10 Husky Spring Football Observations After 2 Practices

We look at UW players who are fitting in or waiting to get started.

When it comes to University of Washington spring football practice, it's two down, 13 to go.

Most notably, these Kalen DeBoer-coached Huskies come off an 11-2 season looking as fit and motivated as ever in the workouts, necessary ingredients for continuing to operate at a high level.

There's no long line of injured players occupying the sideline or riding stationary bikes. No extra-tubby players lumbering from drill to drill as there have been in the past, with some of those guys now pulling on uniforms at Oregon and Mississippi. Everyone's operating at a fast and effective pace.

Since he arrived more than a year ago, UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb says he's been surrounded by a surplus of college football talent in Montlake.  

"I felt good about the tools we had with the kids," Grubb said of last year's team. "This is probably the most physical talent I had worked with, as far as the pieces around us, top to bottom."

Heading into Friday's workout, which is the third and final one of the early session before everyone takes off for spring break, the following are 10 player or coaching snapshots from the Monday and Wednesday sessions held so far: 

1. Germie Bernard. Almost effortlessly on Wednesday, Michael Penix Jr. rifled a pass 45 yards to the streaking Michigan State transfer, who made a diving catch and got up and spun the football as if to indicate this will happen a lot. Bernard also was seen packing the ball on the end-around or fly sweep.

2. Thaddeus Dixon. The coaches have inserted the JC transfer cornerback into the controlled scrimmage segments and he's demonstrated the ability to run and cover. He drew a loud response for breaking up a Dylan Morris pass but got fully initiated on the very next play when Morris beat him over the middle with a throw to Denzel Boston.

3. Jabbar Muhammad. The Oklahoma State transfer has been in uniform, but he's not participated in the scrimmage-like practice segments held so far, which usually is the sign of some muscle pull or other nagging physical drawback. However, he's been seen chatting up a half-dozen Husky defensive backs along the sideline, getting well acquainted.

4. Maurice Heim. The sophomore edge rusher wasn't in attendance for Wednesday's practice after getting injured on the first day (presumably his neck), strapped to a board for safety precautions and carted off to a Seattle hospital for testing.

5. Ralen Goforth. On Wednesday, the USC linebacker showed off his mobility and aggressiveness by knocking a pass away from walk-on tight end Griffin Waiss and blitzing and getting a touch sack on Penix, both times drawing loud vocal responses and emphatic back slaps.

6. Ulumoo Ale. Formerly one of the Pac-12's largest players when tipping the scales at 370-plus, Ale looks noticeably trimmer and mobile as he pulls first-unit snaps while returning starters Tuli Letuligasenoa and Faatui Tuitele have been in uniform but idle during the scrimmage moments. Ale currently is listed at 6-foot-6 and 332 pounds. He looked fearsome in a drill in which he and others slugged a big blocking dummy.

7. Ryan Otton. Last year in fall camp, the then freshman tight end looked on the skinny side and got hurt right away by pulling a hamstring or some such muscle, which sidelined him for some time. However, Cade Otton's little brother looks a lot more filled out at 6-foot-6 and 233 pounds and has caught scrimmage balls over the middle.

8. Tybo Rogers. The freshman running back from Bakersfield, California, already has something his older peers haven't necessarily done all that often — showed the ability to catch the ball in space and make people miss him.

9. Dylan Morris. The former starter turned back-up quarterback appears more confident than ever in delivering the football and showed noticeably greater arm strength. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb acknowledged on Wednesday how he and Morris have talked about the ever-present fan backlash that seems to follow the junior unchecked as he's been pegged as the forever scapegoat for the 4-8 team in 2020. 

10. Kalen DeBoer. While bundled in a thick coat, the Husky coach still looked cold on Wednesday as he shifted from foot to foot and slapped his plastic play card against his leg while watching practice unfold. He might be learning why previous UW coaches have resisted beginning spring practice in early March as he has.

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