A lot has changed since the Husky football team last took the field.
Michael Penix Jr. and 20 other starters from the team that won Pac-12 football's last title, the 2023 Sugar Bowl, and appeared in the College Football Playoff Championship Game, have left. Former UW coach Karen DeBoer heads south to replace Nick Saban at Alabama, and Jed Fisch joins Washington from former conference rival Arizona. The University of California will be headed to a new conference for the first time in more than a century.
And the Seattle Times also replaced its beat writers.
Despite all the changes, some things remain consistent. As cherry blossoms bloom on the Quad, fooling California settlers into believing summer has arrived instead of spring, Washington football returns to spring practice Wednesday at 5 p.m.
As the Jed Fisch era officially begins in Montlake, here are five storylines Washington fans should keep an eye on.
1. Offensive line questions
During a media relations session on March 27, Washington offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll said his first question to the offensive line group was, “Who's going to play center?”
When half of the group raised their hands, Carroll said, “Everyone raise your hands. You are all playing center.”
However, there are definitely personnel questions that remain regarding the offensive line entering spring training. All five members of the group (Troy Fortanu, Julius Buelow, Parker Brailsford, Nate Calepo and Roger Rosengarten) won the 2023 Joe Moore Award as the nation's best offensive line unit. He left for the NFL Draft or some other opportunity.
Washington enters the spring with just 11 scholarship offensive linemen. Two of them, true freshmen David Boyajian and Justin Hilkema, won't be on campus until the fall.
So, in reality, Washington could sign nine offensive linemen this spring. Redshirt freshmen Carly Tafai, Soan Faasolo and Elisha Jackett, as well as true freshmen Paki Finau and Michael Watkins, have zero collegiate field experience. Redshirt freshman Zachary Henning played twice in 2023 against Michigan State and California.
Junior guard Memmerard missed the entire 2023 season due to injury. He appeared in four games in the 2022 season. Sophomore Landen Hatchett played in nine games as a true freshman, making him the most experienced returning member of Washington's offensive line group. The Huskies also acquired former San Diego State transfer Drew Azzopardi. He started six games for the Aztecs at right tackle this past campaign and appeared in 15 of his career.
Carroll is clearly suited for the job, coaching offensive linemen while also serving as offensive coordinator. Washington also has a chance to add more experience to its front five with the spring transfer portal, which opens on April 15th. But it will be interesting to see how this line develops and who earns an early starting spot this spring.
2. Cameron Davis returns
A year ago, Cameron Davis probably didn't expect to return to Montlake for the 2024 season.
The former four-star running back from Upland, Calif., had the best season of his career in 2022 under Coach DeBoer, rushing for 522 yards on 107 attempts while split-carrying with Wayne Taulapapa and 13 Scored a touchdown. He also had 19 catches for 137 yards. Davis will likely compete for the lead back spot in 2023 with former Mississippi State transfer Dillon Johnson.
However, due to an injury sustained during fall camp, Davis will miss the entire 2023 season. Johnson earned the starting job, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning his college a berth in the CFP Championship Game and declaring for the NFL Draft.
Now that Davis is healthy, he will return to a crowded running back room. Former Arizona transfer Jonah Coleman was a 2023 All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection, and true freshman and Wildcat early enrollee Adam Mohammed also joined the Huskies in the offseason. In addition, 2023 contributors Taibo Rogers, Sam Adams II and Daniel Ngata will all return as well.
Spring will be important for Davis as he re-establishes himself at the top of Washington's running back depth and will be an opportunity to see how his recovery is progressing as he enters his sixth season of college football.
3. Transfer to Arizona is here to stay
The Fish weren't able to bring all of Arizona State's standouts to Seattle, missing out on players like quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who chose to remain in Tucson. Several former Wildcats will be moving north.
Coleman is perhaps the most notable. In 2023, he rushed for 871 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, gaining 283 yards on 25 catches and reaching the end zone through the air.
But the University of Arizona contributor Fisch wasn't the only one he was able to lure to Montlake, as UW also added cornerback Efejians Prysok. Another 2023 All-Pac-12 honorable mention goes to second-team All-Pac-12 cornerback Takario Davis, who played in 13 games and had 61 tackles, seven passes defensed, and one interception. times were recorded. Prysock and returning cornerback Elijah Jackson give Washington experience on the defensive end heading into the spring.
There are two other former Arizona players on the defensive line. Junior Russell Davis II recorded 16 tackles in 2023, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and Isaiah Ward added 30 tackles and four sacks.
Other transfers from Arizona, such as cornerback Jordan Shaw and wide receiver Audric Harris, either never played in Arizona because they were transferred from elsewhere, like Shaw, or they joined Arizona early. Either he had to enter the transfer portal instead of simply being kicked out because he was a true freshman entering the league. A National Letter of Intent like Mr. Harris's.
4.QB1
One player Washington knows has experience is quarterback. The Huskies were able to retain fifth-year signal caller Will Rogers, who originally transferred from Mississippi State to Washington to play for DeBoer.
Rodgers is the Southeastern Conference's all-time leader in pass completions and completion percentage and played in 43 games over four seasons with the Bulldogs. His experience should be a big boost, and Rodgers is the clear frontrunner to start in Washington in 2024.
He also has a chance to help build Washington's future. Rodgers is one of his three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. The remaining two, 247Sports four-star prospects Damond Williams Jr. and Damaricus Davis, are true freshmen, and Rodgers could coach them to become his successor in 2025.
5. Is anyone safe to play with?
Washington suffers from a lack of depth and experience in many spots, but the Huskies are particularly insecure. Starting safety Dominic Hampton declared for the draft and Asa Turner committed to Florida.
Senior Kamren Fabiklanan returns with the most experience. He appeared in 12 games and made 26 tackles, three for a loss, and recorded two interceptions while playing primarily as a nickel, but is currently listed as a safety.
This group behind Fabikranan has not been tested much. Junior Makel Esten played in 14 games as a sophomore and recorded 19 tackles. He also started against Stanford last season, when Washington's secondary injury crisis was at its peak. Sophomore Tristan Dunn played in all 15 games, primarily on special teams. Redshirt freshman Vincent Holmes played in four games as a safety during his true freshman season in 2023, but plans to switch to offense and play wide receiver.
The Fish were able to retain true freshman Peyton Waters, a 247Sports Composite four-star prospect who temporarily entered the transfer portal. He plans to participate in spring practice. But fellow freshmen Paul Menke Jr. and Rahim Wright II won't, meaning new Washington safeties coach Vinny Sunseri will only have four scholarship safeties coaches this spring.
