Washington Huskies Training Camp Battles to Watch
Herb Nightengale
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Tackle
The offensive line is where the biggest battles will take place. Last season the line was a huge disappointment and a big reason why UW’s offense sputtered so badly.
Left Tackle Jaxson Kirkland was granted another year of eligibility after spring camp ended. A back injury forced him to withdraw from the NFL Draft, and he petitioned the NCAA for a return to Washington.
Last season Kirkland earned All-Pac-12 First-Team honors. He retained his spot in the 2022 preseason media poll.
It’s entirely possible he could move to right tackle because Penix and Huard are lefties, and he would be protecting their blind side. That could set up a very interesting battle on the opposite side.
Julius Buelow is currently listed as Kirkland’s understudy at left tackle. Last year he started five games at left guard, so he does have some flexibility. He would challenge Matteo Mele, currently UW’s number one RT on the depth chart. In 2021 he played in 10 of the Huskies’ 12 games and can slot in anywhere along the line.
Guard
The two starting guards are expected to be sophomore Troy Fautanu on the left and junior Victor Curne on the right. But don’t expect last season’s starter at RG Henry Banivalu to give up his job without a fight. Then there is Buelow to consider if he doesn’t win out at tackle.
Regardless of who starts at guard, the interior line needs to perform much better than it did in 2021.
Corey Luciano, Victor Curne and Matteo Mele pic.twitter.com/dBHR7xBBwp
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) March 30, 2022