SEATTLE-When asked about the possibility of players switching positions, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham hinted before practice that some changes may already be underway.
“It could be already taking place,” said Willingham, who wouldn’t elaborate on who specifically, if anyone, he was referring to.
Once practice started, however, at least one change was evident, as freshman Nate Williams, listed as a running back, was working out with the defense.
Williams, a running back and defensive back at Burien’s Kennedy High School last year, lined up as a safety in drills Sunday. The defensive MVP of this spring’s high school East-West All-Star game, Williams has always said that he would be happy on either side of the ball.
“Players come in and talk to you, make decisions, and of course when he hit the field it became official,” said Willingham. “He told me that he would like to start out on defense.”
Running quarterback: Tim Lappano made it clear before Sunday’s practice that he isn’t afraid of letting his quarterback run the ball and take a few hits. Lappano, the Huskies offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said he would like to see Jake Locker get in the neighborhood of 10 to 12 carries per game.
Locker, a quarterback with great speed and size, ran a considerable amount in high school in Ferndale’s Wing-T offense.
Lappano doesn’t worry that Locker will suffer the same fate as last year’s starting quarterback, Isaiah Stanback, who was hurt while running the ball.
“Everybody is going to say, well Isaiah got hurt,” Lappano said. “He’s 225 pounds, he’s used to running the ball in high school, and he wants to run the ball here. He knows how to run, he gets behind his pads, he’s got great center of gravity, he’s got great pad level, he doesn’t give you his upper body. Isaiah was kind of a target in the open field, and it bothered me. This kid is like a tailback. He’s not going to take the shots that Isaiah took. He’s really a gifted runner. So for him to run the football 10 times a game is going to be something we want to do.
“We’re going to make him get down at times, but there are going to be times that he’s going to drop the pads on somebody.”
Good impression: The roster looked about as expected. The two notable absences were not surprising ones in freshmen receivers Anthony Boyles and Devin Aguilar, both of whom have yet to qualify academically. Both could still qualify and join the team later in September.
There were 11 new walk-ons, on the roster, and one already made a good impression on day one.
Punter Kiel Rasp from Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School hit several punts that got Willingham’s attention.
“There were a couple ones that he hit that you said, ‘Wow,’” he said.
The Huskies came into and left the first day of practice with no major injuries according to Willingham.
Camp tradition: Senior defensive end Greyson Gunheim and senior defensive tackle Jordan Reffett showed up to Sunday’s pre-practice media even sporting Mohawks.
“Jordan and I start every camp with the Mohawks,” Gunheim explained. “It’s something to have fun while we’re in all the mental strain and pressure of camp.”
Locker and Rankin: At two of the marquee offensive positions, things were as expected Sunday. Willingham reiterated what he has said since spring, that Locker is still the starter at quarterback. At running back, Louis Rankin worked out with the first team, and Lappano said Rankin was pretty far ahead of second-string running back J.R. Hasty.
Several freshmen saw action at running back behind those two, with Curtis Shaw taking most of the third-team carries. Willie Griffin and Brandon Johnson also got in on the action.
Jersey names: Willingham left open the possibility of names showing up on the backs of jerseys-something that hasn’t happened during his first two seasons-but would not say if that decision had yet been made.
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