With Bryant injured, Sample new leader of UW tight end group
Published 1:30 am Saturday, August 4, 2018
By Adam Jude / The Seattle Times
The Washington Huskies, entering a season in which they are the heavy favorite to win the Pac-12 championship, opened fall camp on Friday as they begin in earnest preparations for their much-anticipated season opener against Auburn. Here’s a look at what to expect from the group of tight ends:
Who’s back
Drew Sample, sr., 6-5, 251
Jacob Kizer, so., 6-4, 264
Cade Otton, rs.-fr., 6-5, 249
DeShon Williams, sr., 6-2, 230*
Jusstis Warren, jr., 6-2, 249
Michael Neal, jr., 6-4, 245
Jack Westover, fr., 6-2, 229*
x-Hunter Bryant, so., 6-2, 224
Summer arrival
Devin Culp, fr., 6-3, 232
*walk-on
x-injured; to miss most of 2018 season
Outlook
Sophomore Hunter Bryant, the 2017 ESPN Freshman All-American, is out for most, if not all, of 2018. Hunter’s absence puts more focus on senior Drew Sample, who over the past three seasons has been a dependable block-first tight end in UW’s various tight-end formations. Sample dropped 10 pounds over the summer — he’s at 251 pounds on the new UW roster posted Thursday — which would seem to be a sign he’ll be asked to help more in the passing game this fall. Though he had just seven receptions last season, he is a capable receiver. Three of those seven catches in 2017 came in the opener at Rutgers; the following week, Sample sustained an ankle injury that hobbled him for much of the season.
Star watch
Chris Petersen said last week that it’s possible Bryant could be back at some point late in the season, and wouldn’t it be something if UW’s No. 1 — Bryant’s new jersey number — ran out of the Husky Stadium tunnel Nov. 3 before the showdown against Stanford?
Breakout candidates
Redshirt freshman Cade Otton had a strong spring, finishing with a team-high-tying five catches in UW’s spring game. At 6-5 and 249 pounds, he certainly looks the part, and no one might benefit more from Bryant’s absence than Otton. Sophomore Jacob Kizer was a pleasant surprise as a true freshman last season, playing in 12 games and starting the final three as the second or third tight end. DeShon Williams also had a productive spring and could be a factor this fall, and freshman Devin Culp will push for playing time too.
