Grubb Drops 3 Early Names as Husky Offensive-Line Replacements
Less than three weeks from the first University of Washington spring football practice, Ryan Grubb went on the radio this week and addressed a number of topics, among them his recent trip to Alabama to sit through a job sales pitch. No, he just went for a look.
The offensive coordinator also talked about high expectations for the Huskies and even dropped a few names when quizzed about restocking a highly productive offensive line, with one name emerging on the outside sort of unexpectedly.
Julius Buelow.
Grubb right away listed the 6-foot-8, 311-pound junior from Kapolei, Hawaii, when asked for replacement candidates at starting right guard, left guard and center.
If you recall, Buelow won the first-unit left guard role to begin the 2021 season, drew five game-opening assignments, got beat a bunch of times and watched as Ulumoo Ale and then Troy Fautanu finished up the season as the No. 1 guy there instead of him.
Once Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff took over last season, Buelow immediately moved to left tackle and played behind Fautanu. The big Hawaiian appeared in eight games, mostly as a special-teamer.
The obvious questions were this: Had Buelow's time as a serious contributor at the UW come and gone? Could he put that huge size to productive use in Grubb's wide-open offense?
Apparently the answers are no and yes. Offensive linemen, as DeBoer has pointed out, need steady development, which is why he won't turn to the transfer portal to find them.
So Buelow, who has 19 Husky game appearances to his name, is in the replacement mix entering spring ball, at right guard alongside sophomore Geirean Hatchett, who rotated in last season at guard and even tight end.
"Julius Buelow has been a guy in the past who started at left guard," Grubb said on KJR radio. "He's also played tackle. He's got great length."
Grubb also singled out senior Matteo Mele and junior Nate Kalepo as likely first-up candidates to take over at center and left guard, respectively.
Matteo Mele (78) and Troy Fautanu (55) head to the locker room.
Dan Raley
Unlike Buelow, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound Mele and the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Kalepo regularly rotated in last season to gain added experience, with Kalepo even starting three times before Jaxson Kirkland was cleared to play following ankle surgery and an NCAA one-game suspension for pulling out of the NFL draft.
Mele spelled the departed Corey Luciano early in games in 2022, giving way as the starter largely because Luciano proved himself to be a better communicator and leader up front. Physically, the back-up was just as good if not better than him.
"He's one of the most talented guys we have,'" Grubb said of Mele, who has appeared in 29 games and started one. "Matteo is very physically gifted."
Mele will enter his sixth UW football season, Buelow and Kalepo their fifth each, making them veteran players who should know what they're doing by now.
Spring football begins early this year, with the first of 15 practices coming on Monday, March 6.
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