In Season of Blowouts, 77 Percent of UW Roster Has Drawn Game Snaps

The big benefit of lopsided outings is playing time for everyone.

It probably escaped notice for everyone watching from the stands except for friends and family members, but Jake Parnagian and Anay Nagarajan made their University of Washington football debuts last weekend against California.

Who. the wise-guy Husky fan will ask?

One is a redshirt freshman wide receiver from Fresno, California, who no doubt followed coach Kalen DeBoer to Seattle. The other is a sophomore cornerback from San Jose, California, who joined the UW last year from walk-on tryouts.

Each drew coveted fourth-quarter snaps during the Huskies' 59-32 victory, gaining memories that should last them for a lifetime.

What's significant about them is they are two of 90 players among the 117 on the roster who can now say they've been sent onto the field for at least a down of a UW football game — which is an overly impressive number.

One reason people want to play for Kalen DeBoer is the coach says he wants each and every one of his guys, whether that's a highly regarded scholarship player or the ever hopeful walk-on, to have the best college football experience imaginable.

DeBoer and his staff want to reward as many players as possible with a Husky game-day experience and right now, after four season-opening blowouts, the participation rate on the roster sits at 77 percent.

Not only did Parnagian and Nagarajan play for the first time, Braydon Bruener, who is the Oregon State transfer, redshirt freshman, brother of linebacker Carson and son of tight end Mark, likewise played for the UW for the first time.

Obviously, play can get a little scattered with so many inexperienced guys running around the field in the quarter, with most of the Husky first- and even second-team players shut down for the day.

"Those guys who are out there hardly get any reps during the week," UW co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said. "I think I would ask, when we strip the call sheet down late in the game, it's just go play fast and play really hard."

Jake Parnagian (80), shown with fellow receivers Giles Jackson (0), Denzel Boston (12) and Germie Bernard (4), made his UW debut against Cal / Skylar Lin Visuals

What's left are 27 players who still are awaiting their first Husky game-day moment, with 13 of them holding scholarships and almost certain to play at some point.

Ten of them are freshmen patiently awaiting their turn, which could come at any time; two are transfers in edge rusher Zach Durfee from Sioux Falls and quarterback Will Haskell from San Diego State, each of whom must sit out this season before becoming eligible; and add to that sophomore offensive lineman Robert Wyrsch from Capitola, California, who stands as the only scholarship veteran without UW game time on his football resume and is currently injured.

Sixteen walk-ons of 35 on the roster still await their chance to play with many of them quarterbacks, snappers, holders, punters and kickers who might find it hard getting into a game because of the specialized circumstances surrounding their positions.

Skylar Lin Visuals

Amazingly, seven walk-ons, or non-scholarship players, have appeared in every Husky game so far this season, home and away: junior linebacker Drew Fowler from Bellevue, Washington; sophomore tight end Griffin Waiss from San Jose, California; sophomore kicker Grady Gross from Scottsdale, Arizona; sophomore punter Jack McCallister from Edmonds, Washington; sophomore edge rusher Milton Hopkins Jr. from Seattle; sophomore defensive tackle Bradley McGannon from Yelm, Washington; and redshirt freshman cornerback Tristan Warner from Tacoma.  

Gross has converted all 25 of his extra-point kicks and 3 of 4 field-goal tries. McCallister has punted 9 times for a 42.1-yard average. Fowler has 8 tackles, redshirt freshman linebacker Griffin Miller 4, Warner 4, Hopkins 2, senior cornerback Antonio Hill 1 and McGowan 1

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