It is hard to believe but spring football is just about here. Amazing how quickly time flies when the season ends at the end of December rather than Thanksgiving. Even with the losses of team leaders Jake Locker and Mason Foster I think the overall team will be better in 2011. With that being said lets take a position by position look at what the team will look like coming into spring starting with the offense.
Quarterback
Keith Price and Nick Montana square off in a battle that will continue up to the first game of the season. Price has the edge in experience while Montana just may be a better fit for Sarkisian's offense. This is obviously the battle that will be watched most closely this spring. Every reporter out there is going to be counting every pass, completion, TD and interception. Derrick Brown will be here in the fall and will most likely redshirt.
- So Price
- RS Montana
- Fr Brown
Running Back
Chris Polk returns healthy this spring so he will be out there getting a lot of work. Jessie Callier returns as the solid number two back. Deontae Cooper will be limited as he continues to rehab his knee. We don't expect him to experience much contact. Johri Fogerson's status with the team is in limbo right now. That means we will probably see Zach Fogerson get some snaps as a big TB this spring. Bishop Sankey hits campus this fall to bolster the depth and compete for immediate playing time.
- Jr Polk
- So Callier
- RS Cooper (Limited Participation)
- Sr J. Fogerson (Suspended)
- Fr Sankey
Fullback
Zack Fogerson is going to get a lot of work this spring. He figures to be the starting FB this fall and as mentioned above will get some snaps as a big TB. Behind him is Kimo Makaula who we haven't heard much about since he stepped on campus. Desden Petty arrives this fall.
- So Z. Fogerson
- So Makaula
- Fr Petty
Wide Receiver
Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar return for their senior seasons. They have both had productive careers as Huskies and are looking to take it to the next level.
James Johnson, Keith Smith, Cody Bruns, DiAndre Campbell, Luther Leonard, and Kasen Williams are the leading candidates to compete for that third starting position. Johnson missed most of last season with a nagging injury.He started the previous season as a freshman and was very impressive over the first part of the season before tailing off.
Smith is an impressive athlete who broke his thumb last season which limited his ability to catch. He still played well on special teams. Smith can be a big time player and with a year under his belt in the system he will definitely be part of the rotation next fall.
Kasen Williams is one of the most celebrated recruits to ever accept a scholarship offer from Washington. The National Parade Player of the Year is going to be given every opportunity to win the third starting spot. Williams gives the WR position a physical presence that they have been missing.
DiAndre Cambell redshirted last season but showed quite a bit of potential on the scout team. Cody Bruns returns as a jack of all trades. He is the holder on special teams and helps fill out the depth. Luther Leonard appears to be hopelessly buried in the depth unless he can break out this spring.
On the way this fall are Marvin Hall, Josh Perkins, and Jamaal Jones. Hall has the potential to break into the lineup as a return man. Perkins senior film looked great. Jones could end up gray shirting since he is recovering from surgery.
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Sr Kearse - So Smith - Jr Leonard - Fr Perkins
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Sr Aguilar - Sr Bruns - RS Campbell - Fr Jones
- So Johnson - Fr Williams - Fr Hall
Tight End
Austin Sefarian-Jenkins is the designated savior of a position that has been snake bit for quite a few seasons. He will be here this spring battling it out with Mike Hartvigson and Marlion Bennett for the starting job. Technically Barnett is the returning starter but UW simply didn't use the TE much last season. Barnett is more of an H-Back then a TE so expect him to start expanding that role. That figures to change starting this spring.
- RS Hartvigson
- Fr Sefarian-Jenkins
- So - Bennett
Offensive Line
Senio Kelemete will be limited this spring due to a plantar fascia tear in his foot that happened in an off season conditioning drill. Nick Wood will also be out because he is recovering from hip surgery. We have also heard but it is not confirmed that Mykena Ikehara could also be out or limited with an undisclosed injury.
Erik Koehler and Micah Hatchie will be the starting tackles with Kelemente out of the lineup. On the inside Colin Porter return as one of the guards and Drew Shaeffer is back at center. The big question is who will rise out of the depth and claim that other guard position. Perhaps if Hatchie does well enough Koehler could move inside.
Colin Tanigawa is the favorite at this point to do that but we haven't heard a single negative thing about any of the young linemen. All we keep hearing are individual reports of how well they did on the scout team and how they progressed in the strength program.
This is going to be an exciting spring because we are really going to get to see how good this offensive line recruiting class is. they are going to need to be good because they are going to play a prominent role in the rotation in 2011.
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Sr Kelemete - RS Hatchie - RS Riva - Fr Charles
- So Koehler - Sr Fancher - Jr Kanczugowski
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So Porter - RS Atoe - Sr Wood
- RS Tanigawa - RS Cristie
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Jr Shaeffer - Jr Ikehara - Fr Tufunga