Washington will begin Spring practice on April 1st. With 85 scholarship players expected to participate, there are three position groups we expect to take a step forward. It begins with the interior defensive line, where transfers will bolster the depth and size up front. At offensive tackle, Washington returns three players with starts and added a veteran in the transfer portal. The running backs were strong a year ago. But with an improved offensive line and a clear one-two punch at tailback, the position group figures to take yet another step forward this year.
Three Husky Positions To Step-Up
Interior Defensive Line
The Huskies utilized the transfer portal to shore up their interior defensive line heading into 2025. Last season, the defense allowed over 160 rush yards per game, ranking in the bottom half of the sport. Much of that had to do with the lack of depth and size at the position. Three transfers will bolster the interior including Anterio Thompson, Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, and Simote Pepa.
Thompson brings a unique athleticism to the interior as a fourth-year player. He plays with speed at 293 pounds, and describes himself as someone who can generate havoc. Thompson tallied 34 tackles and two tackles for loss at Western Michigan last season. Uiagalelei is also in his fourth season. The former Arizona Wildcat is a versatile player on the defensive line, starting all 12 regular season games last year at either defensive end or defensive tackle. Pepa will be a fifth-year player and weighs in at 340 pounds. He’ll likely become the primary run-stuffer in the middle of Ryan Walters’ defense.
When you factor in the returning presence of a healthy Jayvon Parker and Logan Sagapolu, the interior starts to shape up with depth and strength. Parker is recovering from his Achilles injury he sustained at Rutgers in late September. Jedd Fisch is optimistic that he’ll be fully cleared by August 1st. Sagapolu weighs in at close to 370 pounds and will now be able to rotate as a run-stuffing defensive tackle with Pepa, adding to the depth inside. Walters plays his defensive line aggressively. With the increase in depth expected this Fall, the interior defensive line should take a step forward.
Offensive Tackle
Washington will return 1,417 snaps from last season at tackle. Drew Azzopardi started all 13 games for the Huskies at right guard, tallying 852 of those snaps. Maximus McCree and Soane Faasolo started a combined eight games last season at left tackle. In addition to the returning production, Washington added Kansas State transfer Carver Willis over the Winter. Willis has started 18 games at right tackle in his career. He brings 1,295 career snaps to Washington at the tackle position.
A season ago, the Huskies were limited at the position. With an early season injury to McCree and a rotation between redshirt freshmen Kahlee Tafai and Faasolo, the left tackle spot was inconsistent at best. Left tackle allowed 40 quarterback pressures in 2024 with eight sacks. That’s compared to 27 pressures and five sacks on the right side. Tafai transferred to Minnesota, but McCree will be a sixth-year senior and Faasolo now has a year under his belt at the position. Introducing Willis to the equation leaves the Huskies with options at left guard, something that they did not have at this time last Spring. We anticipate Fisch and staff to rotate the three, along with Azzopardi, at both tackle spots for Washington at Spring practice.
If you look deeper into the position, some other young players will have the opportunity to take strides in April. This includes 6’-7” redshirt sophomore Elishah Jackett who has yet to see the field. 6’-8” and 323 pound redshirt freshman Justin Hylkema and 6’-6” and 320 pound true freshman John Mills are two others we’ll be tracking this Spring. Hylkema was a highly-regarded three-star in 2024. Mills had a four-star rating in the 2025 class and a former top 40 tackle in the country.
Running Back
The running back room a year ago was one of the strengths of the team. Jonah Coleman eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on 193 carries a year ago, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt. He was aided by Cam Davis and Adam Mohammed who posted nearly identical numbers. Davis had 44 carries for 190 yards and Mohammed tallied 42 carries with 193 yards. Davis transferred to Minnesota this offseason, leaving Mohammed as the clear number two tailback.
Mohammed is one of the most intriguing players on this Husky roster. At 6’-0” and 212 pounds, the true sophomore runs with intent. He compliments Coleman’s powerful, agile running style with a larger frame and equally difficult body to bring down. We saw glimpses of Mohammed’s shiftiness, strength, and top speed a year ago.
Coleman proved what he can do as the team’s premier back running behind an offensive line that wasn’t fully constructed until Fall camp. Mohammed took advantage of his opportunities as a freshman to solidify himself as number two in the rotation. This season, Washington expects 18 offensive line participants in Spring practice – twice what it had a year ago. When you factor in the running threat of quarterback Demond Williams Jr., things figure to open up for the running back room in 2025. We’ll be tracking the progression of Coleman and Mohammed this Spring. Because even though it was a productive position last year, the Washington running backs are trending towards another step forward this Fall.
Main Image: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
