Washington Football Adds Ex-IMG Academy Specialist to 2026 Roster
TL;DR
Washington Huskies football team has added long snapper Ben Ferber from IMG Academy to their 2026 roster. Ferber will back up Ryan Kean after the departure of Hunter Solwold to Florida.
Key points
- Ben Ferber joins Washington Huskies as a long snapper for 2026
- Ferber previously played at IMG Academy
- Ryan Kean will have a backup after Hunter Solwold's transfer
- Huskies' special teams unit has five new players
- C.J. Wallace is another true freshman added to the team
Washington Huskies long snapper Ryan Kean will not have to handle every field goal and punt snap for the 2026 season.
On Thursday, the Huskies landed a verbal commitment from Ben Ferber, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound specialist who prepped at IMG Academy and was expected to suit up for the University of Richmond this fall.
Instead, the Delray Beach, Florida native will play for UW coach Jedd Fisch and special teams coordinator Chris Petrilli in 2026. Both Fisch and Petrilli stated this spring that the staff was seeking a second long snapper to back up Kean after freshman Hunter Solwold left for Florida in the transfer portal.
Ferber completes an overhaul of the Huskies’ special teams unit from last season as the fifth new player to join the program and the second true freshman to enroll after ex-St. John Bosco kicker C.J. Wallace joined the team back in January.
Two kickers, junior Tyler Robles from Texas State via USC, and sophomore Eastern Washington transfer Hunter McKee, along with ex-San Diego State punter Hunter Green, also joined the program this offseason, with Kean and junior punter/holder Luke Dunne being the only two returning players from the 2025 roster on special teams for UW.
"I think the biggest thing is, kind of like with the offense and defense, you want to bring in the best available—whether it's a freshman or whether it's a transfer," Petrilli said before the start of spring camp.
"Having the roster spots available to bring in one of the best field goal kickers that was available, one of the best punters that was available. Being able to keep Ryan here as the snapper, who was super efficient. Then you're able to add guys like McKee and bring in those guys in to help with kickoff—obviously C.J. already here. We'll still bring in another long snapper to back up and compete with Ryan. But yeah, it was an overhaul of the group. We had spots available, and we wanted to bring in the best."
With the addition of Ferber and the five other remaining incoming freshmen from the 2026 class set to arrive on campus in June, the Huskies are at 99 players on the official roster heading into Fisch's third season on Montlake.
Ferber is the second 2026 signee from IMG Academy, joining three-star defensive back Ksani Jiles, with Fisch and co. continuing to make headway with other recruits from the Florida high school football powerhouse in the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: UW Football Adds Long Snapper from Prestigious IMG Academy
Q&A
Who is Ben Ferber and where did he play before joining Washington Huskies?
Ben Ferber is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound long snapper who prepped at IMG Academy before committing to the Washington Huskies.
Why did Washington Huskies recruit Ben Ferber for the 2026 season?
The Huskies recruited Ben Ferber to provide a backup long snapper for Ryan Kean after Hunter Solwold transferred to Florida.
What changes have been made to the Washington Huskies' special teams unit for 2026?
The Huskies' special teams unit has undergone significant changes, adding five new players, including two kickers and a punter, alongside Ferber.