SEATTLE — The games don’t start counting until September, but Washington’s spring game today will give Husky football fans a glimpse of what Steve Sarkisian and his coaching staff have assembled.
There have been plenty of interesting plot lines and position battles during the first 14 spring practices, and today’s 1 p.m. spring game could provide some clues of what’s to come when the Huskies open with LSU on Sept. 5.
Here are five things to keep a particularly close eye on if you come out to Husky Stadium today:
Rising stars of spring
While plenty of obvious players have had big moments this spring—quarterback Jake Locker, defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, linebackers E.J. Savannah, Donald Butler and Mason Foster—a number of unlikely names have turned heads over the course of the past 14 practices.
WR Jordan Polk: an undersized receiver who was used primarily as a kick returner last year, Polk has been one of most consistent receivers this spring, as well as a player capable of breaking a big play every time he touches the ball.
CB Justin Glenn: a Kamiak High School grad, who redshirted last fall, Glenn has taken full advantage of the opportunities created by injuries at his position. For most of the last two weeks, Glenn has worked primarily with the No. 1 defense, and will likely do so again today.
DE Darrion Jones: the senior was a starter most of last season, but did little to distinguish himself. This spring however, Jones has been, according to his coaches, one of the team’s most improved players. Coming into spring, it seemed inevitable that sophomore Everrette Thompson would earn the starting end job opposite Te’o-Nesheim, and while that could still happen, it will certainly be more of a battle in August than anyone expected.
TE Chris Izbicki: Once the top recruit in the state, Izbicki fell out of favor with Tyrone Willingham following minor legal troubles last summer, and never saw the field last season. The Huskies had only two healthy tight ends this spring however, and Izbicki took full advantage, at times out-playing presumed starter Kavario Middleton.
OT Drew Schaefer: The Huskies returned both of their starting offensive tackles from last season, so it seemed unlikely that Ben Ossai or Cody Habben would be going anywhere. Ossai ended up being moved to guard, however, and Schaefer, a redshirt freshman, has taken over the other tackle spot and doesn’t seem to be in immediate danger of losing.
Locker’s accuracy
Sarkisian said before the start of spring practice that he wants to get Locker’s completion rate up to 60 percent or better in the upcoming season, and the quarterback’s progress this spring has shown that to be a realistic goal. Locker and backup Ronnie Fouch have been getting rave reviews from the coaches for their improvement over the past few practices, and Locker completed 10 of 16 passes in last weekend’s scrimmage.
“Jake Locker and Ronnie Fouch have both gotten a lot better,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve both helped themselves out a lot this spring.”
One way Sarkisian expects to get Locker’s number up is to have him rely more on short and intermediate passes than he has in the past.
O-Line shuffles
Offensive line coach Dan Cozzetto seems to have settled on a pool of six players to battle for the five starting spots, and throughout spring has mixed and matched on the line. Habben and Schaefer looked to be entrenched at the two tackle spots, but the interior line has been in flux this month. Ryan Tolar, arguably the team’s top returning offensive lineman, has alternated between center and left guard. When he has lined up at center, Ossai has been the left guard and Senio Kelemete, formerly a defensive tackle, has played right guard. When Tolar plays left guard, Mykenna Ikehara takes the snaps and Kelemete stays at right guard (though Ossai has been at that spot a few times).
Whichever lineup has more success today just might have a leg up when fall camp opens.
Who shines at DB?
Washington’s front seven has been pretty set for most of spring, and a veteran linebacking unit will likely be the strength of the defense, but there are plenty of question marks in the defensive backfield. Cornerback Quinton Richardson and safety Nate Williams look like they’ll be starters in the fall, but the other cornerback and safety positions could be wide open.
Matt Mosley or Vonzell McDowell looked like the likely candidates to start at corner early this spring, but injury struggles have limited them both, making way for Glenn’s rise. Injuries turned the safety position into a disaster for the Huskies last season, and safeties coach Jeff Mills has given plenty of players reps with the first team. Williams could be joined at safety this fall by Johri Fogerson, Greg Walker, Victor Aiyewa, or Jason Wells, who is injured this spring. For those healthy three, tomorrow will be a day to take a step towards earning that job.
Tailback battles
There has been no clear-cut No. 1 tailback this spring, and don’t expect anyone to get the majority of carries today. Six tailbacks—Chris Polk, Demitruis Bronson, Willie Griffin, Brandon Johnson, David Freeman and Curtis Shaw — are all expected to see action today, and all know the competition at their position is stiff.
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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