Here's How the Huskies Stack Up at Each Position Three Deep
Six fall practices of 24 are in the books for the University of Washington football team as the countdown to the Boise State season opener on Sept. 2 continues.
The most noticeable thing about this veteran and relatively healthy Husky roster, no matter what anyone says about ongoing competition, is almost no starting jobs are up for grabs.
This was the case for the UW's 1991 national championship team in the preseason and that's the situation to an even greater degree for Kalen DeBoer's second Husky team.
Sure, players are getting graded on performance every day, but very little mystery surrounds the first units paraded out there. Not even with a rebuilt offensive line, where three new starters are in place. Most pieces are firmly in place.
With 14 of the 22 position players returning from last season to reclaim their first-unit job, only one spot has a spirited competition that's ongoing — sixth-year senior Ulumoo Ale is being given every opportunity to unseat junior Faatui Tuitele as a game-opening player.
We've drawn up Husky three-deeps below as best as we could tell from watching more than a week of practice sessions that were open to the media but will now be conducted in seclusion.
Of young players to keep an eye on, Parker Brailsford is a redshirt freshman center and offensive guard so highly regarded for his elite strength and understanding of leverage principles he easily could become a starter this season should any of the players currently ahead of him underperform or slip up.
If there's a player making a concentrated move on defense, it's sophomore cornerback Davon Banks, who started twice last season before suffering a season-ending injury — he has come come back demonstrating an extra physical approach on coverage in fall camp, trying to move up to at least the second unit.
We have no true freshmen slotted in the two-deeps with every one of the newcomers in physical development, learning the playbook or stuck behind well-entrenched veteran players.
Of the 74 players listed below, which include eight special-teamers, 34 have started for the Huskies in at least one game in their careers while three other players, all portal transfers, have opened games at other Power 5 schools.
Nine true freshman hold down spots on the third unit, but no higher than that, with no one coming in ready physically ready to make an instant breakthrough in terms of immediate game time.
Noticeably missing from the list below is Mississippi State transfer running back Dillon Johnson, who has been slowed in his recovery from knee surgery and held, only recently rotating in on scrimmage plays. He could shake things up should he regain his full health.
Sophomores Makell Esteen and Jayvon Parker, a second-unit safety and defensive tackle, are listed but have been held out of practice in recent days with unspecified ailments.
HUSKY THREE-DEEPS
OFFENSE
WR — Rome Odunze; Germie Bernard; Taeshaun Lyons
WR — Jalen McMillan; Denzel Boston; Rashid Williams
WR — Ja'Lynn Polk; Giles Jackson; Keith Reynolds
TE — Devin Culp; Jack Westover; Quentin Moore
LT — Troy Fautanu; Robert Wyrsch; Jalen Klemm
LG — Julius Buelow; Gaard Memmelaar; Zach Henning
C — Matteo Mele; Parker Brailsford; Landen Hatchett
RG — Nate Kalepo; Geirean Hatchett; Kahlee Tafai
RT — Roger Rosengarten; Samuel Peacock; Soane Faasolo
QB — Michael Penix Jr.; Dylan Morris; Austin Mack
RB — Cam Davis; Will Nixon; Richard Newton
HUSKY DEFENSE
ER — Zion Tupuola-Fetui; Lance Holtzclaw; Maurice Heims
DT — Ulumoo Ale; Faatui Tuitele; Armon Parker
DT — Tuli Letuligasenoa; Jacob Bandes; Jayvon Parker
ER — Bralen Trice; Voi Tunuufi; Zach Durfee
LB — Alphonzo Tuputala; Carson Bruener; Drew Fowler
LB — Edefuan Ulofoshio; Ralen Goforth; Deven Bryant
CB — Elijah Jackson; Jaivion Green; Davon Banks
CB — Jabbar Muhammad; Thaddeus Dixon; Darren Barkins
S — Asa Turner; Tristan Dunn; Vince Nunley
S — Dom Hampton; Makell Esteen; Sean Toomey-Stout
H — Mishael Powell; Kamren Fabiculanan; Dyson McCutcheon
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK — Grady Gross; Addison Shrock
P — Jack McCallister; Adam Saul; Troy Peltz
LS — Jaden Green; Caleb Johnston; Alex Froelich
(* returning starters in bold face type)
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