Before you head to Husky Stadium for Washington’s first open practice, here are a few things to keep in mind. First, head coach Kalen DeBoer has kept a lot of things under wraps this spring, so this will be the first look for everyone at a lot of the team’s passing concepts during the team’s 7on7 portion of practice, which the head coach said will be extended on Saturday. Also, due to some minor injuries and a non-COVID-related illness that he acknowledged to the media has spread to some members of the team, Saturday’s practice won’t be a full display of what the team will look like in 2022.
Despite that, there are a lot of players to be excited about taking the next step under the new coaching staff, and below are a few of the guys who have stood out either in open portions of practice, or that have been highlighted by the coaching staff.
Note: I wanted to include cornerback Jordan Perryman on this list, but DeBoer told the media on Friday that Perryman will not be participating in Saturday’s practice due to a minor injury.
WR Giles Jackson
The coaching staff is very excited about Jackson’s potential in the offense. As Deboer said, “He’s such a versatile guy and I had a conversation with him… about how great he’s doing. He’s taking handoffs, getting the ball in all different ways, and working the slot a little bit. He’s also playing a little bit on the outside… he’s improved every single day this spring.” Fans should get a fun look at the “wide back” role, which is going to be a key part of the new look Husky offense.
DT Kuao Peihopa
The coaching staff has had a lot of great things to say about the redshirt freshman this spring. “I’m really proud of that guy,” DeBoer said. “He’s really matured mentally, and physically he’s in there causing problems, he’s tough, he can move, he plays hard…” and he’s been wreaking a lot of havoc on the interior this spring. The scariest thing about Peihopa is that he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. As far as he’s come this spring, defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield told the media on Wednesday that he still has a lot to learn. Keep an eye out for big #98 in the middle of the defense, he’s going to be a star.
ILB Alphonzo Tuputala
In the very limited 11 on 11 action that the media has been able to see, it looks like the young linebacker out of Federal Way has taken the next step in his development. An incredibly underrated prospect coming out of high school, the Petersen regime showed how much they liked Tuputala by giving him some snaps during his true freshman campaign. He played a little in 2020 and 2021, but was hindered by what appeared to be a lower leg injury that had him in a walking boot. The new staff has repeatedly talked about depth at inside linebacker being very thin, so Tuputala could carve out quite a role for himself this fall.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk
DeBoer has sung the praises of the sophomore receiver transfer from Texas Tech, and it feels like he’s going to be a key piece of the receiving corps, headlined by Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze. “…When it comes to making plays on the football field, he’s been doing that more and more…,” DeBoer said. “He’s improved a lot since the beginning of practice. I remember where he was at in practices one and two, and now seeing him catch the ball, especially some of those tough ones, he’s coming through in those clutch moments.”
OL Troy Fautanu
It’s going to be hard to keep Fautanu off the field in 2022, the question just seems to be where is he going to play? With no word yet from the NCAA on the return of Jaxson Kirkland, left tackle seems to be the plan for him at this time. On Friday, we saw him working out at right tackle, and he’s also gotten some work in at guard. An incredible athlete, there are very high hopes among the coaching staff and Husky fans alike for the future of Fautanu, and it feels like we’ll see his first full year as a starter no matter what this year.
