By Mike Vorel / The Seattle Times
Prior to Washington’s Senior Day game against Stanford on Dec. 5, Sean McGrew wasn’t sure if it would be his final one.
“It’s definitely something I thought about before the season and something I’m thinking about right now,” McGrew said. “I still have no comment on that, because I don’t know what I’m about to do yet.”
He knows now.
Late on Monday night — the same day teammates Jaxson Kirkland, Zion Tupuola-Fetui and Cade Otton all announced they’ll return to Washington in 2021 — the Huskies’ leading rusher did the same.
“Season didn’t end the way we wanted to, but me and my Dawgs got some unfinished business to handle,” McGrew wrote in an Instagram post. “Coming back for one more season!!!! #6thyear”
Because NCAA eligibility was essentially paused in 2020, McGrew — a fifth-year senior from Torrance, Calif. — is allowed to return for a sixth season next fall. And his presence could propel a Husky offense that unabashedly relies on its running backs.
In just four games last season, the 5-foot-7, 175-pound bowling ball of a running back led the Huskies in rushing yards (227), yards per carry (5.3) and rushing touchdowns (4). The former St. John Bosco standout has compiled 854 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry and eight touchdowns (so far) in his UW career.
Which isn’t all to say McGrew is guaranteed anything. After all, the Huskies should have five other scholarship running backs next season: redshirt sophomore Richard Newton, redshirt freshman Cameron Davis, true freshmen Jay’Veon Sunday and Sam Adams II, and incoming freshman Caleb Berry. A sixth, fifth-year senior Kamari Pleasant, has yet to announce whether he’ll be back in 2021.
But, in the last 24 hours, UW head coach Jimmy Lake learned that his leading rusher (McGrew), leading receiver (Otton), leading pass-rusher (Tupuola-Fetui) and top offensive lineman (Kirkland) will all be back in Seattle next season.
All things considered, it was a fruitful Monday on Montlake.
Garbers transferring to UCLA
Next season, the Washington Huskies will see Ethan Garbers on the opposite sideline.
Garbers — a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback, who officially entered the transfer portal last week — ” has committed to UCLA, he announced on social media on Tuesday. UW is scheduled to host UCLA inside Husky Stadium in 2021.
The Newport Beach, Calif., product signed with Washington barely a year ago and competed for the Huskies’ quarterback job last offseason, but did not participate in any of the team’s four games after redshirt freshman Dylan Morris assumed the starting spot. Five-star Kennedy Catholic standout Sam Huard — the No. 1 pro-style passer in the 2021 class, via 247Sports — also signed with UW earlier this month.
Garbers and fellow quarterbacks Kevin Thomson (who opted to pursue a professional future) and Jacob Sirmon (who transferred to Central Michigan) each decided not to return to UW this offseason.
Before inking with UW in 2019, Garbers — whose older brother, Chase, is the starting quarterback at Cal — was ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 4 pro-style passer in his class by 247Sports. He led Corona Del Mar High School to a perfect 16-0 record and a Division 1A CIF state title in 2019, throwing for 5,034 yards (69.6% completions) with 83 touchdowns (12 rushing) and five interceptions in the process.
And he isn’t the first four-star UW quarterback to land at UCLA. Colson Yankoff arrived at the same destination in the spring of 2019, and has since switched positions to wide receiver.
Garbers has four seasons of remaining collegiate eligibility.
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