“Everything comes full circle.” A year ago, Kyle McCord committed to Fran Brown and Syracuse. McCord came to New York’s College Team by way of Columbus, Ohio.  In three seasons with Ohio State, McCord had 3,776 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 regular season record. Unfortunately, that wasn’t good enough for the Buckeyes. McCord hit the transfer portal and found a home in Syracuse. Friday night McCord led the Orange to a 52-35 Holiday Bowl win over Wazzu. Sure, it wasn’t a CFB Playoff game, but you could tell the Syracuse quarterback had some fun and that life had come full circle. Let’s look at a night with plenty of eye-popping numbers.

Holiday Bowl Video Game Numbers

Syracuse and Washington State did their best #Pac12AfterDark on Friday night. Here is a look at some numbers that help to see just how much fun this game was to watch.

• 1078: Total yards for the two teams.
• 52: The two teams combined for 52 first downs.  Syracuse was just 2-6 on third downs in the game.
• Over: The game total was 59.5. The two teams combined for 56 points in the first half.
• .5: Syracuse was favored by 17.5 points. Wazzu’s late fourth-quarter touchdown with:09 seconds sealed the backdoor cover.

Holiday Bowl Highlights

Defense was an optional Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights and big winners from Syracuse’s Holiday Bowl win.

Kyle McCord’s Big Night

In the opening paragraph, we referenced how the Holiday Bowl helped make McCord’s whirlwind year come full circle and end on a positive note. McCord made big plays all night for Syracuse. He finished the game with 453 yards passing and five touchdowns. His receivers made big plays with their legs, but it felt like every time McCord completed a pass, it was going for 20+ yards. On the night, McCord averaged 13.3 yards a reception.

McCord’s Friday night performance was one for the history books, as he became the conference’s single-season leader in passing yards—a remarkable feat in a league that has produced legendary talents like Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence, Cam Ward, and Philip Rivers. Adding to his accolades, McCord shattered two Syracuse football bowl game records, setting new highs for both passing yards and touchdowns in a single bowl game. McCord will now wait to hear from the NCAA to find out if he can return to Syracuse for another year.

Who Else Brought the Juice for Cuse?

McCord played well, but he wasn’t the only star for the Orange. Here are three others that deserve accolades for their Holiday Bowl performance.

LeQuint Allen had a big day on the ground for Syracuse. The Junior from Millville, NJ, had 17 rushes for 120 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Allen said after the game that he and Brown would have a conversation next week to decide if he would return for another year or declare for the NFL Draft instead.

Jackson Meeks was one of McCord’s favorite targets on the night. Meeks put on a clinic all night on how to beat your defender with multiple back-shoulder catches. Meeks came to Syracuse last year with Brown from Georiga. Although Meeks did not have a touchdown on Friday night, the senior averaged 22 yards a catch.

Oronde Gadsden II and Trebor Pena led Syracuse with two touchdown catches apiece. Gadsden is a big target at tight end, finished the game with four catches, and averaged 18.5 yards a reception. Pena made a handful of bit catches and helped Syracuse extend its lead early.

The final shoutout goes to the Orange’s head coach, while he avoided the Gatorade bath at the end of the game and the Eggnog dump after it, Brown made great strides in year one at Syracuse. Brown has made Orange a serious player in high school recruiting and has used the Transfer Portal to transform the roster. He also became only the second Syracuse coach to win 10 or more games in their first season as head coach since World War II.

Wazzu Found its Quarterback

Hats off to Washington State for showing up and playing as hard as they could on Friday night. They were undermanned, with both coordinators, their head coach, and at least 27 players out looking for a new start in the Transfer Portal. They were in a similar boat to what Marshall faced at the end of the season. Unlike the Thundering Heard, the Cougars decided to come and play. Friday night they found their leader for 2025 in Zevi Eckhaus.

It was Eckhaus who motivated the locker room to lock in and stick around to play in the Holiday Bowl. His performance showed that Eckhaus not only talked the talk but also walked the walk. The senior quarterback from Culver City, CA had a great show that he could lead the Cougars in 2025. He finished with 363 yards passing and three touchdowns. Eckhaus also did a masterful job with his legs, evading pressure and extending plays. It must have been the socks.

Thank you to both teams for a fantastic Friday night.

The post McCord, Syracuse Juice Wazzu in Holiday Bowl Win appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

It’s 2-PAC versus the ACC in the DirectTV Holiday Bowl. Washington State and No. 21 Syracuse both look to get out of the cold and snow and head to the warm sunshine of  Southern California. The two teams haven’t met since 1979 but are ready to keep it classy in San Diego. On the surface, both team’s records show a successful season. The Cougars were 8-4 on the season and runner-up in the 2-PAC (granted, there were only two teams in the conference this year). The Orange were 9-3 and seemed to be on firm footing under first-year head coach Fran Brown. We have all the details to get you ready for the Holiday Bowl, be sure to check back with Last Word on College Football for all of your CFB Playoff and Bowl season news.

What You Need to Know About the Holiday Bowl

Game Details

Your DirectTV Holiday Bowl preview betting line and game total a courtesy of FanDuel. Game time is Eastern Standard Time.

Washington State: Last One Out Turn Out the Light

2024 has not been kind to the Cougars. When the Pac-12 disbanded at the end of last season, Washington State and Oregon State were left on the outside looking in. Sure, they tried to have some fun at media days with an “After Hours with the Beavs and Cougs” Happy Hour. But, there was a sadness left behind for the two schools. While they have worked to try to rebuild the Pac-12 with pieces from the Moutain West, the end of the 2024 season showed just how far the Cougars have fallen.

First, their AD Pat Chun left for their biggest rival, the University of Washington. Chun was a big critic of Washington and the other Pac-12 schools for the greener pastures of the Big Ten and Big 12. He called college athletics “broken beyond repair.” Rather than try to stay and fix Wazzu, Chun left the Palouse for Seattle in March.

Last week, the Cougars also found out they were losing their head football coach to Wake Forrest. Jake Dickert did an honorable job in his first head coaching gig at the FBS level. He was elevated to interim coach of the Cougars in 2021 after the Wazzu Head Coach and a portion of his staff were fired for failing to comply with the state of Washington’s vaccine mandate. Dickert galvanized the team and led them a Sun Bowl appearance.

Overall, he was 23-20 in his time at Washington State and led the Cougars to two bowl games. Dickert, though, decided he had enough uncertainty. From having his quarterback, Cam Ward, last year go from going to the NFL to taking his talents to South Beach to the constant churn in coordinators, enough was enough. Dickert will now be the new head coach at Wake Forest. The Deacons are from a blue blood but offer a consistency that Wazzu could no longer.

Cougars in the Portal

Major absences will mark Washington State’s Holiday Bowl appearance, as head coach Jake Dickert and several key players and staff are no longer with the team. Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle has joined the Oklahoma Sooners, Defensive Coordinator Jeff Schmedding was fired, and 37 players have entered the transfer portal.

Among the notable departures, quarterback John Mateer, who threw for over 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns, followed Arbuckle to Oklahoma. Freshman running back Wayshawn Parker, the team’s leader in rushing yards and touchdowns, is headed to Utah, while senior receiver Kris Hutson is bound for Arizona. Leading tackler Taariq Al-Uqdah remains in the portal.

Despite the upheaval, Washington State has chosen to play in the Holiday Bowl, fielding a skeleton crew in stark contrast to Marshall, which opted out of its bowl game after losing its coach.

No. 21 Syracuse: New York’s College Team Has Hope

A contrast to Washington State’s woes is the job Fran Brown did in his first year in Syracuse. Brown was not exactly a well-known commodity when Syracuse tabbed him to replace Dino Babers as head coach of the Orange. He was not a coordinator. Instead, he was the secondary coach at the University of Georgia. However, those inside the coaching community know the value Brown brought to West Virginia first and then to the Bulldogs. Brown is a relentless recruiter, something he has praised Kirby Smart for. He did an excellent job in his first year of using the Transfer Portal to elevate and transform Orange’s roster.

Kyle McCord may have been persona non grata in Columbus after not being able to lead the Buckeyes over the Wolverines. Brown didn’t flinch. He jumped on the opportunity to grab the quarterback out of the portal and let the ACC know that Syracuse was back and ready to compete. The Orange did that this year and Brown made his mark by talking about how he called Dabo Swinney to tell him how he had his back for helping Clemson into the ACC Championship by knocking off Syracuse. Brown is a mover and has shown the ability to bring excitement to college football in upstate New York. A trip to San Diego will give him time to further the Orange’s brand.

Who Gets the Holiday Bowl Eggnog Dump?

This year’s Holiday Bowl-winning coach will get an eggnog bath. People’s opinions on eggnog seem to be as varied and often avoided, much like discussing politics or religion at the dinner table. We college football fans love it when the bowl games embrace the fun of the bowl season. Look for this year’s special mix: an orange-spiced eggnog and a true cup of cheer over Brown’s head.

Syracuse: 38

Washington State: 13

The post Holiday Bowl: Cougars, Oranges, and Eggnog! appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

Penalties were the eye-popping storyline from Saturday at the Apple Cup. There were an incredible 16 accepted penalties against Washington for 135 yards. It’s tremendously difficult to win a game with that kind of play. But what really happened against Washington State in the Apple Cup? Other than the penalty markers, there were a few key factors that contributed to the Huskies’ first loss of the season.

Cougars’ Run Stuff Rate

Entering the game, one of the key metrics that swung in Washington’s favor was how the Cougar defensive line was playing this season. In their first game of the year against Portland State, the Cougars defended 47 rushing plays. The Washington State defensive line “stuffed” only 10 of those runs. A stuffed run is considered a run that gains zero yards or less. That 21% clip was in the 11th percentile nationally in week one. A week later, Texas Tech ran the ball 26 times. The Cougars stuffed just four of them for a 15% clip, falling into the first percentile nationally. 

On Saturday at Lumen Field, the Cougars solidified things up front. On 29 runs defended, Washington State stuffed seven for a 24% clip. That approached the national average of 31% this season. If you take it a step further and look at “stopped” runs, i.e. runs of two yards or less, Washington State was stout. The Cougars stopped 17 of the 29 run plays for two yards or less for 58% stop rate. The Huskies just couldn’t generate push with their offensive line the way the metrics indicated they might be able to pregame. 

Husky Offensive Line Concerns

Washington’s leading rusher on the day was Jonah Coleman. He carried the ball 14 times for 75 yards. But if you take out his 29-yard burst at the beginning of the third quarter, Coleman averaged just 3.5 yards per touch with 46 yards. That’s five yards less than his average per carry of eight-and-a-half per attempt entering the Apple Cup. Washington State played a great game on the defensive front, limiting the Husky run game. 

But this is also cause for concern for the Washington offensive line. Jedd Fisch said postgame that their adjustment from a zone-blocking scheme to a gap scheme helped open up some runs as the game progressed. Washington rushed for 63 yards in each half of the game, but the average per carry dropped from 5.3 to 3.3 from the first half to the second half. The Cougars tallied five tackles for loss and the Husky run game was largely non-existent. With conference play around the corner, a lot of the success of this team is going to be contingent upon how the offensive line plays. If Saturday was any indication, it needs to improve. 

Making Mateer Make Plays

The escapability of Washington State quarterback John Mateer is one of the things that makes him such a dangerous player. Washington kept him to a sack-adjusted 72 rushing yards. Overall, Steve Belichick’s defense did a solid job of containing the pocket and not letting him scramble. Mateer dropped back 39 times on Saturday, and on several occasions, he had lots of time in the pocket but limited room to escape. But with 39 dropbacks, the defense did have its slip-ups.

Mateer’s first rushing score was a 23-yard scramble up the middle. Washington chose to bring pressure with a stunt on the left side of the offensive formation. Alphonzo Tuputala started on the outside and bounced to the interior on the snap. Jayvon Parker collapsed around the outside, but the Cougar offensive line recognized the switch. Left guard Rod Tialavea shed his double team on Parker and knocked Tuputala toward the interior, opening up a huge lane for Mateer to scramble. Once he got through that first level of defenders, there was no stopping him.

Later on, Washington State went to the designed quarterback run. It was a 3rd and 20, and Washington had just five players in the box and padded coverage to the outside. The Cougar offensive line allowed the outside pressure, which opened up the middle. With the running back leading the way, Mateer flew through the hole and quickly got to the wide-open second level. Again, Mateer’s quickness was too much to stop. He bounced it outside and found the end zone in a hurry. Those two touchdown runs totaled 48 yards. Otherwise, Mateer averaged just 1.8 yards per rush. 

All Day in the Pocket

Fisch talked about preparing for a dual-threat quarterback earlier in the week. Which ability do you take away, and which one do you force him to do? Washington game-planned to take away Mateer’s running abilities in the Apple Cup. Their containment was solid, and it kept Mateer in the pocket for a lot of the afternoon. 

But the side effect of keeping the quarterback in the pocket was his time to throw. On Saturday, Mateer averaged 3.29 seconds in the pocket. That time was 11th most in the nation in week three with a minimum of 20 dropbacks. Mateer had 39 dropbacks. The Washington State quarterback was also allowed 5.25 seconds in the pocket on dropbacks that resulted in a scramble. 

Over five seconds before a decision to run or pass is a long time for defenders to guard pass-catchers. Players got open, and Mateer was able to find them at opportune times. One of the biggest differences in this game was Mateer’s ability to deliver big passes when it mattered. He connected on nine passes of at least 15 yards. Those nine throws totaled 185 yards. Four of those throws were on second and 10-plus, or third down. Mateer only completed 17 passes with a 50% completion percentage. It wasn’t a high-percentage game for Mateer, but he had the time for his players to get open, and he connected when it mattered. 

The post What Really Happened in Washington’s Apple Cup Loss? appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

“There are no pro football rivalries even close to college football rivalries.” Jedd Fisch understands the weight of these games in college football. “It is the greatest thing in football,” Fisch added. He’s coached in several rivalry games including The Game, the Territorial Cup, and now the Apple Cup. This year’s Apple Cup is the first time since 1948 that the state’s storied rivalry won’t be played in November. It’s the first-ever meeting between Washington and Washington State in September. Lumen Field is the site for Saturday’s Apple Cup, and the two will meet as non-conference rivals. Fisch said Washington is treating it like a regular home game, staying at the same hotel, using the same busses, and arriving at the same time. It might sound like business as usual, but this one is different. 

Preparing for Dual-Threat

Through two games this season, Washington State has scored 107 points and tallied north of 1,000 yards. Quarterback John Mateer was responsible for eight touchdowns in those two games. The redshirt sophomore has emerged as one of the more electrifying players in college football in the young season. In game one, it was a 350-yard passing performance with five touchdowns through the air and another on the ground. His six total touchdowns in week one were a school record. He followed that up with a 197-yard showing on the ground last week against Texas Tech. 

“The dual-threat is a real deal, it makes it challenging,” Fisch said in his weekly presser. “You are going against an elite dual-threat quarterback that has the ability to run and pass at a very high level.” In two games, Mateer showed exactly that. When the passing game was there, he exploited it against Portland State. Against Texas Tech, the pass wasn’t clicking, and Mateer carried the offense with his feet.

But Washington has a dual-threat quarterback on its roster in Demond Williams Jr. At practice, Fisch said they spend 85% of their practice time with the whole team on one field which produces a lot of “good-on-good” matchups. Williams has taken “a lot of the reps” with the first offense, according to Fisch. This has allowed Washington’s starting defense to get a good feel for a running quarterback. “It’s certainly helpful for our defense to be able to have gone all training camp going against somebody with Demond’s skillset.”

Washington State Run Offense

When you take a closer look at what the Cougars do well, they run the ball with a high success rate. In the team’s 21-point victory over Texas Tech, Washington State ran the ball 44 times. 20 of those runs gained four yards or more. Importantly, a lot of that rushing success came on early downs. Washington State went to the run on 65% of its early-down plays and had a 44% success rate in doing so. Success, in this case, is defined as gaining at least 50% of the yards to go on first down, and at least 70% of the yards to go on second down. 

On first down specifically, Washington State ran the ball on 19 of its 28 attempts against Texas Tech. The Cougars gained an average of 6.5 yards per first downplay. This production on first down has been a critical factor in Washington State’s ability to use Mateer as a runner. Short yardage on second and third downs gives the offense options. It goes back to what Fisch said on Monday of this week in his press conference. Early down success is vitally important to sustaining drives and opening up the offense. That’s exactly what Washington State did in its week two matchup, and Mateer took advantage. 

Mateer was the leading rusher for the team with 21 carries and 197 yards last Saturday. His success rate running the ball was 47% on those carries. It’s no wonder he averaged over 10 yards per carry. Of course, the sample set is small when considering just the one game against the Red Raiders. But the Cougars showed how dangerous they can be when the ball is in the hands of their playmaker at quarterback. 

Difference-Making Matchup

Mateer’s escapability out of the backfield is going to be one of the major factors in Saturday’s contest. Washington has to maintain its discipline upfront this weekend. Containing Mateer begins with interior pressure on the defensive line. When you create good pressure in the middle, it obstructs vision lanes for the quarterback and takes away a clean pocket for the passer to step up into. EDGE defenders then need to set a hard edge and take away a scramble threat when that pocket collapses up front. The latter piece of this combination is essential for containing a mobile quarterback. 

The direction this game swings is going to center around one key factor: Can Washington create quality interior pressure, and can it set an edge consistently? The Huskies rotated eleven defensive linemen in week one against Weber State and continued to cycle different players up front against Eastern Michigan. On the interior, Sebastian Valdez, Jayvon Parker, Elinneus Davis, and Jacob Bandes have been among the rotation. At EDGE, Washington has seen tremendous production from Zach Durfee who had 2.5 sacks last week. As well as Isaiah Ward, Deshawn Lynch, and Voi Tunuufi who has played on both the inside and outside. 

“We’re able to substitute a lot of guys…You’ve got these guys playing a lot of different snaps inside and out, which has allowed us to be able to make some plays,” Fisch said. This is going to be the difference on Saturday. Washington has the bodies to rotate personnel up front. Each level of this rotation has been effective when on the field this season. Fresh players in the rotation who understand the importance of their assignments, and can hit their assignments will allow Washington the opportunity to slow down a dual-threat quarterback. 

Where Washington Can Find Success

Washington running back Jonah Coleman put together back-to-back 100-plus yard rushing performances to begin the season. He came in for one play late in the fourth quarter against Eastern Michigan to reach that milestone for the second week in a row. On Saturday in the Apple Cup, Coleman and the Washington offense will have an opportunity on the ground.

Washington State ranks near the bottom in the FBS in rushing stuff rate, at just 15%. A stuffed run is when the ball carrier is stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage. The national average is 31%. The Cougars aren’t getting that push up front consistently. Even against Portland State in week one, their staff rate was just 21%, far below the national average. 

Coleman ranks sixth nationally in yards after contact with 180 on the season. He averages 6.7 yards after contact per carry. With Washington State’s lack of push up front, Coleman is going to create positive yards on the ground every time he touches the football. When on offense, expect to see the Huskies use their run game to wear down the Cougar front.

Apple Cup Prediction

This game is likely going to come down to how well Washington can contain Mateer at quarterback. Of his 21 attempts last week, 15 of them were designed quarterback runs. Washington has to maintain its discipline up front on Saturday. It starts with that interior pressure and will be tested on the EDGE. If the Huskies can contain Mateer and force him to pass more often than he wants to, things could swing in Washington’s favor. But with an athlete like Washington State has under center, it’s hard to justify the Cougars not finding the end zone for the first time against this Husky defense all season.

Washington – 31

Washington State – 27

The post Getting You Set: Apple Cup Preview and Prediction appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

Big Ten Media Days begins Tuesday inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The annual event signifies the unofficial beginning of the 2024 Big Ten Football season. The expanded league now features 18 teams, spanning from coast-to-coast with the addition of the four West-coast teams this offseason. Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA officially become members of the Big Ten on August 2nd. As such, the event has grown from two days to three, with six teams featured per session. 

Washington Featured on Day Three

Thursday, July 25th will be Washington’s turn at the podium. Head coach Jedd Fisch has selected three Huskies to travel to the event to represent Washington for its debut in the nation’s largest conference. Safety Kamren Fabiculanan, linebacker Carson Bruener, as well as running back Jonah Coleman will be in Indianapolis this week. Fabiculanan is one of the few sixth-year seniors on the Washington roster this Fall. Bruener started just one game last year but finished third on the team in total tackles. Both Fabiculanan and Bruener figure to be leaders on the Husky defense. Coleman will be the premier tailback in the Husky offense and brings over 200 attempts and 1,200 yards to the Husky backfield as a true junior. 

Fisch is slated to take the podium in the North end zone of Lucas Oil Stadium at 12:15 PM on Thursday. Big Ten Network will air the event live beginning on Tuesday. The annual media event takes place field-level inside the venue of the Big Ten Championship. All 18 teams will step foot inside the stadium this week with hopes to return five months later to compete for the title. 

Thursday at Big Ten Media Days

Along with Washington, five other programs will be featured on Thursday at Big Ten Media Days. That list includes the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines with new head coach Sherrone Moore. Washington hosts Michigan in a National Championship rematch on the first weekend of October. Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks will also be showcased on Thursday. The Ducks are considered by many to be among the favorites to win the Conference and compete for a National Title this season. The Huskies will travel to Eugene to cap off the season the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Also featured on Thursday will be PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who have a handful of preseason All-Conference players on their roster. Mike Locksley and the Maryland Terrapins will take the podium on Thursday along with Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers. 

We will be in attendance for Day Three of Big Ten Media Days and plan to bring up-to-the-minute coverage of the event and of Washington’s debut in the conference. Stay tuned for more from Indianapolis as the week progresses. The 2024 college football season inches closer as talking season gets underway in the Big Ten.

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The Husky football season begins at the end of next month. Continuing our look at this year’s program, let’s turn our attention to the most important position group on the offense. The Washington offensive line is where everyone wants to see answers. Zero starters return from its Joe Moore Award-winning unit last season. It added a handful of transfers, but will still be one of the biggest question marks for Washington’s first season in a new league. With the uncertainty, there’s likely to be a lot of rotation among this group all season. There’s an incentive to get as many of these players game reps as possible as their development continues. However, as far as projecting the August 31st starters on the Washington offensive line, these are the players that make the most sense right now.

Right Tackle: Drew Azzopardi

Washington will get some experience at right tackle in San Diego State transfer Drew Azzopardi. The redshirt sophomore played in 12 games for the Aztecs last season with six starts at right tackle. At 6’-7” and 308 pounds, we saw the new Husky line up consistently at right tackle this Spring, after some early snaps at left tackle. Azzopardi was the only healthy non-freshman or redshirt freshman in April. He solidified himself as the sure-thing starter at right tackle. He’s just a sophomore, but the former Aztec played over 400 meaningful snaps as a redshirt freshman last season at right tackle. Azzopardi’s athleticism and feel for the right side of the line make him the best option for right tackle on Washington’s offensive line.

Right Guard: Enokk Vimahi

This Washington offensive line could be majority transfers when the season begins, and it might include Ohio State transfer Enokk Vimahi. The former Buckeye has seen the field for five seasons of college football at the Big Ten level. But he has very limited experience in that time, with a total of just 375 snaps.  Vimahi has lined up at guard for all but five of his 26 games played in Columbus. The new Husky has two starts under his belt, including the most recent Buckeye outing in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri. There, he allowed just one quarterback pressure in 57 snaps played. We haven’t had the opportunity to see Vimahi in purple and gold yet. But in terms of projecting a starter at right guard, Vimahi’s longevity at the Big Ten level is enough to slate him above the younger players with little to no experience.

Center: D’Angalo Titialii

D’Angalo Titialii took his official visit to Washington on April 19th during a Thursday practice this Spring. He was extended an offer following practice, and that evening the former Portland State offensive lineman accepted. Titialii brings loads of experience at the FCS level to Washington, having played in 36 games with 28 starts. Last season, all 10 of his starts were at center. In the two years prior, all but one of his starts were at left guard. Titialii stands at 6’-2” and 325 pounds with the build of a true interior lineman. With the uncertainty of Landen Hatchett’s return timeline, Titialii’s experience at center makes him the best option at this point in time. Pending Hatchett’s return, things could shift around as the season approaches or gets underway.

Left Guard: Gaard Memmelaar

Switching to the left side, Gaard Memmelaar is someone we did not get a chance to see this spring. But he’s a likely starter on the Washington offensive line. Memmelaar was injured during Fall camp of 2023 and missed the entire season. Like Hatchett, Memmelaar is working to get back to full health. His injury was a few months before Hatchett’s, so it’s possible he’ll be cleared by the time camp rolls around. If that’s the case, the fifth-year junior projects as the best option for Washington at left guard. Defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez described Memmelaar as the strongest player on the team. A great quality for an interior offensive lineman in a pro-style offense. Memmelaar is 6’-4” and 300 pounds. He began his career at Washington in the 2020 season but has just four games played on his resume. All four were in 2022 where he tallied just 58 snaps. But the mental reps that Memmelaar has taken along with the time spent in the program are a good indication that he’ll be the best option to start the season at left guard.

Left Tackle: Soane Faasolo

The left tackle spot on this Washington offensive line is going to be a battle this Fall. There are a handful of players who should get their shot at the position. They include redshirt freshmen Soane Faasolo and Elishah Jackett, junior transfer Maximus McCree, and even true freshman Justin Hyklema. But if we have to project to August 31st, size, strength, and at least some time spent in the system are vital to the left tackle spot. With Faasolo, Washington can check those boxes.

Faasolo is 6’-8” and listed at just under 300 pounds. He redshirted last season, seeing no playing time. But he’s one of just two true left tackle options to have spent all last season on the roster and participate fully in Spring practice. The other being Jackett. This Spring, we saw Faasolo line up consistently on the left side of the line with the ones, opposite of Azzopardi. The former three-star recruit with a basketball background will likely top the 300-pound threshold by the time the season rolls around. When you combine his size, athleticism, and tenure in the program, Faasolo projects as the best option for Washington at left tackle on August 31st.

The post Predicting Washington’s Starting Offensive Line appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

The Husky football season begins at the end of August. Continuing our look at this year’s program, it’s time to project the week one starting offense for Washington. The offense returns zero majority starters from last year’s high-powered unit. It added several transfers at many positions, and the new staff will be running a pro-style system. Big Ten Media Days are later in July, and Fall camp will get underway shortly thereafter. We have predicted the starters in the secondary and the front seven. But now, and based on what we’ve seen thus far in the offseason, here’s what the starting skill position players on the Washington offense might look like come August 31st.

Quarterback: Will Rogers III

Under center for Washington, this fall will be the second all-time leading passer in SEC history. Will Rogers III threw for 12,315 yards and 94 touchdowns with a near-70% completion percentage over four years at Mississippi State. Rogers set an SEC record with 505 completions in a single season in 2021. The new Husky quarterback is among the most statistically accomplished quarterbacks in college football history. Other than his obvious experience advantage over the rest of the quarterback room, the coaches have spoken highly of the maturity and overall football acumen that Rogers has brought to Montlake. And Jedd Fisch has called him the biggest fan of his teammates. Rogers brings a level of leadership and command to Montlake that will be pivotal in a transition year to the Big Ten.

Running Back: Jonah Coleman

Washington will have one of the more physical running backs in the Big Ten Conference this fall. Jonah Coleman is listed at 5’-9” and 229 pounds and runs with power, agility, and acceleration. Arm tackles do not get the job done with Coleman, and he often drags defenders an extra yard or so before being brought down. That physicality is crucial behind an offensive line that will feature an entirely new group of starters. While there is some experience up front, having a tailback who is comfortable with contact helps mitigate any weakness in the line. But Coleman can also burst out of the backfield. His quick cuts and acceleration can put him into the second level of the defense in a hurry. This combination of skills is what put Coleman at the top of the projected depth chart.

Wide Receiver: Denzel Boston

If there’s a player on this offense that might surprise some people around the nation this fall, it’s Denzel Boston. The redshirt sophomore wide receiver has just seven receptions in his Washington career. He played behind NFL talent in each of his first two years on campus. But from what we observed at practice this Spring, Boston is ready to be the premier guy in this receiver room. At 6’-4” and 209 pounds, Boston has the ideal frame to be Washington’s X-wide receiver. Boston’s catch radius and hands allow him to naturally pick the football out of the sky. We saw Boston go up against Washington’s top cornerbacks to make contested catches regularly this Spring. Whether it be a 50-50 ball on a vertical route or a physical catch on the sideline, Boston is a natural pass catcher who looks ready to be the next man in. Look for Boston to not only start but maybe lead receiving categories this Fall in the Washington offense.

Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Hunter

Opposite of Boston, Jeremiah Hunter is likely to be the other starter on the outside. Hunter transferred to Washington from Cal, where he was the Golden Bears’ leading receiver in each of the last two seasons. He tallied 144 receptions and over 2,000 yards with 13 touchdowns in Berkeley. This Spring, Hunter previewed the skillset he is bringing to Seattle. He’s 6’-2” and 212 pounds and brings a slightly more physical build than Boston to the wide receiver room. His experience at the position is key, and he fits into the lineup seamlessly as the team’s middle-of-the-field receiver threat. Last season, Hunter caught 29 of his 62 catches over the middle of the field for 417 yards. If Boston is the vertical threat, Hunter is an excellent complement with his over-the-middle abilities. 

Slot Wide Receiver: Giles Jackson

Giles Jackson has lined up in the slot an average of 68% of the time over his five-year career at Michigan and Washington. Last season, he took 76 snaps out of the slot for an 82% clip. Jackson is 5’-9” and 187 pounds with great speed and some of the best hands on the team. This Spring, we saw Jackson working a lot on the end-around play and on short routes where he was able to utilize his feet. The Husky wide receiver catches everything that hits his hands and does so on the move with quickness and pure route-running abilities. Jackson is one of the few sixth-year players on this roster and this offense will want to get the ball to him in multiple ways this Fall. The Washington slot receiver figures to be a dependable presence at wideout this Fall.

Tight End: Quentin Moore

Stepping into the starting tight end role this Fall is likely to be Quentin Moore. The fourth-year player caught just two passes last season, but one of which was the game-clinching touchdown against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game. It was Moore’s first career touchdown. This season, Moore projects as the starter with his 26 games of experience. He stands at 6’-4” and 257 pounds. He is an imposing tight end with a great frame on the offensive line and as a pass catcher. Moore’s run blocking will be a big component of the Washington offense this fall as well with its pro-style scheme. The experienced tight end should begin tallying starts to his resume on August 31st.

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The Husky football season begins next month and it’s a great time to begin projecting the week one starters for Washington. We took a look at the possible starters in the secondary already, and now we move up to the front seven. Only two majority of the starters return from last season’s 14-win program on the defensive side of the ball. Washington added a few transfers on defense, and it will look a little different under Steve Belichick as defensive coordinator. Big Ten Media Days are later in July, and the Fall camp will get underway shortly thereafter. But based on the things we’ve observed at Spring practice and over the offseason, here’s what the Washington front seven could look like for game one on August 31st.

Predicting Washington’s Starting Front Seven

Linebacker: Alphonzo Tuputala

At linebacker, the Washington defense will see one of its everyday starters from last season return for 2024. Alphonzo Tuputala started all 14 games where he was available last season as a linebacker for the Huskies. He has played over 570 snaps in each of the last two seasons, making him one of the more experienced players on this defense overall. Tuputala is another one of the six sixth-year seniors on this team, and he’s played at least one game in every season since 2019. Last year, Tuputala was fourth on the team in tackles. That ranked just behind another linebacker on the depth chart who is poised to start alongside Tuputala this fall. 

Linebacker: Carson Bruener

That other linebacker is Carson Bruener. He played in all 15 games for Washington last season, making one start. That start was against Oregon State, the one game Tuputala was unavailable due to injury. This season, Bruener is a great bet to slide up in the rotation and emerge as an everyday linebacker for the Huskies. Despite only starting once in 2023, Bruener was third on the team in tackles, with 17 more than Tuputala. Bruener was a class of 2020 recruit, making him among the older members of the team as a fifth-year player. The linebacker has played over 1,000 snaps in his career at Washington. He figures to begin tallying starts to his resume this fall.

EDGE: Zach Durfee

Zach Durfee has the physical pieces to be a real force on the EDGE this fall in the Washington front seven. He did, however, suffer an arm injury requiring surgery back in April. But Jedd Fisch said he believes the former Sioux Falls defender will be cleared by the time Fall camp rolls around. Durfee had 11 sacks in 2022 as a redshirt freshman at Sioux Falls. He enrolled at Washington ahead of Spring practice in 2023 but had his eligibility waivers denied as a double transfer. Durfee was a student at North Dakota State in 2020. At 6’-5” and just over 250 pounds, the Minnesota native is quick, athletic, and has the ideal size for his position. Durfee is a forceful defender who played with the first team during his shortened time on the field this Spring. He likely sees his first start in the Big Ten come August.

EDGE: Isaiah Ward

There will probably be a lot of rotation at EDGE with the depth of talent Washington has at the position. But opposite of Durfee, Isaiah Ward is a who we’d slate to start on week one. The Arizona transfer started 11 games last season for Fisch in Tucson. That is the most of any EDGE rusher on this year’s Washington roster. As a redshirt freshman last year, Ward had four sacks, five tackles for loss, and 32 tackles, getting on the field for 470 snaps. The new Husky is 6’-5” and 227 pounds, and like Durfee, brings fierce athleticism to the EDGE. The mix of his game experience, physicality, and quickness make Ward a solid starting option for the Huskies on the outside edge of the Washington front seven.

Defensive Tackle: Sebastian Valdez

Along the interior defensive line, Sebastian Valdez is an experienced player who transferred in from Montana State this Winter. He played three full seasons in Bozeman including his true freshman year. In total, he tallied 15.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss with over 1,700 snaps played. Valdez started his first game in week eight of his freshman season in 2021. Since then, he’s started every game of which he’s been available. On the defensive line, Valdez has excellent strength. This Spring, he told us he can bench 405 pounds, and it’s evident when he’s on the field. Valdez made a lot of plays in the backfield and was effective in stuffing the run during Washington’s scrimmages in April. The former Bobcat should keep his starting streak going in the Big Ten on this Washington defense.

Defensive Tackle: Jacob Bandes

There are a handful of interior defensive linemen that will be in the rotation this fall. But at this point, Jacob Bandes would probably be best suited to start if the season began tomorrow. Bandes is one of the six sixth-year seniors on the team, and he’s played in every Washington game dating back to the beginning of the 2020 season. In that time, he’s been on the field for north of 740 snaps and picked up 47 tackles and three tackles for loss. Another key physical attribute of Bandes is his size. Like Valdez, Bandes is over 300 pounds and can take up space on the interior. When looking at potential starters to begin the season, experience and physicality are critical. Bandes has both and would be a solid pick to start this season in that Washington front seven.

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The Husky football season begins next month. As such, it’s a great time to begin projecting the week one starters for Washington. Only two majority starters return from last season on the defensive side of the ball. It added a few transfers, and with a new defensive coordinator, things are going to look different for the Washington defense. Big Ten Media Days are later in July, and the Fall camp will get underway shortly thereafter. But based on the things we’ve observed at Spring practice and over the offseason, here’s what the Washington secondary could look like come August 31st.

Safety: Kamren Fabiculanan

Starting at the back end, Kamren Fabiculanan is likely to be one of the starters at safety. He made four starts at the position last season and was on the field for nearly 400 snaps. Fabiculanan made 26 tackles last year with two interceptions. The year prior, Fabiculanan started six games with 500 snaps in the Washington secondary. He’s one of six sixth-year seniors on this roster, so the experience is in place. Fabiculanan is an energetic football player who plays with command. His experience will lend itself well to directing the secondary under the new direction of Steve Belichick. This Spring, we saw Fabiculanan running with the first team almost exclusively, and that will very likely carry over into the fall. 

Safety: Cameron Broussard

Washington picked up a sure-tackling safety with loads of experience at the FCS level in the Spring transfer portal. Cameron Broussard transferred to Washington from Sacramento State where he played in 34 games with 21 starts over three years. Pro Football Focus tabbed Broussard with a 91.3 tackling rating last season, good for sixth nationally in the Championship Subdivision. The new Husky also brings length to the back end, standing at 6′-3″. His 73 tackles were second-most on his team last year, and he also added seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Broussard has registered a total of 169 tackles, four interceptions, and 15 pass breakups in three seasons. While we haven’t seen Broussard in purple and gold yet, his physical style, consistency as a tackler, and experience are enough to project him as a starter this fall. 

Cornerback: Ephesians Prysock

At 6’-4”, the length of Ephesians Prysock is going to be a valuable component of the Washington secondary. Last season at Arizona, Prysock tallied seven pass breakups and 61 tackles. The former Wildcat has a diverse skill set at corner. His length allows him to defend a wide radius of passes, and he eliminates the height advantage a receiver might typically have downfield. Prysock also moves fluidly for his height, maintaining leverage and adjusting to the football. He goes step-for-step with the talented wide receivers of the Washington offense, playing with confidence and consistency. Expect to see Prysock as an everyday defender on the outside beginning in August for Washington.

Cornerback: Elijah Jackson

He made the play to send Washington to the National Championship last season, and this fall Elijah Jackson should maintain his everyday status at corner opposite Prysock. Jackson was one of just two returners on this defense who started every game they were available. He played just shy of 800 snaps in 2023, tallying six pass breakups and two forced fumbles.  The 6′-1″ cornerback has a tremendous vertical leap that allows him to make plays on the football. It was evident with his game-winning play in the Sugar Bowl, and he uses it to his advantage at corner. Jackson isn’t afraid of the moment. His aggressive playing nature and athleticism, combined with his experience, make him a difficult player to go up against. With Jackson and Prysock, the cornerbacks return over 1,600 snaps from 2023 and figure to be in good hands.

STAR: Jordan Shaw

The “Husky” position will take on a new name this season in the Belichick defense. At STAR, Indiana transfer Jordan Shaw is who we’d slot as the starter if the season began tomorrow. Shaw played in four games with two starts as a true freshman in Bloomington last year. He then followed Fisch and staff from Tucson to Seattle in the Winter transfer portal. Once at Washington, Shaw made countless plays in the Spring. He broke up passes, came down with around a half-a-dozen interceptions, and most importantly played this versatile role with consistency and explosiveness. Despite his wiry frame at 6’-1” and 180 pounds, Shaw has high-level physicality and makes hard contact on the ball. Like Jackson, Shaw is not afraid to be aggressive in the secondary and uses it to make plays at all levels. The tools and athleticism are in place for Shaw to slide into the starting role as a true sophomore.

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Washington is now up to 21 commits in its 2025 class. It ranks 17th nationally and sixth in the Big Ten, just slightly behind Wisconsin. The last time Washington fielded a top-20 class was the 2020 cycle where it finished 17th nationally. The jump in the rankings came Sunday night when four-star Bay Area wide receiver Chris Lawson committed to the Huskies. Over the last week, Washington picked up four player commitments, continuing its momentum from the end of June. 

Bay Area Washington Commits

Two Bay Area-wide receivers in the 2025 class committed to Washington this past week. Lawson is the latest addition to the class. The four-star is a top-20 player in the state of California and the 25th-rated wide receiver in the class. Lawson has a 247Sports Composite rating of 0.9125, making him the third-highest-rated player in the 2025 Husky class. He sits behind Zaydrius Rainey-Sale and Vander Ploog. 

At Archbishop Riordan, Lawson recorded 969 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior last fall. He has played 33 high school games at the varsity level including his time at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California. Lawson has a total of 2,534 yards receiving and 32 reception touchdowns with an average of 76 receiving yards per game. He is a two-way player in high school, also lining up at cornerback. The new Husky has tallied over 100 career tackles through his junior season.

Another Bay Area commit is three-star Deji Ajose, who announced his decision on social media at the end of June. Ajose is listed as an athlete and ranks in the top 40 of his position nationally. As a junior, Ajose caught 55 passes for 669 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Like Lawson, Ajose is a two-way player who played some linebacker and safety in high school. Both Ajose and Lawson are top-50 players in the state of California.

Versatile Texas Native Commits to Washington

Last month, Ramonz Adams decommitted from Texas Tech, the program to which he had committed back in November of 2023. Adams has been highly versatile over three years, having played multiple positions at Smithville High School in Texas. As a junior, he tallied over 1,800 all-purpose yards including 700-plus yards passing. Adams scored 14 touchdowns last year consisting of five passing, five rushing, and five receiving. On the defensive side of the ball, Adams plays cornerback where he had eight interceptions as a junior, averaging nearly one per game. The three-star will play at Bastrop High School for his senior season. He is being recruited as a cornerback and at 6′-1″, he possesses that new-age frame of longer defensive backs. His athleticism and versatility speak for themselves, and Adams brings high upside to the Washington defense.

Another Washington Native Stays Home

A major goal of recruiting is always to lock down your home state. The Husky class currently consists of the top two players from the state, as well as Washington’s sixth and 11th-ranked recruits. It now has number seven in Lowen Colman-Brusa. The offensive tackle is a three-star out of Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington. Colman-Brusa is a left tackle whose tape shows a forceful blocker. His physicality overpowers defenders in the run game, placing defensive linemen on their backs on multiple occasions. Colman-Brusa also exhibits good footwork in pass protection. The new Husky pledge is 6’-5” and 285 pounds at the tackle position. He has the height, and he’ll have room to build on his frame at the college level. 

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