SEATTLE — Five different tailbacks started games for Washington last season, but as the Huskies enter their third week of spring practices, it appears a sixth name has climbed to the top of the depth chart.
Demitrius Bronson, who signed with Washington in 2008 but failed to qualify academically, is with the team now, and is quickly making up for lost time.
During Saturday’s scrimmage, Bronson scored two touchdowns in goal-line situations with the No. 1 offense, and on Monday Bronson shined again, taking most of the carries with the first team offense and turning in a couple of the day’s best runs.
“He did it again today,” said UW coach Steve Sarkisian. “I think he’s starting to surprise himself now. He got in the open field and made a right hand turn; he might have scored a touchdown if he had ran straight. He just keeps playing hard. He’s a good young kid, he’s learning a lot of the game, but he knows how to run the football, that’s for sure.”
Bronson entered the spring as one of eight tailbacks on the roster, and five of them—Chris Polk, David Freeman, Terrance Dailey, Brandon Johnson and Willie Griffin—all started at least one game last season, and the other two, Curtis Shaw and Brandon Yakaboski, have seen some game action.
But thanks to a number of injuries and a surprisingly productive spring, Bronson may move past all of them when the depth chart comes out in August.
“I’m just taking whatever the coaches give me,” said Bronson, who at 215 pounds is one of the team’s most physical backs. “If they put me with the ones, I’m going to go in, if they put me in with the threes, I’m going to go in. Whatever playing time I can get right now is a plus for me.”
Sarkisian admits that he’s surprised with how well Bronson is playing this early in his UW career.
“He’s essentially still a true freshman,” he said. “He’s now had eight practices of college football. I’m very impressed with his mental toughness. He really comes to work every day focused and really trying to learn and trying to get better.”
Bronson spent last year working out with a trainer and lifting weights to stay in shape. He also took three online classes to get himself academically eligible.
He says the year away from football is driving him this spring.
“It was hard,” Bronson said. “It took a big hit on me, but then again, it gave me a lot of motivation to try to get better and try to become a Husky.”
Glenn runs with the ones
Redshirt freshman cornerback Justin Glenn is making the most of his spring opportunities, and worked with the No. 1 defense during Monday’s practice. Glenn, a Kamiak High School graduate, had been working mostly with the No. 2 defense before Monday. The Huskies are currently without injured cornerbacks Vonzell McDowell and Matt Mosley.
Leonard happy with his move
Luther Leonard practiced at receiver for the third time since switching from quarterback, and said that he is enjoying his new position.
“There are a lot of plusses to the move, I’m happy about it now,” he said.
However Leonard admitted that he wasn’t immediately thrilled about giving up on quarterback.
“Of course it bothered me at first, but after a while it was fine,” he said. “It didn’t bother me that much. I got over it.”
Three missing
Tailback Terrance Dailey, linebacker Bradly Roussel and offensive lineman Allen Carroll were all absent from practice. Sarkisian said all three have academic issues to clear up before they return.
Injury report
Offensive tackle Skyler Fancher went down with a right leg injury late in practice and he was put on a cart that took him to the locker room. Sarkisian admitted that the injury didn’t look good, but said he did not yet know the extent of it.
Receiver D’Andre Goodwin returned to practice after hurting his hamstring last Monday, but didn’t last long before aggravating the injury. Sarkisian said Goodwin will be out at least until Friday.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on UW sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com/huskiesblog
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