch is how these commitments fit into WSU’s remaining recruiting priorities for the 2027 class, particularly whether the Cougars add more defensive backs, continue to emphasize linebacker needs, or pivot to other areas such as the offensive line and skill positions. With the Cougars now at 12 total class members, each subsequent pledge will further clarify the shape of the defense and how WSU expects to compete in future seasons.

Because this is based on a recruiting report, readers should treat any ratings and comparative recruiting claims as preliminary until matched with official program recruiting announcements. Confirmations, full offer lists, and any later updates to the prospects’ recruitment timelines typically follow after initial commitment news.