Sarkisian has Huskies linebackers sorted out

Coach Steve Sarkisian said last week that Washington’s spring football sessions would begin without a depth chart and that everyone was starting fresh.

But when he got around to addressing his linebackers, he seemed to have a pretty solid idea of what he can expect from the team’s four returning veterans with starting experience.

“You’ll see Mason Foster and E.J. Savannah at the outside linebacker positions, and you’ll see Donald Butler at the middle linebacker spot,” Sarkisian said. “That’s the way we’ll start, and work with Trenton Tuiasosopo. The beauty of Donald Butler in our scheme is he’s a very bright young man: He’s played a lot of different positions, and he can move around and play different spots. (That’s valuable because) it’s tough to go through the year with just three linebackers.”

Between them, those four linebackers have appeared in 116 games for UW. Leading the way with 39 appearances is Tuiasosopo, who was granted a sixth season of eligibility after missing all but three 2004 games with a knee injury and then all of 2005 after suffering head injuries in a bike accident.

But even after the NCAA told him he could come back, Tuiasosopo struggled over whether he should return to college or try for the NFL.

“I was tempted to go ahead and just be done with it for how last season was,” he said, referring to the 0-12 season that cost coach Tyrone Willingham his job. “But I discussed it with my family, and I prayed about it, gave some thought some more, really paid attention to what my family had to say, prayed about it a little bit more, and decided to come back. It’s a win-win situation. If I would have left, I wouldn’t have had this season to play with the whole new coaching staff.”

These veteran linebackers have seen a lot in their careers, but they agree they’ve never seen anything like Sarkisian, defensive coordinator Nick Holt, linebackers coach Mike Cox and the rest.

“The new staff is crazy,” Butler said. “On us every play. On the field with us. Running with us. Running right to the ball with us. Hopping on the pile with us. It’s different. It’s something that this team needed, and the guys are buying into it.”

The coaches confirm that these players have responded to the new expectations.

Tuiasosopo is one of several Huskies who came into spring practices leaner and faster, which could help him with pass coverage after making his reputation mostly as a run-stuffer.

Savannah was held out Saturday with what was called a minor ankle injury. But coaches say he has been impressive on the field and off since being welcomed back by Sarkisian after being released from his scholarship by Willingham before last season.

Butler is the most versatile of the bunch. Foster may be the most athletic. And the veterans create a solid environment for junior Matt Houston and sophomore Cort Dennison to grow.

“They’re a good group,” Cox said. “It’s great anytime that you have competition, you’re going to get the best effort at practice. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing. We’re not saying, ‘Hey you’re a starter.’ Everyone’s starters. Come to practice and play. How you get your team better is competition, and we have some competition there.”

Extra points

A crowd estimated at 1,500 turned out to watch the Huskies’ first Saturday practice of spring. The practice took place in by far the best weather so far. “It felt great,” Sarkisian said. “I’ve got my shorts on and my sunglasses. It felt great.” … By the day’s scoring method, the offense won the Saturday practice, clinching on a last-play pass from Jake Locker to Jermaine Kearse in a corner of the end zone. However, Sarkisian and Locker both said they thought the defense had gotten the better of the offense for most of the day. … The Huskies return to practice at 4 p.m. Monday, when they’ll work in full pads for the first time.

Don Ruiz, 253-597-8808

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