SEATTLE — Stopping Vita Vea was one of the biggest challenges for any team that faced the University of Washington football team last season. The Huskies are now in the position of trying to figure out how to replace the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

UW opens spring camp Wednesday and will use the sessions to refine its experienced players while developing unseasoned players leading up to the Spring Game on April 21 at Husky Stadium. Huskies coach Chris Petersen and his staff enter spring returning nine starters from what was one of the best defenses in the nation last season.

The Huskies were eighth in total defense due in part to the defensive line’s production. Ranked fourth against the run, opponents only ran for an average of 100.9 yards and a combined 11 touchdowns in 2017. UW’s line created enough pressure to collect 39 sacks, ranking 14th in the nation.

Here’s a look at what to watch for with UW’s defensive line:

The biggest question is…

Finding Vea’s replacement will be the most notable challenge for the Huskies’ coaches. Vea was only the fourth player in program history to win the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award. He finished the year with 44 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Vea’s dominance, along with his 6-foot-5, 340-pound frame, drew double teams the Huskies often exploited. Finding a like-for-like replacement won’t be easy. There are a few players who could step into the role and potentially provide UW with another force within the interior.

Former Federal Way star Jared Pulu, a junior, was Vea’s understudy last season. His time was limited, but Pulu did get six tackles in 10 games. Pulu’s 6-4, 278-pound build means he has the size needed to challenge centers and guards.

Familiar faces

Whoever replaces Vea is going to be surrounded by experienced players along the defensive line. Seniors Greg Gaines and Jaylen Johnson return for the 2018 season.

Gaines, who is 6-2 and 313 pounds, is a two-year starter who was also an all-Pac-12 second team selection. He accounted for 30 tackles (inlcuding five for losses). Johnson, who is 6-3 and 294 pounds, recorded one start last year and had 3.5 sacks and 18 total tackles. Gaines and Johnson have combined for a total of 79 career games.

Shane Bowman is another senior with experience. Bowman was behind Gaines on last year’s depth chart but still got a chance to see time in 10 games. The 6-4, 288-pound Bowman has made 31 career appearances.

Another player to watch is sophomore Levi Onwuzurike. The 6-3, 283-pound Texan came to UW as a composite four-star defensive end who played in 12 games last year.

The Huskies will enter spring camp with eight defensive linemen.

Going forward

Defensive line was a priority the Huskies addressed with their 2018 signing class. They signed four defensive linemen but none of them will appear in spring camp.

UW signed two defensive tackles in its 2018 class. The Huskies flipped four-star prospect Tuli Letuligasenoa from USC two days before National Signing Day. Letuliagsenoa (6-1, 338 pounds) is the nation’s No. 8 defensive tackle prospect.

They also added Sam Taimani, a four-star prospect as an offensive lineman who will transition to defensive tackle.

Washington inked two, four-star defensive ends in U.S. Army All-American Draco Bynum and Emerald Ridge star Mosiah Nasili-Liu.

Bynum was the nation’s No. 16 strongside defensive end, per 247 Sports.

Nasili-Liu, a three-star prospect, was the composite No. 51 weak-side defensive end in America.