The 15 UW Seniors and What They've Done in Montlake

Coach Kalen DeBoer prepares to salute his exiting players at the Apple Cup.

Some of these guys have been around since the college football stone age, when dinosaurs freely roamed Montlake and the Flintstones kept us all spellbound as a hit TV show.

When the University of Washington football program celebrates its 15 outgoing seniors on Saturday at the Apple Cup, edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio can tell you what it was like to play against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl when they were teenagers.

Safety Dominique Hampton, defensive tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa and quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was at Indiana back then, likewise took game snaps as true freshmen during that long ago 2018 football season.

On Saturday afternoon, these guys will have their names announced over the Husky Stadium public-address system, come onto the field before the opening kickoff accompanied by family members and embrace coach Kalen DeBoer.

They'll have all sorts of emotions consuming them before having to turn their full attention to beating state rival Washington State, which is never a given.

Yet while this game represents Senior Day, well more than 15 UW players could be playing their final home game for the Huskies.

Junior edge rusher Bralen Trice wasn't shy about saying this was his final home game earlier this week. Sophomore offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten also mentioned there was a strong possibility he might be finishing his career. Junior wide receiver Rome Odunze, considered the best or one of the top receivers in the nation, has made it no secret since last year that this would be it for him.

Add to them junior offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, junior cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, junior running back Dillon Johnson, junior wide receiver Jalen McMillan and sophomore wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, who each have to be considering whether it's the right time to pursue NFL ambitions once this season comes to a close.

However, McMillan, who's had this season turn into a disaster for him after injuring a knee at Michigan State and hasn't caught a pass in two months, reluctantly might have to return for the 2024 season just to show the pro scouts that's he fully recovered and can be an elite receiver again.

If that's the case, at least McMillan wouldn't be alone as an old guy coming back to his position group. The Huskies already have announced that senior wide receiver Giles Jackson, who's missed the first half of this season with a broken thumb, won't play against Washington State in order to preserve another season of eligibility in 2024.

Safety Asa Turner faces a similar situation. While listed as a senior and fully intending to move on when he approached this season, Turner has played in just four games after injuring both hands and having surgery on one of them. He might reappear as a Husky for the 2024 season, as well.

While everyone sorts out their football itineraries and gets a little emotional this weekend, the following are the UW's 15 seniors and what they've done with their careers in Montlake:

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15 HUSKY SENIORS

Ulumoo Ale, DT — Originally a Husky offensive guard, Ale has been a full-time defensive-line starter this season. Overall, he's played in 51 games, starting 21, 10 of which were on offense. Once one of the Pac-12's two heaviest players at 370-plus pounds, he plays at a svelte 327 now.

Sekai Asoau-Afoa, ER — Ale's high school teammate, the former Central Washington and JC pass rusher has played in 14 games over two seasons, all of them this fall, and started against Tulsa.

Devin Culp, TE — This athletic tight end has played in 50 games, started 23 and has 64 career catches for 684 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Ralen Goforth, LB — The USC transfer has played in all 11 games for the Huskies, giving him 51 appearances combined at the two schools, and he has 182 career tackles, 33 coming at the UW.

Dominique Hampton, SS — He's appeared in 53 career games, the most of anyone on the roster, and he's started 24. He has 162 career tackles, 12 pass break-ups and 2 interceptions.

Antonio Hill, CB — The only walk-on among the departing seniors, he's spent three seasons with the Huskies, played in the Tulsa and California games and registered 1 tackle.

Giles Jackson, WR — While Jackson could be exiting, the pass-catcher has elected to return for the 2024 season as a sixth-year senior after beginning his career at Michigan.

Tuli Letutligasenoa, DT — The defensive tackle has appeared in 50 games, starting 29, and has 108 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and he was named 2021 All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

Matteo Mele, C — A hard-luck Husky, he patiently waited for five years to become a full-time starter only to suffer a season-ending biceps injury. He appeared in 31 career games and started 3 times.

Richard Newton, RB — The well-worn, sixth-year senior has played in 37 games, starting 3 times, and rushed 228 times for an even 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career, caught 12 passes for 119 yards and 2 scores, and he threw a touchdown pass in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl.

Michael Penix Jr., QB — The nation's leading passer for most of the past two seasons and a serious Heisman Trophy candidate, Penix has appeared in 44 games at the UW and Indiana and started 41. He has a 34-7 win-loss record as the starter at those schools. He has career passing totals of 936 completions in 1,524 attempts for 12,533 yards and 90 touchdowns. He has the unusual distinction of being named second-team All-Pac-12 and All-Big Ten quarterback.   

Zion Tupuola-Fetui, ER — The sixth-year senior has played in 46 games, starting 19 of them, and has 82 tackles, including 18.5 TFLs and 16 sacks, and he's forced 5 fumbles. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 in 2020 and honorable mention All-Pac-12 in 2022.

Asa Turner, FS — He's appeared in 40 games, 25 as a starter, and has 140 tackles, including 7 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions and 8 pass break-ups. He was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2022.

Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB  — After causing a fumble on his first college play, he's appeared in 42 games and started 23, and piled up 229 tackles, including 12 TFLs and 6 sacks. Ulofoshio had a pick-6 covering 45 yards against California this season. He was named second-team All-Pac-12 in 2020. 

Jack Westover, TE — Originally a walk-on, he's earned a scholarship, played in 47 games and started 18, and caught 73 passes for 719 yards and 6 scores, plus he's rushed 7 times for 26 yards and a touchdown.

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