All season long the Washington offensive line has given quarterback Michael Penix extra time in the pocket as the Husky signal caller has thrown for over 4,000 yards again.
They also helped produce a 1,000 yard rusher who, like Wayne Taulapapa last season came on strong to close out the season.
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Washington offensive line coach Scott Huff is obsessive about getting the best 5 linemen on the field but not obsessive about “ideal” position height and weight.
Even so, he recruited quite well across the position group:
Left Guard: 4-star Troy Fautanu
Left Tackle: 4-star Nate Kalepo
Center: 3-star Parker Brailsford
Right Tackle: 4-star Julius Buelow
Right Tackle: 4-star Roger Rosengarten
Looking at an eye test, Booger McFarland dragged Washington’s offensive line’s name though the mud recently, saying that UW had problems up front.
Washington not passing Booger’s “eye test” didn’t pass the smell test.
However, Pick Six Previews’ Brett Ciancia was very optimistic about Washington’s OL being one of the best in the country once again, especially in the run game.
All were recruited, signed and developed by Scott Huff out of high school from the Rockies to Hawaii. Fautanu is from from Nevada (no. 3 in West); Kalepo is from Washington (no. 5 in West); Brailsford is from Arizona (no. 8 West); Buelow is from Hawaii (no. 3 in West); and Rosengarten is from Colorado (no. 2 West).
But rather than putting typical tackle body types in at tackles and typical guard body types at guards Scott Huff has always found ways to get the best 5 linemen in the field at the same time—even if they’re essentially out of the traditional position for their size.
Coming out of high school Buelow checked in at 6-8 and 331 pounds and Kalepo 6-6 and 341 pounds, both had a typical tackle’s body while Brailsford was called undersized at 6-2 and 275 pounds.
Maestro Huff, had to piece-together an offensive line for the first meeting with Oregon, then on one day less to prepare for the conference championship—which Washington won both. Still somehow for some national pundits Washington didn’t “pass the eye test”.
All season long, regardless of whatever anybody threw at them the Husky OL passed the scoreboard test, going 13-0.
One of the auxiliary benefits of fielding the best offensive line in the country on Saturdays is that the other 5 days a week Washington’s defense got better along the way.
In fact, the hashtag “UsVsUs” mantra might as well be “IronSharpensIron” as the Husky defense gave up 31 fourth quarter points from the first Oregon game through the second Oregon game.
Now they turn their attention to Texas.
