Published: Thursday, September 3, 2009
McDowell to start at corner
SEATTLE — During his first two seasons at the University of Washington, cornerback Vonzell McDowell Jr. has seen plenty of action but very few starts.
This Saturday, the junior from Kent is likely to be a part of the Huskies’ starting lineup.
“He’s been in games,” defensive coordinator Nick Holt said when asked why McDowell has moved ahead of redshirt freshman Justin Glenn and true freshman Desmond Trufant. “He’s got experience, and the young guys are still young.”
Glenn’s inexperience isn’t the only thing holding him back. After entering fall camp as the leading candidate to start at cornerback, the Kamiak High School product struggled with injuries and eventually saw Trufant take away most of his snaps. A knee injury has hobbled Glenn for most of the past week.
“The worst timing ever,” Glenn said of the injury. “I’ve been running with the (first team) since the beginning.”
Glenn practiced Tuesday and Wednesday of this week but is still not sure whether he’ll be available to play against LSU on Saturday.
“I don’t have confidence in my knee, so it’s up in the air,” he said. “We’ll see how it feels on Saturday.”
And after that?
“Once I’m finally back, I’m definitely going to be in there (competing) for the starting job,” he said.
Until then, it appears to be McDowell’s job to lose. He fell behind during the spring after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder, yet the junior from Rainier Beach High School slowly worked his way back up the depth chart.
“I’ve been competing for the spot just like everyone else,” McDowell said Wednesday night. “I’ve been competing my butt off.”
Inspirational addition
Last week, the Huskies added an unofficial coach when former NFL defensive lineman Kenechi Udeze was hired as a weight-room assistant. Udeze played at USC when Holt and current Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian were on the Trojans’ staff.
Sarkisian said that Udeze’s presence is as much an inspiration as anything else.
“Kenechi, for obvious reasons, has overcome a lot on the field,” Sarkisian said. “When he came to (USC), he was 372 pounds. He left as a junior, as a first-round draft pick, and he was 272 pounds. So he’s got a great story about getting your body right to position yourself for success. He also was part of a team at SC that finished last in the Pac-10, and when he left, they were No. 1 in the country.”
And that’s only part of the story.
Udeze, 26, spent four years in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in early 2008, sat out the entire season while undergoing a marrow transplant from his brother, and tried to make a comeback last spring.
In July, citing exhaustion, Udeze retired from the NFL.
“He brings motivation, experience and he’s overcome a lot,” Sarkisian said.
Short yardage
Holt said that defensive tackle De’Shon Matthews “could be starting” in Saturday’s game. Matthews worked with the first team in place of injured Cameron Elisara earlier this week, then took snaps away from Alameda Ta’amu when Elisara returned to practice Wednesday night. “He’s had a really good fall camp,” Holt said. “He’s been getting better, so he deserves it.” ... Cornerback Matt Mosely returned to practice Thursday after missing more than a week with a leg injury. ... Freshman Tim Tucker (academics) has been cleared to practice with the team but is still ineligible to play in a game.
This Saturday, the junior from Kent is likely to be a part of the Huskies’ starting lineup.
“He’s been in games,” defensive coordinator Nick Holt said when asked why McDowell has moved ahead of redshirt freshman Justin Glenn and true freshman Desmond Trufant. “He’s got experience, and the young guys are still young.”
Glenn’s inexperience isn’t the only thing holding him back. After entering fall camp as the leading candidate to start at cornerback, the Kamiak High School product struggled with injuries and eventually saw Trufant take away most of his snaps. A knee injury has hobbled Glenn for most of the past week.
“The worst timing ever,” Glenn said of the injury. “I’ve been running with the (first team) since the beginning.”
Glenn practiced Tuesday and Wednesday of this week but is still not sure whether he’ll be available to play against LSU on Saturday.
“I don’t have confidence in my knee, so it’s up in the air,” he said. “We’ll see how it feels on Saturday.”
And after that?
“Once I’m finally back, I’m definitely going to be in there (competing) for the starting job,” he said.
Until then, it appears to be McDowell’s job to lose. He fell behind during the spring after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder, yet the junior from Rainier Beach High School slowly worked his way back up the depth chart.
“I’ve been competing for the spot just like everyone else,” McDowell said Wednesday night. “I’ve been competing my butt off.”
Inspirational addition
Last week, the Huskies added an unofficial coach when former NFL defensive lineman Kenechi Udeze was hired as a weight-room assistant. Udeze played at USC when Holt and current Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian were on the Trojans’ staff.
Sarkisian said that Udeze’s presence is as much an inspiration as anything else.
“Kenechi, for obvious reasons, has overcome a lot on the field,” Sarkisian said. “When he came to (USC), he was 372 pounds. He left as a junior, as a first-round draft pick, and he was 272 pounds. So he’s got a great story about getting your body right to position yourself for success. He also was part of a team at SC that finished last in the Pac-10, and when he left, they were No. 1 in the country.”
And that’s only part of the story.
Udeze, 26, spent four years in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in early 2008, sat out the entire season while undergoing a marrow transplant from his brother, and tried to make a comeback last spring.
In July, citing exhaustion, Udeze retired from the NFL.
“He brings motivation, experience and he’s overcome a lot,” Sarkisian said.
Short yardage
Holt said that defensive tackle De’Shon Matthews “could be starting” in Saturday’s game. Matthews worked with the first team in place of injured Cameron Elisara earlier this week, then took snaps away from Alameda Ta’amu when Elisara returned to practice Wednesday night. “He’s had a really good fall camp,” Holt said. “He’s been getting better, so he deserves it.” ... Cornerback Matt Mosely returned to practice Thursday after missing more than a week with a leg injury. ... Freshman Tim Tucker (academics) has been cleared to practice with the team but is still ineligible to play in a game.
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