Fautanu's Mission in Life Is to Make Sure No One Touches No. 9

The UW tackle hasn't been completely satisfied because some defenders have come close.

When Troy Fautanu sees you coming, the playful University of Washington offensive tackle pretends to be you, suddenly turning into a reporter and interviewing nearby Rome Odunze.

Yet the 6-foot-4, 317-pound junior from Henderson, Nevada, can be as serious as a Secret Service agent and as overaggressive as a Taylor Swift bodyguard.

For instance, consider Fautanu's personal assessment through four games of the protection detail he heads up guarding Michael Penix Jr., the irreplaceable triggerman in the Husky offense and the bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate.

"Personally, I'm unhappy with some of my games because anytime anyone gets near No. 9, I take it personal," Fautanu said. "That's happened a couple times here, a couple plays throughout the season. I've just got to continue on keep on getting better and make sure no one even sniffs the guy."

He lamented all of this after Penix, the nation's leading passer at 409 yards per game, has been sacked just once in his four outings — and it happened after the lefty stepped out of the pocket against Boise State in the opener.

Not good enough, according to Fautanu, the veteran sentry who sets up on the far end of the left side of the offensive line.

"Sacks, pressures, hits, anything," he said. "The standard is no one touches No. 9."

Well then, consider Penix as off limits as access to UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's war chest of his most highly classified, top-secret plays.

Otherwise, Fautanu is enjoying himself as the Husky offense, under the lead of the exceedingly innovative Grubb and deft execution of Penix, leads the nation in total offense (593.2 yards per game) and in passing (467.2). 

"I'd been trying to tell everybody that, 'If you think the offense was good, just wait until you see it this year,' " he said. "We've had a year under our belt to learn the offense. Now we've had another year under coach Grubb. It's been evident everyone's been trying to take the next step in their game."

Troy Fautanu makes it his business to protect Michael Penix Jr. from all backfield intruders / Skylar Lin Visuals

In terms of experience, Fautanu ranks as the senior member of the Husky offensive line with 30 games played and 20 starting assignments.

He's a key part of the UW's first-team offense that's scored on 24 of 37 drives, or two out of every three series. 

"Coach Grubb makes it a point we want 6 and not 3," Fautanu said of TDs compared to field goals. "The standard is scoring every drive. If we don't, we have to make sure we score the next drive, you know what I mean. It's always a mindset to put points on the board, and not just points but scoring touchdowns. We're doing a pretty good job of that."

He's coming off a 2022 second-team All-Pac-12 season aiming for a lot more this fall. Based on his past performance, he could have entered the NFL draft and most likely found a nice landing spot. 

Instead, Fautanu and the Huskies collectively saw a chance to advance to the Pac-12 championship game, if not make a possible run at the College Football Playoffs, which meant all of that other stuff could wait.

"Nothing beats this, nothing beats getting to come out here and ball with my brothers," the big lineman said. "I'm happy I made the decision. We're going to continue to strive for more. We've got unfinished business in December. We're going for it."

Just don't get any crazy ideas about invading Penix's personal space or you'll get a face full of a Nevada nightmare named Troy.

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