Top Returning Huskies: No. 8 Muhammad Provides Immediate Help
The Washington football team finished with seven interceptions in 2022, the fewest for a Husky defense since 2009.
Although the defense finished in the middle of the Pac-12 Conference in passing yards allowed per game (251.5) the unit allowed 26 touchdown receptions, second most in the conference and tied with Michigan State for 116th in the country.
This spring, the UW brought in junior cornerback Jabbar Muhammad from Oklahoma State to boost the secondary heading into the 2023 season.
The addition of the veteran Big-12 defensive back not only filled a specific void for the Huskies, it enabled the coaching staff to move senior Dominique Hampton from Husky to safety, and junior Mishael Powell from cornerback to that nickel Husky position. The combination of all three changes gives the defense ideal length and a strong veteran presence across the board.
"Meesh is more like the yelling, kind of getting into it and that leader," said UW senior safety Asa Turner, the only defense back who retained the same starting spot. "He kind of brings that mindset and extra factor to the DB room, for sure. And then Dom on the other hand, him moving back to safety, I feel like that helps him out a lot. [We] get to use a lot of his talents and gifts that he has to put his best use at safety."
Muhammad started his final 13 games in Stillwater, opening in every regular-season game for Oklahoma State, before skipping its bowl game, and he made his first career start in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, a 37-35 victory for the Cowboys.
The 5-foot-10, 183-pound junior from DeSoto, Texas, ranked as one of the top 70 cornerbacks in the country in coverage last season, according to Pro Football Focus. His 78.1 grade would’ve tied him for seventh-best in the Pac-12 in 2022, 30 spots higher than the top-ranked UW cornerback.
Prior to last season, UW brought in another veteran cornerback, UC Davis' Jordan Perryman, who battled through multiple injuries and saw his play on the field suffer as a result. Even though Perryman came in with experience, Muhammad is more proven at the Power 5 level.
“He’s a kid that’s played a lot of football and I think he’s very comfortable now,” UW corners coach Julius Brown said of Muhammad. “He’s comfortable with the guys. He’s competing with the guys. He knows them. He’s just out there having fun. He works extremely hard. He’s extremely diligent in how he works. He had a great summer. He brought the young guys with him a lot.”
With Muhammad listed as a junior on the official roster, he possibly could return for another season after 2023, although it’s unlikely. Regardless, the Huskies should benefit with its freshmen having this experienced corner to learn from on and off the field.
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