The Huskies held their annual football media luncheon this afternoon. As is usually the case, not much newsworthy came out of it, unless you consider the fact that that team is excited and optimistic news. But there were a few tidbits of interest:
1. Fourteen players were invited to the event. You usually get a pretty good idea of who the coaching staff considers to be the team’s top players/leaders by who gets invited to these kind of functions. There’s weren’t many real surprises, the biggest being the absense of senior linebacker Scott White, leading to speculation that White may be behind Dan Howell on the depth chart now. White is usually a go-to guy for the media, so he was missed.
The most surprising attendee was tight end Michael Gottlieb, a former walk-on who Tyrone Willingham said will enter camp as the starter ahead of Robert Lewis and Johnie Kirton. The others in attendance were Stanley Daniels – who has taken over for Brad Vanneman as the media’s offensive go-to guy – Sean Douglas, Sonny Shackelford, Clay Walker, Isaiah Stanback, Anthony Russo, Kenny James, Roy Lewis, C.J. Wallace, Greyson Gunheim, Donny Mateaki, Dashon Goldson and Tahj Bomar.
2. The biggest news to come out was that four players have not been cleared academically to participate, and Willingham would not say when they would be cleared. Three of the players are junior college transfers – safety Ashlee Palmer, offensive lineman Aaron Mason and defensive lineman Anthony Atkins. The fourth is freshman running back Leilyon Myers. Palmer and Mason are both expected to compete for extensive playing time.
3. Goldson, who has been moved from safety to cornerback, is the most significant player with an injury. He sprained an ankle doing a jumping drill a few weeks ago and will be limited for the next 1-2 weeks.
4. Willingham said Kirton, the former star running back at Jackson High School, will remain at tight end and will not see time as a short-yardage running back, as had been speculated.
5. James said he broke his arm during a 7-on-7 drill a few weeks ago but said he feels great physically. He was not in a cast but said he’ll wear a splint for a week and then hopes to be back to full action.
6. Willingham surprised the room by hinting that prized quarterback recruit Jake Locker could see time at other positions, presumably safety or as a return man. But later, Willingham said it was not “realistic” that Locker would be anywhere but quarterback.
7. Willingham said Ben Ossai is the starter at left tackle, a spot where the last two players who manned it – Khalif Barnes and Joe Toledo – were both NFL draft picks.
8. Willingham expects to keep Mateaki at defensive tackle rather than use him at defensive end, meaning that Daniel Te’o-Nesheim is likely the starter opposite Gunheim.
9. No walk-ons have been put on scholarship, but Willingham said he is considering giving one to senior fullback Mark Palaita.
10. The team will hold its first full pads practice on Saturday, which is also picture day beginning at 1 p.m. at Husky Stadium.
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