The University of Washington Huskies football team was not surprised when Sav’ell Smalls announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. Smalls, a junior linebacker, had been a key contributor to the Huskies defense since his freshman year. However, the Huskies had been preparing for his departure since the end of the 2019 season.
The Huskies had been expecting Smalls to enter the transfer portal for some time. During the 2019 season, Smalls had expressed his desire to explore his options and potentially transfer to another school. He was also considering entering the NFL Draft, but ultimately decided to stay in college for one more year.
The Huskies had also been preparing for Smalls’ departure by recruiting other linebackers. During the 2020 recruiting cycle, the Huskies signed four linebackers, including three-star recruit Jacob Bandes. Bandes is expected to compete for playing time in Smalls’ absence.
The Huskies also have other players on their roster who can step up and fill the void left by Smalls. Junior linebacker Kyler Manu is expected to take on a larger role in the defense this season. Manu has shown flashes of potential during his time at Washington and is expected to be a key contributor in 2020.
The Huskies are also fortunate to have a deep and talented defensive line. The defensive line is led by senior defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike and junior defensive end Joe Tryon. Onwuzurike and Tryon are both expected to be key contributors this season and should help make up for the loss of Smalls.
In conclusion, the University of Washington Huskies were not surprised when Sav’ell Smalls announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. The Huskies had been expecting this move for some time and had been preparing for it by recruiting other linebackers and relying on their deep and talented defensive line. With Smalls gone, the Huskies will look to other players to step up and fill the void he left behind.
