Earlier this week former 4-star linebacker Daniel Heimuli decided to leave the Washington Huskies, putting his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Huskies defense also waved good by to two transfer linebackers Cam Bright and Kris Moll, both of whom had no remaining eligibility.  The transfer duo combined for 102 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2022.  Heimuli saw spot action in 6 games this past season.  In three seasons he had 25 total tackles.

Do those three departures leave Washington dangerously thin at linebacker?  Moll, a graduate transfer from University of Alabama, Birmingham, played in all 13 games and finished with 42 tackles.  Bright had 60 tackles, finishing 3rd on the team.

However, the Huskies’ struggled with consistency at the linebacker position this past season.

“The biggest problem wasn’t scheme, because the linebackers were usually in the right position to make tackles but whiffed way too often,” said RealDawg.com’s Trevor Mueller.  “There were multiple games where, as a team, the defensive unit had double digit missed tackles.”

With Cam Bright and Kris Moll out of eligibility Heimuli appeared to be positioned to see the field more in 2023 but he drew a suspension late in the season.  Eventually he put his name into the transfer portal.

While Heimuli rarely saw the field he may have been positioned to see more action in 2023 with Bright and Moll gone.

However, late in the season Edefuan Ulofoshio returned after missing 14 straight games.  He had the impact of a free agent acquisition for a stretch run for the playoffs.  Washington also brought in USC-transfer Ralen Goforth.

Goforth has played 4 collegiate seasons but will arrive at Washington with 2 years of eligibility remaining. For his career he has 149 total tackles in 40 games, according to USCTrojans.com.  Likewise, Ulofoshio has played in 31 games recording 157 tackles.

Alphonzo Tuputala started all 13 games and will be favored to return as a starter.  Carson Bruener is experienced making 5 starts in 2021.  Despite not starting this past season he still finished 5th on the team posting 45 tackles.  He has 116 career stops.

Also providing depth at the linebacker position are Seattle-area walk-on Drew Fowler from Bellevue and Austin  Harnetiaux from Seattle Prep.  Incoming freshmen Deven Bryant and Jordan Whitney may prove to be difficult to keep off the field, as well.  Former 3-star linebacker Demario King red shirted this past season.

On the high end, there are a lot of “IFs” to be excited about for the Huskies to have a very good inside linebacking corps.

• If Ulofoshio can return to his All-American form…
• If Tuputala can continue to progress…
• If Goforth can continue to work towards his potential…
• If Carson Bruener can continue to produce…

There are as many reasons for optimism as there are for concern.  Those four linebackers have a combined 48 starts (Goforth, 17; Tuputala, 13; Ulofoshio, 12; and Bruener, 5).

With a lot of on-field wisdom for the coaches to rely on and the scheme appears to be sound, what will ultimately determine the height that Huskies can ascend to may be determined by linebacker health and the ability to tackle.