The front seven is essentially set.
The rest is up for discussion.
Washington — which will hold three spring practices next week, before enduring a 19-day delay due to finals and spring break — made defensive strides up front last fall. But in the secondary, it struggled.
The Huskies led the Pac-12 in opponent yards per carry (3.52) and ranked third in run defense (121.23 yards per game) and sacks per game (2.85). They also sat ninth in interceptions (7), 10th in opponent pass efficiency rating (145.8), 10th in opponent yards per pass attempt (7.8), 11th in opponent pass touchdowns (26) and last in passes defended (2.54 per game).
With defined defensive strengths and weaknesses, is the glass half-full or -empty?
That will be determined, in part, this spring — as some returners swap positions and newcomers aim to impress.
So, before UW (briefly) returns to action Monday, let’s dive into the depth chart on defense and special teams.
Defensive line
Tuli Letuligasenoa, sr., 6-1, 307
Ulumoo Ale, sr., 6-6, 340
Jayvon Parker, soph., 6-3, 312
Elinneus Davis, fr., 6-3, 295
***
Faatui Tuitele, jr., 6-3, 302
Voi Tunuufi, jr., 6-1, 258
Jacob Bandes, jr., 6-2, 292
Armon Parker, rs. fr., 6-3, 314
Siaosi Finau, soph., 6-3, 271
(Note: summer enrollees have not been included.)
Analysis: UW touts a plethora of steady contributors on its defensive line — led by sixth-year senior Tuli Letuligasenoa, junior Faatui Tuitele (who may miss the spring due to an injury), senior Ulumoo Ale, juniors Voi Tunuufi and Jacob Bandes, and sophomore Jayvon Parker. The question is whether any can make the leap from solid to extraordinary.
As ever, Ale remains an intriguing athlete — a 6-foot-6, 340-pound pulverizer with confusingly minimal body fat — but he managed just 11 tackles and a tackle for loss in his first season after flipping from the offensive line. If defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield can unlock Ale, all bets are off.
The other wild card is redshirt freshman Armon Parker — Jayvon’s twin brother — who missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL. When asked about Armon’s potential prior to the Alamo Bowl, co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said: “We feel very strongly he could be a premier defensive tackle.”
We’ll soon see if he’s right.
Edge
Bralen Trice, jr., 6-4, 269
Sav’ell Smalls, jr., 6-3, 259
Sekai Asoau-Afoa, sr., 6-4, 275
Anthony James, fr., 6-5, 265
***
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, sr., 6-4, 249
Maurice Heims, so., 6-5, 261
Lance Holtzclaw, rs. fr., 6-3, 217
Zach Durfee, soph., 6-5, 250
Analysis: Pencil in Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui as sure starters at the Huskies’ edge spots. The only questions are whether Trice — who led all Power Five edge rushers with 67 pressures in the regular season — can exceed his nine sacks in 2022, and if “ZTF” can at last regain his All-American form from 2020.
Though junior Sav’ell Smalls — who is still searching for his first career sack — figures to be a rotational piece, it’ll be interesting to see which other Husky edge spells the starters. Uber-athlete Maurice Heims may be ready for an elevated role, and Morrell noted that redshirt freshman Lance Holtzclaw “has shown some really strong flashes in pass rush, and obviously that’s a core component of our defense.” Sioux Falls transfer Zach Durfee will be aiming to impress as well.
Linebacker
Edefuan Ulofoshio, sr., 6-1, 235
Alphonzo Tuputala, jr., 6-2, 238
Demario King, jr., 6-3, 212
***
Ralen Goforth, g.s., 6-2, 225
Carson Bruener, jr., 6-2, 225
Deven Bryant, fr., 6-0, 210
Analysis: At linebacker, Washington has four quasi-starters — senior Edefuan Ulofoshio, juniors Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener, and USC graduate transfer Ralen Goforth — and two starting spots. That’s a luxury for a defense that has struggled with consistent linebacker depth and production since Ben Burr-Kirven departed in 2018.
Cornerback
Jabbar Muhammad, jr., 5-10, 180
Davon Banks, soph., 5-11, 185
Caleb Presley, fr., 6-0, 180
***
Julius Irvin, sr., 6-1, 179
Elijah Jackson, soph., 6-1, 184
Thaddeus Dixon, jr., 6-2, 205
Jaivion Green, soph., 6-2, 202
Analysis: The UW corners’ struggles with health and production were well documented last fall.
But this is not the same cornerback corps.
With Jordan Perryman graduated, and Mishael Powell likely to get a look at the hybrid “husky” nickel spot, UW is searching for new starters this spring. Oklahoma State transfer Jabbar Muhammad — who led the Cowboys with 10 pass breakups and added 48 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in 12 starts (10 at corner, two at safety) in 2022 — is an obvious option. But who’s likely to earn the other starting spot?
Julius Irvin — who impressed after converting from safety early last season — brings experience, size and speed. Sophomores Davon Banks, Elijah Jackson and Jaivion Green are also contenders who contributed last fall.
The unknowns, for now, are a pair of newcomers in Long Beach City College transfer Thaddeus Dixon and four-star freshman Caleb Presley (who will participate in the final 12 practices after enrolling in late March). Freshmen Curley Reed and Leroy Bryant will also join the fray this summer.
Husky
Mishael Powell, jr., 6-1, 204
Kamren Fabiculanan, jr., 6-1, 191
Dyson McCutcheon, soph., 5-11, 178
Analysis: Expect junior Mishael Powell — perhaps the secondary’s most sure tackler — to try his hand at “husky” this spring, allowing senior Dominique Hampton to slide back to strong safety. The “husky” spot requires a versatile athlete capable of covering slots and tight ends and man-to-man coverage while also occasionally blitzing and stuffing the run.
Junior Kamren Fabiculanan also has the positional flexibility to play both “husky” and safety, as he did last fall.
Safety
Asa Turner, sr., 6-3, 201
Tristan Dunn, rs. fr., 6-4, 186
Makell Esteen, soph, 6-1, 177
Diesel Gordon, fr., 5-11, 175
***
Dominique Hampton, sr., 6-3, 221
Vince Nunley, soph, 6-1, 188
Analysis: Though seniors Asa Turner and Dominique Hampton remain the likely starter at safety, keep an eye out for sophomore Vince Nunley and redshirt freshman Tristan Dunn. Nunley was tracking to be a significant contributor before an injury swallowed his 2022 season, while Dunn’s athleticism provides ample intrigue.
“He’s arguably one of the more talented athletes on the entire defensive side of the ball,” Morrell said of Dunn. “Now it’s just a matter of learning.”
Placekicker
Grady Gross, soph., 5-11, 213
Addison Shrock, soph., 6-1, 183
Kickoffs
Grady Gross, soph., 5-11, 213
Punter
Jack McCallister, soph., 6-0, 215
Long snapper
Jaden Green, jr., 5-10, 223
Kick returner
Giles Jackson, sr., 5-9, 185
Rome Odunze, jr., 6-3, 201
Punt returner
Jalen McMillan, jr., 6-1, 186
Giles Jackson, sr., 5-9, 185
Analysis: UW is tasked with replacing sixth-year senior placekicker Peyton Henry, and sophomore Grady Gross appears to be the primary option. Gross converted all 68 extra points and 12 of 15 field goals in his senior season at Horizon (Ariz.) High School, before handling the Huskies’ kickoffs last fall. Starting punter Jack McCallister and long snapper Jaden Green are both back, as are potential returners Giles Jackson, Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze.