We’re one game into the 2022 season, so that means we obviously know everything about what’s going to play out on the field for the Huskies. Saturday’s 45-20 victory over Kent State showed fans a lot about what they should expect this season, including some guys who flew under the radar during the closed portion of fall practice. The criteria for this was pretty loose: not being listed as a starter on the depth chart against Kent State, but I’m sure you’ll get the gist of this pretty quickly, so let’s jump into it!

Will Nixon

While Nixon is currently listed as the backup, his role against the Golden Flashes was a little more than some fans might’ve expected. He ended up with 12 touches for a total of 51 yards, and was a sparkplug out of the backfield. Now, unlike the other members of this list, this didn’t come as too much of a surprise because Nixon showed off impressive quickness, burst, and agility during the open portion of fall camp. His role as a receiver out of the backfield as well as taking handoffs is going to be a huge part of the offense. If the running backs start getting utilized situationally instead of on a drive-by-drive basis, he’ll most likely end up being the go-to back on third and long, especially if he proves he can pass block.

Jacob Bandes

Bandes was probably the biggest surprise, as there’s been very little noise about the former four-star recruit. One of the biggest questions coming into the season was the depth along the defensive line, and on Saturday, Bandes showed that he’s come a long way even since the beginning of fall camp. He was explosive, made an impact against both the pass and the run, and looked like he could be a key contributor in 2022. If Washington’s interior defensive line can stay healthy and run a six-man rotation all season, the Huskies are going to be a tough team to beat.

Julius Irvin

In a bit of a shocker, it wasn’t Davon Banks or Elijah Jackson as the first cornerback into the game when Jordan Perryman went down, it was Julius Irvin. The fifth-year junior has played safety, nickel, and now outside cornerback in his time on Montlake. Co-defensive coordinator William Inge called Irvin, “one of the most talented players we have on defense” during his press conference on Monday. Between his skill and positional versatility, if Irvin can continue to make an impact whenever he’s on the field, the Washington secondary should continue to be one of the best in the Pac-12.