3 Days of UW Spring Football as Told Through Lin's Camera Lens
Husky football spring practice is a lot like going to the beach in the middle of the summer. Everybody is looking around to see who's flexing and preening, and who brings something different to the table.
Veterans feel the clock ticking and the pressure to move up the depth chart in a highly competitive setting, or they're fearful of getting passed up by a wave of younger guys coming in.
Most of all, it requires the new freshman or transfer to feel his way around a totally different football environment than they're accustomed, one filled with elite players, and find a comfort zone.
Tybo Rogers is a newly arrived running back from Bakersfield, California, who has come in and looked like belongs in a talented position group.
"Tybo Rogers is a guy who shows really a lot of flash," coach Kalen DeBoer said. "He's got a lot of reps the last couple of days. ... He's definitely what we hoped we have with Tybo there."
While Rogers has got his feet wet with Husky football, fellow new UW student Skylar Lin has been there each day to photograph these moments of trial and error, and success and struggle. Lin spends an hour with this football team and then he heads class as architectural major.
Check out his accompanying gallery from Friday's third day of practice. There are a lot of little stories going on among the big picture.
SPRING CLEANING
Zach Henning is a 6-foot-5, 290-pound freshman offensive lineman from Centennial, Colorado, who seems physically mature enough to hold his own after arriving in January.
"Those winter workouts, those are gut checks," DeBoer said. "He's not just staying alive, he's thriving. He's been really impressive that way."
Others such as linebackers Deven Bryant and Jordan Whitney, wide receiver Germie Bernard, running back Daniyel Ngata, edge rushers Zach Durfee and Anthony James, tight end Josh Cuevas, defensive tackle Elinneus Davis and cornerbacks Jabbar Muhammad and Thaddeus Dixon each have had to feel their way around Husky football and fit in.
The biggest adjustment for each of them is the fast pace that DeBoer's coaching staff demands, where you really have to react and think on your feet. Their system is not for everyone.
There's definitely an initial shock that wears off the more these players acclimate to a system that promises a chance at football excellence.
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