As spring practice comes to an end with Saturday’s spring showcase, it’s time to do everyone’s favorite thing, speculate! Some people can’t help but ask every chance they get what the depth chart is going to look like, so after watching the small amounts of spring practice that were made available to the media, this is what it feels like the two-deeps might look like.

Quarterback

Starter: Michael Penix Jr.

Backup: Dylan Morris

After taking the first-team reps for the majority of the spring, it feels like the transfer from Indiana has a clear advantage over Morris and Sam Huard. Penix has shown great athleticism and arm talent, and head coach Kalen DeBoer seems to love the way he can extend plays with his legs when the pocket breaks down. The biggest key for Penix will be staying healthy, as he was plagued by injuries throughout his career at Indiana.

It feels like this is going to be a redshirt style year for Huard, who looks like he might be having a little trouble learning the offense, after having to learn a totally different style of offense in 2021 (granted that offense might’ve been drawn up in cave paintings) after having to adapt from a high school air raid system. That can be hard for any young quarterback, so patience is key for fans when it comes to Huard’s development.

Running Back

Starter: Aaron Dumas

Backup: Jay’Veon Sunday

The running back position is the hardest to project at the moment. With three backs currently injured in Emeka Megwa, Cameron Davis, and Richard Newton, the running back battle during fall camp is going to be the most important position to watch. The coaching staff has said they want to improve the running back position, and with two transfers coming in, and someone likely leaving in the transfer portal after spring practice ends, the most important thing to watch is who’s best as a receiver, because Kalen DeBoer has said he loves to feature his running backs in the passing game.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk

Backups: Giles Jackson, Junior Alexander, Taj Davis

The Huskies have one of the best wide receiver groups in the conference, and with one of the best receiver coaches in the country, JaMarcus Shephard, coaching them up, they’re all primed to take a big leap forward in 2022. With the combo of Shephard’s coaching and DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s scheme, all three of the starters could end up with All Pac-12 honors by the end of the year.

Tight end

Starter: Devin Culp

Backup: Jack Westover

This is going to be a breakout year for Devin Culp. He showed that he can be a reliable target in 2021, and now with a full year as the starter in a much better and more pass-friendly scheme, Culp can do everything the scheme wants him to do. He’s going to be asked to line up as a traditional tight end, and also in the slot as a mismatch. He’s incredibly athletic, can be an excellent blocker in the run game, and he’s going to be a huge key to the offense’s success.

Offensive Line

Starters (from left to right): Troy Fautanu, Henry Bainivalu, Corey Luciano, Victor Curne, Roger Rosengarten

Backups: Nate Kalepo, Julius Buelow, Geirean Hatchett, Gaard Memmelar, Matteo Mele

With all the talent that Scott Huff was able to accrue in the 2019 and 2020 classes, this could be a huge year for the offensive line. The biggest question mark right now is Jaxson Kirkland. The NCAA still hasn’t made a decision on whether he can return to play for the 2022 season, and it feels like at this point that his waiver will get approved. If it does, he’ll slide in at left tackle and Fautanu will probably flip over to right tackle. If it doesn’t, this is still going to be a very solid offensive line that fans can feel very comfortable with.

Defensive line

Defensive tackle starters: Tuli Letuligasenoa, Kuao Peihopa

Backups: Voi Tunuufi, Jacob Bandes

The big name missing right now is Faatui Tuitele, but his status is currently unknown due to the injury he’s dealing with. If he’s healthy, he’ll probably slot in as the starter next to Letuligasenoa, and the combination of Tunuufi and Peihopa as the second-stringers is going to be lethal for co-defensive coordinator William Inge’s front four.

The style is going to be a little different than Husky fans are used to, after so many years of the 2-2-2-5 scheme, but with one tackle that’s a game wrecking, pocket collapser, and another that can hold his gap against the run, as well as get upfield and record sacks from the interior, this (plus better inside linebacker play) could solve the problems the team experienced in 2021 defending the run.

Edge starters: Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Bralen Trice

Backups: Sav’ell Smalls, Jeremiah Martin

The edge combination of ZTF and Trice has the potential to be the best in the Pac-12 in 2022. It seems like their responsibilities are going to be a little different in Inge’s scheme, since it’s a traditional four-man front, and they’re listed as “EDGE” players on the roster now, and not BUCK/SAM outside linebackers. Expect a lot more pressure and four-man rushes this season, and some of that should be on display on Saturday.

Inside linebacker

Starters: Cam Bright, Carson Bruener

Backups: Daniel Heimuli, Alphonzo Tuputala

This is going to be a big year for the inside linebackers… as long as everyone stays healthy. With Edefuan Ulofoshio already down for an unknown period of time, this is a thin group as it is, but the only player on scholarship that isn’t listed here is transfer Demario King, who played safety in junior college. The guys on the depth chart are incredibly talented, and fans should be very excited about their ability to wrap up and tackle, but a few injuries at the position could make things pretty scary in a hurry.

Secondary

Cornerback starters: Jordan Perryman, Mishael Powell

Backups: Elijah Jackson, Jacobe Covington

HUSKY starter: Dominique Hampton

Backup: Kamren Fabiculanen

Safety starters: Alex Cook, Asa Turner

Backups: Cam Williams, Julius Irvin

Even with a different coaching staff on the back end, this secondary should be a signature Washington secondary. The corners are going to be up in receivers’ faces, not letting them get a free release on anything. Perryman and Powell are going to be an excellent combination on the outside, and another exciting thing about the corners is they love to hit.

The HUSKY position is going to be a lot of fun to watch for football nerds (like me) because the co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrel is going to ask whoever’s on the field there to do a little bit of everything. Dominique Hampton showed off his ability to blitz, recording an easy sack at the first open practice, and the position will also play a lot of man coverage as the nickelback, but will also be asked to drop back at times and play safety.

Speaking of safety, that might be the most intense position battle in summer camp on the defensive. All four players can make a case for one of the two starting spots, and the biggest name to watch is Asa Turner. He looks like he’s put on a lot of muscle since he came into the program, and with his athleticism and tackling ability, he could end up being the best player in the group.