By Adam Jude
The Seattle Times
The Washington Huskies, entering a season in which they are a favorite to win the Pac-12 championship, open fall camp on Aug. 3 as they begin in earnest preparations for their much-anticipated season opener against Auburn. Today, we continue our fall-camp position preview series with a look at the linebackers.
WHO’S BACK
Outside (BUCK)
Ryan Bowman, so., 6-0, 258
Benning Potoa’e, jr., 6-3, 275
Joe Tryon, rs-fr., 6-5, 262
Ariel Ngata, rs-fr., 6-2, 213
Inside (MIKE)
Ben Burr-Kirven, sr., 6-0, 221
DJ Beavers, jr., 6-1, 220
Jake Wambaugh, sr., 6-2, 220*
Inside (WILL)
Tevis Bartlett, sr., 6-2, 238
Brandon Wellington, jr., 6-0, 224
Kyler Manu, jr., 6-1, 232
Matt Preston, sr., 6-2, 235*
Outside (SAM)
Amandre Williams, so., 6-2, 234
Myles Rice, so., 6-3, 246
NEW ARRIVALS
Ale Kaho, fr., 6-1, 218
Jackson Sirmon, fr., 6-2, 224
MJ Tafisi, fr., 6-2, 224
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, fr., 6-2, 250
Ben Hines, fr., 5-9, 224*
Jeffrey Ulofoshio, fr., 6-0, 222*
*walk-on
OUTLOOK
The Huskies know what they have — and love what they have — at inside linebacker, where seniors Ben Burr-Kirven and Tevis Bartlett return to lead the middle of the defense. Given the opportunity to make his starting debut in the season opener at Rutgers last year, Burr-Kirven played so well that he kept the job at middle linebacker even when Azeem Victor returned from suspension. Burr-Kirven wound up leading the team with 84 tackles last season. Bartlett, meanwhile, led the team with 12.0 tackles for loss. Also returning is sophomore Buck linebacker Ryan Bowman, a former walk-on who led the team in sacks (with 5.5) despite playing only about a quarter of the defensive snaps in 2017. Behind those three, there are legitimate questions about the depth. Benning Potoa’e remains an intriguing athlete, and his versatility means he can play at several spots on the D-line as well. DJ Beavers is penciled in as the top backup inside, but he has been slowed by injuries the past year. Same with Brandon Wellington, who tore an ACL late last season. Amandre Williams and Myles Rice emerged off the edge during the spring, but they are raw. Redshirt freshmen Joe Tryon and Ariel Ngata are wild cards; they don’t figure to get many snaps this fall, but they might have the highest ceiling among the returning edge rushers.
STAR WATCH
A former national champion wrestler from Wyoming, Bartlett isn’t flashy. But trust is a big word around the UW football program, and coaches trust Bartlett as much as anyone on the roster. He’s an emerging leader, and his responsibilities on the defense increased this spring when he shifted from strongside linebacker to weakside. The hunch here is he’ll have a breakthrough senior season and give notice to NFL scouts.
KEY STAT
5 Ale Kaho, a 6-foot-1, 218-pounder from Reno, Nevada, is the first 5-star recruit ever to sign with Chris Petersen.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATE
Kaho turned down offers from Alabama and USC, among many others, to sign with the Huskies last November. He had shoulder surgery in the winter, but indications are he should be in uniform when the Huskies open camp in 15 days. Given the lack of depth and injury concerns inside, it’s seems a safe assumption that Kaho will be on the field in some capacity early in the season. Incoming freshmen Jackson Sirmon — the son of former UW linebackers coach Peter Sirmon, and cousin of UW QB Jacob Sirmon — and MJ Tafisi should get a chance to play early too.
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