Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for the mailbag! My goal is always to interact with as many people as possible, and make sure everyone gets their questions answered. So without further ado… let’s get right into it!
From @AcropolisJr- Who are your top five new contributors and why?
Answer- 1. Bookie Radley-Hiles- He’s ready to produce, and seems to be built to play nickel in the Husky defense. He’s not as technically sound as Elijah Molden, but he’s going to play aggressive, and follow Jimmy Lake’s mantra, “Score or get the ball back.” 2. Dom Hampton- As Trent McDuffie called him, “Kam Chancellor but with my speed,” he’s primed to become one of the best safeties in the nation in 2021. 3. Quentin Moore- The junior college product is an exceptional athlete, and should be ready to make plays from day one. 4. Daniel Heimuli- “The Hammer” has flashed early on in camp, and has earned high praise from defensive coordinator Bob Gregory. It feels like this is the year he makes the leap to become a starter. 5. Julius Irvin- Moving him back to safety was the right move for this defense. He’s going to thrive playing in a deep zone, and coming up to support the run when needed.
From @J_CapSTS– In your opinion, looking at the current roster and the ‘22 recruiting class commits/targets, what position group is going to be the most crucial to recruit moving into the ‘23 recruiting class/transfer portal?
Answer: I believe it’s without a doubt defensive back. After offering junior college product Keionte Scott on Sunday afternoon, and with two elite corner prospects in-state in Caleb Presley and Jasiah Wagoner, they have lots of high-caliber options in their sites. Coupling that with probably losing at least two corners to the NFL Draft in 2022, reloading at Washington’s pride and joy position needs to be the priority.
From @Keithpricetruth1- Where does Bookie [Radley-Hiles] play when the team isn’t in nickel? Does he get bumped to S? If so, which safety hits the bench?
Answer: We haven’t seen a lot of Radley-Hiles at safety so far this summer, then again we haven’t seen a lot of non-nickel sets in general. I can definitely see that happening, where he plays a similar role to Taylor Rapp/Budda Baker during their time at Washington. I can’t say definitely that it’ll happen, but it definitely wouldn’t be a surprise. Whoever the rangier safety who earns the starting job will probably get the bump, whether that be Cam Williams or Asa Turner, to leave in the bigger, more physical presence of Dom Hampton or Julius Irvin to stop the run.
From @mariners_luke- What will the 2nd team OL unit look like?
Answer: From left to right, Troy Fautanu, Nate Kalepo, Matteo Mele, Julius Buelow, Roger Rosengarten.
From @TitleTalkSports- Who is your favorite offensive line prospect that (probably) won’t start in 2021?
Answer: Roger Rosengarten without a doubt. The impressive, superphysical presence of Rosengarten has stood out in practice early on. He has the flexibility and athleticism to play anywhere on the line, along with the edge to not back down from any challenge. Within a year or two, he’ll be known as one of the best offensive linemen in the conference.
From @NickLaPan- Who will have the biggest impact on both sides of the ball respectively?
Answer- I tried to get away from the obvious All-American answers on both sides of the ball… Offensively, I’m going to go with Terrell Bynum. With Cade Otton getting all the attention from the opposing defenses, and Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze continuing to develop, Bynum is going to emerge as Dylan Morris’ go-to option when Otton isn’t available. On defense, my answer is Tuli Letuligasenoa. If he’s fully healthy and playing consistent snaps, he’s going to be a major force against both the running game and the passing game.
From @HoodHusky- Who’s been the most impressive newcomer (Freshman) in Fall Camp?
Answer- In a follow-up, he adds that he was referring to players who weren’t on campus for spring practice. Which made this much tougher because my top options for this question were Sam Huard, Voi Tunuufi, and Kuao Peihopa. So I’ll be going with Maurice Heims. The athleticism, explosiveness, and raw talent that he displays are what every coach and scout drool over. While he probably won’t have a role this fall as he continues to develop, he’s going to be a major force off the edge whenever he’s ready.
From @Westbrookjr1999- Favorite non Pac-12 team?
Answer- LSU. The colors are quite helpful… but after experiencing a game in Baton Rouge, an upset over then #2 Georgia nonetheless… wow. The fans are very welcoming, and the tailgate was the second best I’ve ever been to, after the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. The on-campus scene on gameday is a giant party, and the food is incredible! Two of my favorite non Huskies in the league are Patrick Peterson and Odell Beckham Jr., which is also a big help. The culture from a fan standpoint is exactly what UW fans on Twitter seem to expect from their beloved program, and one thing that I learned was it’s well within reach. Show up early, stay all four quarters no matter what, and have a good time!
