Giles Jackson Runs Delicate Route for the Huskies These Days

The wide receiver will play against Utah, then has a decision to make.

Giles Jackson will be ready to play when summoned against Utah on Saturday afternoon, but things could complicated thereafter for the University of Washington wide receiver.

Against the Utes, the 5-foot-9, 178-pound senior will appear in his fourth Husky game of the season, an eligibility demarcation line of sorts.

After missing much of the schedule with a broken thumb, Jackson could sit out games against Oregon State and Washington State and a possible Pac-12 championship game in order to preserve his eligibility and return in 2024, but not before playing in a postseason game or two in the weeks ahead that don't count in the process.

On, off and on.

Or Jackson could simply play in all of the games coming up without a miss and be done as a college football player.

One factor that could influence his decision is the availability of fellow receiver Jalen McMillan, who's missed most of the season with a knee injury and not expected to play against the Utes. Jackson might be needed in every game coming up to offset McMillan's absence.

"Just taking it week by week," the speedster said of his situation. "You never know what's going to happen. You're always staying ready."

The possibility also exists that Jackson and McMillan both might return for the 2024 season after having this one interrupted by their respective injuries.

McMillan, a junior, the Huskies' leading receiver with 79 catches in 2022 and an NFL prospect, played in just two and a half games before he was injured against Michigan State. He tried to return in two other games but couldn't continue either time.

As for Jackson, he's agreeable to whatever works out best for him and the Huskies.

The California native has had an interesting college football career, spending two seasons with Michigan before joining the Huskies for the past three and possibly more. 

He made a name for himself in the Big Ten with scintillating 95- and 97-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns, but he's still looking for his first scoring runback for the UW.

"I've been looking at punt returns a lot more," said Jackson, who's returned two of those for 10 yards this season and isn't returning kickoffs at this point. "I think I'll get one."

The Wolverines, of course, currently are the nation's second-ranked team while the Huskies stand No. 5 in the polls, which means Jackson has had an opportunity to play for two of the nation's top programs.

"It wouldn't change it for nothing," he said of his two-stop tour of duty. "Hopefully, we'll face them in the playoffs."

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