SEATTLE — No column today on the lowly state of Washington’s football program.
Too depressing.
No column on how bad the Husky defense looks after four games.
Enough’s been said on that already.
Instead, let’s look ahead to an intriguing possibility for the rest of the 2008 season that could make for an interesting subplot in what otherwise looks like a lost season.
Jake Locker, UW safety.
Think about it. It’s not as crazy as it sounds. Before he was Jake Locker, can’t-miss quarterback prospect, college recruiters raved about the defensive skills of Jake Locker, can’t-miss safety prospect.
Southern Cal, one of many programs to offer Locker a scholarship when he was a two-way star at Ferndale High School, was initially interested in Locker as a defensive back.
Locker finally established himself as a legitimate college quarterback prospect during the summer before his senior year. That was when he went to the EA Sports Elite 11 camp in southern California and wowed coaches and recruiting experts. Before that, however, there were plenty of people who wondered if a wing-T quarterback could make the transition to college.
“Early on, defense was where he was getting looks,” said Locker’s father, Scott Locker.
There’s never been a doubt that Locker is a phenomenal athlete, and until now it made sense for the Huskies to use their best athlete at a position where he touches the ball every play.
But now, after breaking his thumb on his throwing hand in Saturday’s loss to Stanford, Locker isn’t going to be lining up on offense for a while — offensive coordinator Tim Lappano speculated it could be six weeks.
So why not utilize Locker at a position he played at an all-state level while in high school? It’s not like the Huskies have loads of talent and depth at safety. If they did, it would make sense to rest Locker and get him healthy as soon as possible. But in an odd twist (or fracture) of fate, Locker happens to be very talented at a position that has become a major concern for Washington.
Coming into the season, Washington’s projected starting safeties were sophomores Nate Williams and Victor Aiyewa, while two experienced players, Jason Wells and Darin Harris, would give the Huskies the luxury of two backups that both have starting experience.
Instead, Aiyewa has missed almost the entire season with a groin injury. Harris suffered a concussion against BYU, and the timetable on his return is still up in the air. Wells, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last season and has not recovered as well as hoped, is likely headed towards a redshirt season.
Depleted and desperate at safety, the Huskies ended up moving true freshman Johri Fogerson from tailback to safety early in the season, and two weeks later he was a starter. With Nate Williams dinged up heading into the Oklahoma game, the Huskies were close to having to start a true freshman with less than two weeks of practice at safety under his belt (Fogerson), and a 26-year-old walk-on who last played football in 1999 (Tripper Johnson).
Williams was able to play, starting alongside Fogerson, but the fact that a true freshman and a former baseball-playing walk-on both played a prominent role against the now top-ranked team in the country shows how desperately the Huskies could use some help in the secondary.
Locker could provide just that. He’s big, fast and physical, three attributes coaches love in a safety.
And the word from coaches after Saturday’s loss to Stanford was that Locker had already brought up the idea.
“Hey, if he wants to do it, let’s go,” said offensive coordinator Tim Lappano.
Asked if Locker had already talked to coaches about playing another position, Lappano said, “I think so. That’s coach Willingham’s call, but you know he’s asking.”
So would Willingham be willing to consider using his star quarterback at another position?
“Absolutely,” he said.
Part of what has made Locker a dangerous player and a fan favorite has been his willingness to put the team ahead of his own well being. Locker has always been willing — at times more than his coaches would like — to take hits to get an extra yard, or throw a block down field if he thinks it can help the Huskies win. It was playing like that that got Locker hurt, as he broke his thumb on a down-field block that helped spring Jordan Polk on a 27-yard reverse run.
That attitude, maddening as it may be to coaches trying to protect a quarterback, is why Locker was thinking of other ways to get on the field before he’s even received a diagnosis on his thumb (Locker is expected to meet with a hand specialist this morning).
Locker won’t be worried that he could suffer another injury playing safety, and he won’t think about what that move could do to his future as a quarterback (imagine the debates that would occur if backup Ronnie Fouch plays well in Locker’s absence, and Locker turns himself into a dominant safety). Instead, he’ll be concerned with finding his way back onto the field and helping a struggling team end a losing streak.
If Fogerson can make the transition from running back to safety and start two weeks later, why can’t Locker?
In what has become a dismal season for the Huskies and their struggling defense, maybe Locker could become the playmaker Ed Donatell’s defense so badly needs.
Jake Locker, safety. Think about it.
Contact Herald Writer John Boyle at jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on University of Washington sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com /huskiesblogthe
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