10 Questions With...

Sack Monster Bralen Trice

A CONVERSATION WITH MARK MOSCHETTI FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE

Rushing the passer like nobody’s business, Bralen Trice is All-Everything in 2023 and will be giving the QB-rich Pac-12 fits

Bralen Trice has yet to play a down or make a sack in 2023. But as soon as the Boise State Broncos take the Husky Stadium field for their first offensive possession in the seasonopening game on Sept. 2, count on Trice, on the defensive edge, being in the middle of all the action.

Playing all 13 games last year, starting 12, Trice led Washington with nine sacks, the third-highest total in the Pac-12 Conference. Those sacks were part of his 38 total tackles, 22 of them solo. Up and down the West Coast and across the country, people noticed. The conference coaches and three other entities named him to the All Pac-12 first team. He received four All-America awards: a second team, a third team, and two honorable mentions.

When the final tackle had been made to wrap up an 11-2 season, Trice was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Alamo Bowl game against Texas and was voted UW’s Defensive MVP.

Trice already is getting noticed this year, even before the opening kickoff, as he has a pair of preseason All-America first-team selections and is a preseason All Pac-12 first-team pick.

In this issue’s 10 Questions feature, Trice shares some thoughts heading into a highly anticipated 2023 campaign.

What’s the feeling heading into camp now that the players, Head Coach DeBoer and his staff have had a season to work together?

“It’s a great feeling because we have that level of trust and communication now as a team that can only come from time.’’

You made four All-America teams last year and are on two preseason All-America teams this year. What does it mean to you to get that kind of recognition?

“I’m really appreciative and blessed to receive this type of recognition. But in all honesty, it doesn’t really matter to me. I just want to play hard and win a Pac-12 championship and (national championship) with my team.’’

What would you say is the biggest improvement you made as an individual player last year?

“The biggest improvement I feel I made as an individual player last year was my knowledge of the game.’’

Was there a game or maybe a special moment last season when you felt especially good about the direction the team was going?

“There wasn’t a specific moment, but I’d say after beating Michigan State, you could just feel where we were headed.’’

Aside from Oregon, USC, and WSU, is there a particular game you’re really looking forward to this year – and why that game?

“I’m looking forward to Utah because I haven’t physically played in a game against them since I’ve been in college.’’

You’ve been an outstanding football player for a long time. Was there another sport for you growing up that you really enjoyed?

“I really enjoyed playing tennis as a kid, I felt that I was really good at it.’’

This is a very physically demanding, time-demanding sport. What drives you forward from day to day, even on those occasional days when you might feel like doing something other than football?

“What drives me forward every day is knowing that it’s bigger than myself. I’m doing it for my team, coaches, my family, and the beautiful state of Washington.’’

Growing up, who was someone who helped make you the person you are today, both on and off the football field?

“Someone who helped make me who I am today is obviously going be my mom. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and the amount of support and love she’s shown me my entire life and through football has been more than I could ever ask for.’’

When you were considering where to go to college, what were things that excited you about Washington and Seattle?

“The atmosphere, the fans, the team, and the education.’’

What are you majoring in, and what would you like to do in life when that time comes when football is done?

“Medical-Anthropology, I want to travel the world and study different types of medicine in both firstworld countries and third-world countries.’’