Before we get on to the news of today, let’s play catch up from last night. The Huskies go their fifth, and by far their biggest, commitment last night from Garfield HS defensive tackle Deandre Coleman. Coleman, who is listed at 6-4, 285 pounds, is considered the state’s top recruit for 2009, and also had offers from LSU, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado and Oregon.
I caught Coleman on the phone for a brief conversation earlier today, and asked him about his decision to come to Washington.
“I like coach Willingham, and I felt like I had a good connection with the coaches, and I felt like I can play early,” he said. “I think they’re up-and-coming.”
A lot has been made this summer about Tyrone Willingham’s job status and its affect on recruiting. Coleman said that gave him brief pause, but in the end he thinks Willingham will be around to coach him.
“Yeah, I thought about that for a minute,” he said. “But I feel like he’s going to be there.”
Ok, on to Friday’s happenings.
Willingham said today that Victor Aiyewa has some sort of groin injury. Aiyewa, the projected starting safety, wasn’t in pads at this morning’s practice.
In other injury news, Jake Locker is still day-to-day, though offensive coordinator Tim Lappano seems happy with what he’s seeing so far.
“I’m not sure when he’s going to be back full speed, but he’s doing a lot of things,” said Lappano. “He’s just a warrior out there. I was watching him yesterday with the stadium stairs and the hash foot drills to strengthen that thing. The guy is just a machine on all of that stuff. Who knows when he’s going to heal up, but nobody is working any harder than he is at it right now, so that’s the positive thing. Nobody wants to be out there more than he does.”
Lappano was asked when Locker needs to be back in order to be ready for the Oregon game.
“I think game week,” he said. “I’d hope Monday of game week he’s ready to go. Just for the timing purposes with the new receivers and that kind of stuff. He’s throwing the ball right now, but game week he needs to be able to get in there with first receiving group, whoever that’s going to be, and make sure the timing and stuff is there. I don’t worry about the running part of it at all. I’m just concerned about the timing aspect of our passing game.”
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