Out of the Shadows, Boston Becomes Go-To Player for Huskies

The sophomore wide receiver has been the spring standout so far.

Denzel Boston has been a spring sensation at the UW. / Skylar Lin Visuals

Denzel Boston was considered either the fifth- or the sixth-best University of Washington wide receiver last season, which tells you how good that position group was on the way to the national championship game.

Now two weeks into spring practice, Boston has emerged from the considerable shadow of the NFL-bound Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja'Lynn Polk to become the best player on the field for the Huskies.

The sophomore from South Hill, Washington, has come out running, jumping and catching with no equal -- and others on defense have tried their best to stop him.

In what remains the most spectacular moment of spring ball, the 6-foot-4, 207-pound Boston raced into the west end zone, with 6-foot-4, 190-pound Arizona cornerback transfer Ephesians Prysock all over him, matching him inch for inch and stride for stride, in a classic April battle.

In the left corner, both of these lanky and athletic players went up for a pass delivered well over everyone's heads by Mississippi State quarterback transfer Will Rogers. Somehow Boston elevated just a little higher than the Huskies' new corner, an All-Pac-12 honorable-mention pick in 2023, high-pointed the pass with two sure hands and came down with the ball while everyone who saw it happen roared their approval.

Boston hopped off the field confidently, knowing he had one a big battle and was intercepted by Rogers, who gave him a sweeping hand slap.

A close second was his play on Tuesday when the receiver made a sensational one-handed, end-zone grab with cornerback Davon Banks holding onto him, sending the entire offense spilling onto the field in a wild celebration.

As a sophomore with three seasons of eligibiility remaining, Boston is a much more confident player now who understands that great opportunity awaits him to become the next Odunze or McMillan, in other words the Huskies' go-to or primary receiver.

Denzel Boston has been a spring sensation for the UW. / Skylar Lin Visuals

He's made an immediate connection with Rogers, who goes out of his way to engage this enticing target, all 76 inches of him, whenever the other guy makes a difficult play look easy or even when they simply pass by each other in practice.

Boston has more height than his UW predecessors, holding a good inch on the 6-foot-3 Odunze. He has speed comparable to his former teammates, regularly getting behind a talented group of cornerbacks. His hands are as dependable as ever.

What's different about Boston is he's catching nearly everything thrown to him, whether it comes from Rogers or freshmen Demond Williams Jr. or Dermaricus Davis, and whether it's on the fly, the dive or in a crowd.

As new coach Jedd Fisch puts his first Husky team together, he has a number of players who could become honors candidates next season iin the Big Ten, among them edge rusher Zach Durfee, linebacker Carson Bruener, running back Jonah Coleman, Prysock and Boston.

The pass-catcher with the local ties and endless skill set could surpass all of them if his outstanding spring performance turns into a fall sequel.

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