Washington’s Chico McClatcher caught nine passes for 134 yards in eight games last season. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington’s Chico McClatcher caught nine passes for 134 yards in eight games last season. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Reinvigorated Husky found his love for football again

After stepping away from the team last season, Chico McClatcher is back and ready for a big year.

By Lauren Kirschman / The News Tribune

SEATTLE — Chico McClatcher can pinpoint the games that ate away at him last season.

There was the victory over BYU, when his fumbled punt return in the fourth quarter led to the Cougars’ first and only touchdown. And then there was the win over Colorado. McClatcher fumbled twice that afternoon, recovering one and losing the other.

In the days following that Colorado game, McClatcher decided to step away from football for personal reasons. On Tuesday, after the Washington Huskies’ fifth fall practice, McClatcher spoke to the media for the first time since the announcement.

He answered question after question with a smile.

“Those plays that I missed opportunities on, those really did kind of set me back,” said McClatcher, now a redshirt senior wide receiver. “I just felt like I wasn’t really the same player I was four years ago in my freshman and sophomore years, but now I feel great.”

During Pac-12 media day in July, UW head coach Chris Petersen could only shake his head at the plays McClatcher had fixated on. He vaguely recalled the errors, but Petersen was hard-pressed to assign them to a particular game or moment. The players, he said, obsess over the smallest details.

“We walk that fine balance where we want those kids that are so passionate about ball and they’re all in,” Petersen said, “but it’s also like, we got to help them keep perspective. Sometimes you don’t know that the walls are closing in before it’s too late.”

McClatcher said he was working through family matters last season. And physically, his body just didn’t feel right. He wasn’t playing up to his expectations. As a sophomore in 2016, McClatcher caught 31 passes for 574 yards and five touchdowns. Before suffering a season-ending injury in 2017, he had 10 receptions for 128 yards in three games. In eight appearances last year, McClatcher caught nine passes for 134 yards.

The former Federal Way star admitted there was a moment, however brief, when he thought he was finished with football for good. But instead of letting him walk away, Petersen encouraged him to simply take a break. Do what you need to do, Petersen told him, and then come back.

“I just felt so bad for him last year,” Petersen said, “just putting the weight of the world on his shoulders. … These kids care so much about football. You love these kids and they’re so passionate about it but it’s like, you can cross that line where it just starts going bad and your whole world is that. It’s just like a spiral effect.”

Deep down, McClatcher said he really didn’t want to leave football behind. He still loved it, and he couldn’t imagine not participating in a sport he’d been playing since he was 8 years old.

He just needed to find the joy again.

“Coach Petersen, he’s a great person, great teacher, coach and everything,” McClatcher said. “He’s one of a kind and I’m blessed to have him as my head coach. During that time, he was very understanding of my situation and mentally what I was going through. He got me through it and I’m just blessed to be here.”

While he was away, McClatcher studied film, kept up with training and focused on school work. He spent most of his time with family, who encouraged him to let go of the past and not let his mind linger so heavily on mistakes.

Still, when McClatcher sat down to watch the Huskies on television, he found himself wishing he could be with his teammates. But until he knew he could be as engaged as necessary, he stayed away.

And then winter workouts arrived, and McClatcher was ready. He came back the first day.

“It felt like I never left,” he said. “My teammates, they welcomed me back and I still had the relationships with them. It was just normal when I got back.”

McClatcher has impressed during spring practice and the first few days of fall camp. There is a noticeable bounce in his step again, and he’s flashing bursts of speed that were so often missing last season. On Monday, he arguably had the play of the day when he out-jumped Alex Cook and Isaiah Gilchrist along the sideline to haul in a deep pass from Jacob Sirmon.

“I’m just so happy he is back,” said offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan. “I think he’s a guy, at least for me, when he’s not here anymore it’s going to be a sad day because I feed off him. I think a lot of guys feed off him. That’s a kid that will be out here practicing all day and night if it takes and just to have a guy like that, his influence on the rest of the team is amazing.”

McClatcher was unsure how to completely sum up his transformation from last season to this one. In simple terms, he’s just stronger — mentally and physically. In some ways, he feels like a freshman

Most of all, though, he’s just happy to be back.

“Every game I play I always critique myself, what I can do better,” McClatcher said. “Definitely those plays (from 2018) do stick out but I learned from that and I’m just focused on being a better play each day during fall camp.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.