Huskies Feel Much More Comfortable in DeBoer's Second Spring Ball

Everybody knows each other and what to expect by now.

Dan Raley | Apr 12, 2023

In this story:

Washington Huskies

A year ago, a good portion of University of Washington spring football practice was spent on introductions. Coaches to players, and vice versa.

Nobody really knew each other after Kalen DeBoer and his staff took over. The process was as awkward as a first date in high school or a tough job interview.

"We were still putting our toes in the water," Husky linebacker Carson Bruener said. "Like the new coaching staff, we were trying to figure out what they were all about, their schemes and everything.

"So last spring was really slow because of their key terms and everything like that. We were still trying to learn it and gather it, so there were a lot of mistakes made."

Bruener was not unlike someone in a restaurant, waiting on a table of strangers and offering the following, 'Hi, I'm Carson, I'll be your inside linebacker today. Let me know if there is anything I can get you as you look over the menu and install your defensive package.' "

Freshman cornerback Caleb Presley receives congratulations from a staffer for his practice effort as defensive-backs coach Juice Brown looks on.

Receivers Taj Davis and Ja'Lynn Polk work on their football agility under staff supervision.

Quarterbacks Dylan Morris (5), Alex Johnson (19), Teddy Purcell (17), Michael Penix Jr. (9) and Camdyn Stiegeler (14) take a break during practice.

Running back Will Nixon stays hydrated during the Huskies' ninth spring practice held in Dempsey Indoor, a necessity for all of the players.

The name Troy, as in UW offensive tackle Fautanu, means "foot soldier" from ancient times. The junior from the Las Vegas area has been particularly animated during spring practice.

Husky defensive tackles Jacob Bandes (55), Faatui Tuitele (99), Tuli Letuligasenoa (91) and Bradley McGannon (97) loosen up entering the UW's ninth spring practice.

Like a sports car, junior running back Cam Davis stays low and balanced as he shoots through a spring practice lane defined by pads.

Defensive tackle Jacob Bandes works his way upfield, with a padded donut one of his obstacles in Dempsey Indoor.

Running through what amounts to be 10 plastic bats mounted on a cart, freshman running back Tybo Rogers gets tested on ball possession.

UW coach Kalen DeBoer jots down an observation from the ninth Husky spring football practice, which was held in Dempsey Indoor on a wet day outside.

Fast forward to Husky spring practice currently in progress through 10 of 15 workout sessions, and the process for everyone involved is much more streamlined, comfortable and agreeable.

"This is year two, so it's continuous improvement and development and all that stuff," Bruener said. "So coming out, I feel everything flows better. We now have that trust in that coaching staff. The coaches know us players more personally and as players."

For each of the 10 practices held, photographer Skylar Lin has been there to capture the now familiar interactions between coaches and players. For the first hour, he's permitted to wander from station to station and gather images of everyone interacting, with 11-on-11 plays off limits.

Check out his latest gallery of Husky coaches and players in their spring setting.

Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories — as soon as they’re published.

Not all stories are posted on the fan sites.

Find Inside the Huskies on Facebook by searching: Inside Huskies/FanNation at SI.com or https://www.facebook.com/dan.raley.12

Follow Dan Raley of Inside the Huskies on Twitter: @DanRaley1 or @UWFanNation or @DanRaley3

Have a question, direct message me on Facebook or Twitter.

Published Apr 12, 2023

DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.