The Washington Huskies are a couple of plays from being in the College Football Playoffs this season: A pick six against ASU, a momentum shifting fumble for a safety against UCLA loom large as the Huskies get ready for the Alamo Bowl instead of a playoff game.
Under Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb took a Washington offense that was a bad joke to where it was no laughing matter for conference defenses.
Offensively, Washington’s scoring nearly doubled. Michael Penix led the nation’s number one passing attack.
Down in College Station, Texas, the Texas A&M Aggies went 5-7 are looking to change the direction of its offense and were targeting Grubb.
Up in Seattle the Washington Huskies put the kibosh on any designs the Aggies had for Grubb by opening the checkbook.
Wide open. Like Jack Westover sneaking out into the flat wide open.
Washington AD Jen Cohen delivered a perfect strike like Penix in the 4th quarter against Oregon.
Clever football metaphors aside, it’s clear that the University is dead serious about being in position for a championship run next season.
DeBoer has everybody, players, coaches, administrators, and check-writers “all-in”. He convinced draft-eligible Micheal Penix to come back and that started the ball rolling.
Then he got key parts of the defense to return with edge rusher Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui along with Tuli Letuligasenoa. Also returning will be Edefuan Ulofoshio at linebacker.
Then Jalen McMillan announced his return. Heck, he even got Germie Bernard to come back after a year in East Lansing, Michigan. Rome Odunze is expected to return, as well.
But now, DeBoer’s greatest feat is that he got the Huskies to open their checkbooks to keep offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb. And with one of the richest programs in college football calling, Texas A&M he wouldn’t come cheap.
According the the Seattle Times’ Mike Vorel, the figure is in the $2,000,000 range.
It was a hefty price, sure, but the Huskies clearly feel that throw on the cusp of something special.
With Grubb signing it’s pedal to the metal for Washington Football.
