Washington Huskies Team.
The Washington Huskies football camp will begin on July 27. So it’s coming up quickly for supporters of the purple and gold. Huskies will be getting ready for opening day. A home against the Montana Grizzlies on September 4 followed by a road game with Michigan. We’ll look at the top five positions where there is some competition going into the season.
The most important competition of all will start out as a two-man race. Sophomore Dylan Morris, who started all four games last year as a redshirt freshman, and graduate transfer student Patrick O’Brien. O’Brien transferred from Colorado State where he started for two years. He will have to show he’s significantly better than Morris to win the job. Since the transfer is a one-and-done at UW.
Dylan Morris, Washington Huskies football.
The Huskies also have heralded freshman Sam Huard son of Damon Huard. His high school Kennedy Catholic season didn’t happen until the spring because of covid restrictions. Then he came right to spring camp. Depending on how Morris and O’Brien do, Huard can see some action as well. The Huskies could decide to redshirt him this season. Under the new redshirt rules, Huard could play in four games and still come back next season as a redshirt freshman.
The Washington Huskies have quite the depth at this spot. The NCAA allowed seniors from last year to return because of covid. No matter how many games were played. So, the two seniors on last year’s squad Kamari Pleasant and Sean McGrew return. Either can start as Pleasant started the first game. While McGrew started a couple as well.
Junior Richard Newton, a fan favorite, will see time as well. Another sophomore, Cameron Davis, came out of spring as second on the depth chart behind Pleasant. However, in the spring he can make it difficult on McGrew, Newton, and Pleasant. Whoever becomes the starter the Huskies have plenty to work with at running back.
Senior Terrell Bynum is the only returning starter playing in the slot. Graduate student Ty Jones decided to transfer to Fresno State. Where he will receive passes from former Husky Jake Haener. Junior Puka Nacua, who the Huskies were expecting big things from, decided to go back home to Utah. Going to BYU. A selling point was his older brother, Samson, deciding to go to BYU as well as a graduate student. They will be a formidable pair.
Terrell Bynum, Washington Huskies football.
Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan are coming in as starters at the other two wide receiver spots. They both got some valuable time late last season. Due to Bynum being hurt in the third game of the season and missed the last game. The two redshirt freshmen will have a fight on their hands to keep those two spots to themselves. As transfers, sophomore Ja’Lynn Polk comes in from Texas Tech and junior Giles Jackson from Michigan. Jackson didn’t come on campus until June so he wasn’t here for spring camp so see how he gets up to speed.
The Washington Huskies have talent and experience at these spots. Dominique Hampton and Asa Turner both juniors are expected to be starters once again after doing so last season. Cameron Williams and Alex Cook as the backups will get plenty of time as well. Both juniors have plenty of experience. Williams was a starter as a true freshman in the first six games of his career at Washington. Could see Cook or Williams be in the starting lineup as well. Whatever the case they will get plenty of playing time.
During spring camp the Huskies lost all-American Zion Tupuola-Fetui to a torn Achilles. Likely Zion will miss the season expecting to be out six to ten months. Sav’ell Smalls played in all four games as a true freshman last season. He’s expected to start in Zion’s spot this coming season. Cooper McDonald, another true freshman last year is expected to be backing up Smalls. In spring camp though graduate student Ryan Bowman expected to start at the other outside linebacker missed time.
McDonald was able to get in extra training time in his spot. So, he can give Smalls a run for his money. Whatever happens certainly helps the outside linebacker spot for sure. Jeremiah Martin, a transfer from Texas A&M where he had plenty of playing time including his freshman season where he played in all 13 games. Playing in 10 games in 2019 and nine out of ten last year, Martin is the expected backup to Bowman. McDonald’s time in the springs shows he can be in on either side.
The other positions on the Huskies are going with experience. The backup spots really are the only competition and not the starting units unless an injury happens. With the team the Huskies bring back in 2021, they should be a favorite to win the Pac-12 North along with Oregon. It will be a disappointment if the Huskies don’t win 10 games. Go Dawgs!