Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 16 men's spot goes to Washington, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Colby Gilbert (3:40 1500; 7:45 3K; 13:34 5K; 32nd at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Fred Huxham (3:46 1500; 13:44 5K; 100th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Andrew Gardner (3:48 1500; 13:59 5K; 8:44 3K SC)
FR Talon Hull (8:47 2 Mile; 4th at '16 FL XC)
FR Tibebu Proctor (8:55 3200; 7th at '16 FL XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Talon Hull via Pleasant View, UT (8:47 2 Mile; 4th at '16 FL XC)
Isaac Green via Louisville, CO (4:05 Mile; 1st at '16 CO State XC)
Tibebu Proctor via Seattle, WA (8:55 3200; 7th at '16 FL XC)
Chase Equall via Bozeman, MT (8:57 3200; 26th at '16 NXN XC)
Thomas Nobbs via Canada (8:32 3K; 2nd at '16 BC H.S. XC)

Analysis:

The Washington men's cross country team didn't qualify to the NCAA championships as a full squad last year, but the Huskies return in 2017 with a more experienced class as well as a handful of star freshmen that should get out of the tough West Region together.

Up front, the Huskies are led by All-American Colby Gilbert. He boasts personal bests of 3:40 in the 1500m and 13:34 in the 5K, as well as an All-American finish at the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Fred Huxham should also help lead the squad after a breakthrough fall last year. The senior finished third behind Oregon Ducks Edward Cheserek and Matthew Maton in the NCAA West Region and qualified as an individual to the Big Dance. An NCAA steeplechase qualifier, Andrew Gardner will also bring the senior leadership after posting track personal bests of 8:44 in the steeplechase and 13:59 in the 5K in 2016.

Not only will the Huskies return an experienced senior class, but they also welcome five star freshmen, including two Foot Locker finalists. Talon Hull and Tibebu Proctor should make an immediate impact after gathering fourth- and seventh-place finishes, respectively, at the 2016 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

With a combination of experienced talent and fresh faces, the Washington Huskies are poised to return and do some damage in Louisville.

FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE