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OFFENSE
Football Preview 2024
NEW BRAVE WORLD 2024
Husky offense fully reloads depth chart for tough coast-to-coast Big Ten schedule
BY BOB SHERWIN • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE
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Symmetry should not be confused with similarity when it comes to the remarkably uniform starting points for the Washington and Arizona football programs, three seasons apart.
The Huskies, coming off their 14-1 season, losing to Michigan in the National Championship game, will open the 2024 season with 47 new scholarship players and just two returning starters, none on offense. Michigan ended the Huskies record 21-game winning streak and that once mighty roster has been depleted by transfers, graduations and the NFL — which featured a school record-tying 10 draftees.
Three years ago, entering the 2021 season, Arizona had lost 12 straight games then went on to lose eight more for a school record 20-game losing streak before winning one game, a 10-3 decision over a COVID-depleted Cal team on Nov. 6, 2021.
“One was coming off a 20-some winning streak as opposed to a 20-some losing streak at Arizona,” said UW first-year offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll. “The similarities are (were) both in a rebuild mode, but the difference is the culture here (UW) that has been ingrained for decades. They know how to compete.”
Carroll has seen both sides. He and five other Wildcat assistant coaches came to UW with Head Coach Jedd Fisch from Arizona during the offseason. They were part of that 20-game losing streak and the 1-11 season in 2021.
“We had zero expectations at Arizona. ‘We’re (Wildcat administrators) just glad you’re going to take care of the football program. We don’t have to think about it,’” Carroll said. “Here at Husky Nation, we compete for national championships, conference championships.”
Arizona did turn it around, which is the reason why Fisch and his staff were hired after Kalen DeBoer departed for Alabama four days after the Michigan loss. The Wildcats won five games the following year followed by a 10-3 record last season and an Alamo Bowl victory over Oklahoma. They know how to do it.
Offensive Line Packed with Portal Power
Besides being the offensive coordinator, Carroll, the oldest son of former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, is the offensive line coach. He had the same role at Arizona, as well as with the Seahawks (2015-20). It so happens that this unit needs the most revamping after four veteran linemen transferred out to Ole Miss, Alabama and Oklahoma.
Entering spring, the Huskies had eight scholarship linemen as the staff brought in some needed experience through the portal: former Ohio State guard Enokk Vimahi, Portland State center/guard D’Angalo Titialii and Maryland tackle Maximus McCree.
There’s more experience from within, but sophomore center Landen Hatchett and junior guard Gaard Memmelaar, both coming off knee injuries, will need to be used sparingly until fully recovered.
“Both those guys have been in the program and kind of know what it takes in terms of the mentality, the work ethic and workload,” Carroll said.
There are also a bunch of promising true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores vying for roles. Carroll said true freshman Paki Finau, 6-foot-5, 297 pounds, “had a heck of a spring. We tried to get him at Arizona. Essentially, it came down to Washington or Arizona, so eventually I’m going to get my recruits one way or another. He’s probably the closest one to getting in there.”
Tight Ends Corps: Moore and Otton
Staying on the line, Carroll said that there was a talented group of tight ends last year, but good ones remain. The starter likely will be senior Quentin Moore, the 6-6, 257-pounder from Inglemoor High.
“Quin is a big old creature out there, can move guys around and loves getting in the trenches and doing the dirty work,” said Carroll, who added that the tight ends will be particularly valued for their blocking ability to help the o-linemen. “Ryan Otton has battled through injuries but is another one who is going to be a physical guy. Even (freshman) Decker DeGraaf, who is just a young pup and has added 25 pounds, he’s going to throw it up in there, too.
“It’s a really cool group. We've taken some great strides. It’s just a matter of how far we can take these guys. This is a very tight endfriendly offense. There are three coaches on the staff that coached (John) Mackey Award winners. So, the tight ends will never be a forgotten element in this (pro-style) system. It’s wide open, man.”
Wide Receiver Depth Chart is New and Deep
What’s also wide open are wide receiver spots. UW must replace one of the best receiving corps in UW history, certainly the best in the nation last season. Rome Odunze (No. 9 overall pick by Chicago), Ja’Lynn Polk (37th overall pick, second round, by New England) and Jalen McMillan (92nd overall pick, third round, by Tampa Bay) took a ton of receptions, touchdowns and yardage to the NFL.
“You think there would be a big drop-off,” Carroll added, “but these guys have done great. Denzel (Boston, sophomore from South Hill, Wash.) had a breakout spring. He was fantastic for us.”
Jeremiah Hunter, who transferred to Washington after playing four seasons for Cal, has 143 career receptions for 2,056 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior Giles Jackson, who caught a touchdown pass against Oregon for his first catch after missing five games with injury last season, played two years at Michigan before transferring in 2021. He knows how the Big Ten works.
“We have a really talented group,” he said. “We’ll be able to be explosive. We’ll use our size, and we have good depth, five or six guys who can really help.”
Running Backs Coleman and Ngata Will Carry the Rock
The running back position has some experience and some depth. Leading the pack likely will be junior Jonah Coleman, who also came over from Arizona.
“He had a breakout year for us this past season,” Carroll said. “He can make people miss, low center of gravity, really strong and dangerous out of the backfield.”
Carroll added that senior Daniyel Ngata, a transfer from Arizona State, had a great spring and will be in the mix. He said he’s anxious to see what senior Cameron Davis can do. Davis was injured in fall practice a year ago and missed the entire season.
Quarterback Rogers is SEC Record Holder
What makes this offense work, as with every offense, is the guy behind center. UW had one of its most prolific quarterbacks in school history last season in Michael Penix Jr., drafted with the eighth overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. Senior Will Rogers, who was quite prolific for Mississippi State before transferring to Montlake, doesn’t need or want any comparisons.
“I’m not Michael Penix or anything like that,” Rogers told the media this spring. “I’m not going to be able to make some of the throws or the plays that he made. I’m my own self. With that being said, there’s just a confidence in myself that a lot of quarterbacks have. When I’m between the white lines, I like myself.”
Rogers played 43 games for Mississippi State, starting 40. He set 29 passing records at the school (most formerly held by Dak Prescott), finishing with the all-time school record of 12,314 yards and 94 touchdowns. He also set career SEC passing records for most single game (505 in 2021) and season (1,264) completions.
Carroll added, “Will’s training to be a pro, man. He has the right mindset, the mentality and the detail he puts into the position explains why he’s been so successful. This is his third system in three years. He's got a great command of the offense already. Great command of the pro-style. It’ll just be how far he wants to take it.”
His main backup and the school’s QB of the future will be fresh man Demond Williams Jr., a strong passer with the added benefit of speed.
The Huskies play the 13th toughest schedule in the country (it’s the Big Ten — get used to it), opening Aug. 31 with Weber State, then Eastern Michigan and Washing ton State before Big Ten play begins. Their toughest chal lenges will be Oct. 5, a rematch with Michigan at Husky Stadium, at Penn State Nov. 9 and closing the season at rival Oregon Nov. 30.
“You play in the Big Ten to compete against the best,” Carroll added. “You want to compete and prove yourself. To do that, you have to play a tough schedule. It’s all part of it.”
