To use or not to use, that’s the question people are asking about the Transfer Portal–especially with Washington adding defensive players from the portal in back-to-back days. First, it was defensive lineman Sekai Afoa-Asoau, a junior college transfer from the College of San Mateo, and now University of Alabama-Birmingham transfer linebacker Kris Moll.
Both will help with the remake of the Deathrow Dawgs defense as scheme-fit players who can lineup in various spots on the defense.
As DeBoer reconstructs UW’s defensive scheme he has made critical player moves in the weeks since Spring Football wrapped up. Gone are defensive back Jacobe Covington, and defensive lineman Nou Nglau–for whom the incoming player’s roster allocations will be taken.
“The biggest move literally and figuratively is Ulumoo (MJ) Ale,” said RealDawg.com’s Kyle Waltos. “You could scour the portal for a long time and not find someone who could help Washington’s run defense issues from 2021 the way Ale can–but only so much can be done internally.”
Once in reload mode under Chris Petersen and Pete Kwiatkowski, the Huskies are rebuilding their defense under Kalen DeBoer and William Inge.
“In the coming years, I expect that the Huskies will not be as aggressive as they are now in the Transfer Portal,” Waltos said.
Active, yes. Reactive, no.
“Washington’s portal activity is a response to personnel shortcomings,” Waltos explained. “However, once the players recruited by DeBoer are rising through the ranks the spots to fill from the portal will be less.”
Given the Husky’s 4-8 record, DeBoer was bound to make some personnel moves.
“Attrition was inevitable in the coaching change,” Waltos explained. “I think that DeBoer has done what was expected in retaining the top talent, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.”
The only post-Spring Football offensive departure is Caleb Berry. Earlier this year senior receiver, Terrell Bynum, signed with USC. Bynum’s spot was taken by ASU transfer receiver Junior Alexander. Bynum will be reunited with former UW DB Jacobe Covington who recently committed to the Trojans. For many of Washington’s top defensive backs over the past several years, there was a steady stream who only played three years, meaning that the DB ranks had to consistently be re-supplied. However, that seemed to create a player or two imbalance on the roster.
Covington’s and defensive lineman Noa Nglau who recently left Washington facilitated the recent Transfer Portal acquisitions giving the new defense the versatility that DeBoer and Inge like.
Nglau didn’t see the field very often and wasn’t particularly a scheme fit for the new-look defense. Then, moving Ale to the middle of the defensive front essentially made Nglau expendable.
Is Washington done in the Transfer Portal?
“With one scholarship roster allocation remaining, DeBoer could award it to a walk-on or take a wait-and-see approach to the portal,” Waltos said. “I could see one more body added to the defensive front, but that’s anybody’s guess. I could come in the way of a Grad Transfer–someone who could contribute for a year and not have to clear waivers. The Portal was set up for the players to extend their shelf lives,” explained Waltos. “However, in Washington’s case, the Transfer Portal has accelerated the transition from the Jimmy Lake-era defense to a more aggressive defense under Kalen DeBoer.”
