SEATTLE – When the Washington football team released its final list of 26 senior players who would be honored before today’s final home game against Stanford, there were a few surprises.
Receiver Marlon Wood, safety Chris Hemphill and kicker Michael Braunstein, all listed as juniors, will make their final walk down the Husky Stadium tunnel today. Also on that list of juniors who will be honored today are defensive back Durrell Moss and offensive lineman William Kava.
According to coach Tyrone Willingham, Wood should have always been listed as a senior. He started his career at Alabama State in 2002 before transferring to Pasadena Community College, then transferred to Washington last year.
But Hemphill and Braunstein were the bigger surprises, as they are both technically fourth-year juniors who redshirted the 2003 season to preserve a year of eligibility. Willingham has maintained since he took over the program that a fifth year had to be earned, both as a player and in other areas such as leadership and academics.
Both Hemphill and Braunstein have been regular contributors to the team this season. Hemphill has been a backup at safety all year but earned his first start last week and led the team with 14 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery and will start again today in place of injured Jason Wells.
Braunstein – in his first season as the starting kicker – is 9-for-11 on field goals, including a 47-yarder, and has made all 27 of his extra points.
Willingham left open the possibility that some of the players could return, though the fact that they are being honored today makes that seem unlikely. It’s possible that Hemphill and Braunstein could take advantage of a new NCAA rule that allows players who have graduated in four years to transfer to another school and be eligible to play right away.
There are 11 other players on the roster who are listed as fourth-year juniors who are expected to return in 2007.
Bonnell to start: Willingham said that junior Carl Bonnell would start at quarterback for the third week in a row. Earlier this week, Willingham said he would evaluate the position, leaving open the possibility that junior Johnny DuRocher could have started. Bonnell has passed for 376 yards in his three starts but also has eight interceptions.
White-Frisbee to have surgery: Offensive lineman Jordan White-Frisbee has had another surgery on his right foot. White-Frisbee, who missed all of last season after fracturing the foot twice, has had two surgeries on the same foot. He was moved from defensive tackle to offensive lineman this season to ease some of the pressure on the foot but it has continued to bother him.
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