Washington’s Budda Baker runs the ball during a game against Rutgers on Sept. 3 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington’s Budda Baker runs the ball during a game against Rutgers on Sept. 3 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Will 9th-ranked Huskies use star safety Baker more on offense?

SEATTLE — Budda Baker cannot say it enough.

“I’m a defensive player, all the way,” UW’s star junior safety said on Tuesday.

“At the end of the day, I’m a defensive player,” he said again.

“I need to get all of my defensive stuff correct before even thinking about doing any type of offensive stuff,” he says one more time.

So there is little question about which side of the ball Baker’s heart desires. He’s in his third season as UW’s full-time starting free safety — though he can play anywhere in the secondary — and will soon be paid to play the position by an NFL team. A first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, Baker is arguably the most important player on UW’s defense.

But he was also a standout running back at Bellevue High School, and UW coach Chris Petersen describes him as “one of the best athletes you’ve ever been around,” and so the temptation to try Baker on offense is understandable.

He played receiver for the first time in his career on Saturday against Portland State. It could have gone better. UW quarterback Jake Browning targeted him twice. The first was a 10-yard throw to the sticks that Baker couldn’t catch, the second a deep ball down the middle of the field that sailed over Baker’s head after he was re-routed by a defensive back.

Those two misfires, Petersen said, are evidence of just how difficult it can be for even an athlete of Baker’s caliber to step into another position and pick it up right away.

“There is a lot of detail, and it is different,” Petersen said. “You can’t just throw a guy over there. We’re trying to build depth at that receiver position and anybody that can help us on either side of the ball, we always pay attention to that. That’s the point: you can’t just in one week just throw somebody out there. The thousands of reps those other guys have taken compared to what Budda’s had at receiver, it’s night and day. It’s hard.”

Baker’s most effective offensive snap was his first, and he didn’t even touch the ball. Instead, he ran a route into the flat, perhaps drawing the attention of the defense, and Browning eventually found senior tight end Darrell Daniels for an 11-yard touchdown.

“I think that’s kind of part of the whole thing,” Petersen said of Baker serving a purpose even as a decoy. “But is it much different than when Chico (McClatcher) does that? I don’t know, because we get Chico the ball on that stuff too. Again, it’s about creating a package that the defense has to see and worry about different personnel and be able to defend it all.”

Currently, Baker said, he might spend “a couple periods” of practice with the offense, taking repetitions at receiver. Unlike when former Huskies linebacker Shaq Thompson moonlighted at running back in 2014, Baker is learning an entirely new position; he played halfback at Bellevue, he said, in a wing-T offense that rarely threw the ball.

“It’s pretty different,” he said, “especially at the college level.”

Petersen said “it’s hard to say” how Baker’s offensive responsibilities might evolve. The Huskies lack receivers with much experience, though McClatcher, junior Dante Pettis and junior John Ross have each impressed in UW’s first three games, and younger players like redshirt freshman Andre Baccellia and freshman Aaron Fuller have shown promise too. The Huskies could also regain junior Brayden Lenius this week after he sat out UW’s first three games while suspended.

“What I don’t want to have happen is, we’re a month into it and we get thin and you try to throw a guy over there,” Petersen said. “It just doesn’t … it sounds great, but just like all of our receivers, we’re still trying to develop those guys and get better.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Jorge Polanco (7), right, of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his ninth inning home run with J.P. Crawford (3) while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners sweep Tigers on way to All-Star break

The Detroit Tigers still have the best record in baseball,… Continue reading

Mariners select LSU pitcher with No. 3 pick in MLB draft

College baseball’s best pitcher is coming to the Emerald City. The Seattle… Continue reading

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates winning championship point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Gentlemen's Singles Final on day 14 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. (Julian Finney / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Sinner conquers Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title

The vision of Jannik Sinner covered in sweat and… Continue reading

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Cam Schlittler’s strong debut freezes Mariners

The Mariners fell to the Yankees, 9-6, on Wednesday night.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.