A long day of two University of Washington football practices finally ended, and Willis Wilson was up for an impersonation.
The walk-on redshirt freshman tailback from Lakes High School found a football near the north-end sideline, picked it up and began mimicking quarterback Keith Price’s footwork on a seven-step drop-back pass.
The whole sequence was eerily similar to Price’s exact motion – and the other quarterbacks must have thought so, too, because they saluted him.
“I have been practicing that a little bit,” said Wilson, UW’s 2010 scout-team player of the year.
Those who know the history of Huskies walk-on tailbacks earning playing time – or lack thereof – would likely give Wilson long odds on reaching the field this season as the fifth-stringer.
At times during fall camp, he has fielded punts in non-contact drills.
“(Wilson) comes out here and works hard, and runs hard and plays hard,” Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said.
Now even though that might sound like a ringing endorsement of Wilson’s future in the program, remember that it was Sarkisian who gave small-town tailback Cole Sager – also a walk-on – a career start as a kickoff returner against Notre Dame in 2009.
Several walk-on fullbacks at UW over the years have seen playing time – either on special teams or carrying the ball. They range from Mike Storey (1982), to Ken Walker (1998-2001), to John Hart (1999-2001), to Mark Palaita (2004-06) – and even Brian Cook (2000-01), who played some tailback in the 2000 Apple Cup.
Over the past decade, the most notable tailback contributor was Scott Ballew, from Austin, Texas. He totaled 28 rushing yards in 2003, played special teams and was a favorite of former coach Keith Gilbertson.
With Chris Polk around to get the majority of the carries this season, the only feasible way Wilson would run the ball is if a rash of injuries depleted the corps, or he gets mop-up action in a blowout.
What satisfies the coaches about Wilson is his competitive spirit. He might be the smallest running back on the roster (5-foot-9, 191 pounds), but The News Tribune’s 2008 All-Area tailback puts his nose in the action during practice.
And Wilson has bonded with the right teammate, too – Polk.
“He has taught me a lot of things,” Wilson said. “But the biggest is to just play the game and don’t think so much – play like it is high school, just a faster version.”
EXTRA POINTS
It appears junior Justin Glenn, who was a starter at free safety in 2009 before he broke his leg against Notre Dame, is making another push this fall camp. Over the past few days, he has spent as much time with the No. 1 defense as incumbent Nate Fellner. … Speaking of Fellner, the junior received a tongue-lashing from Sarkisian for trying to go low on tackles in a non-scrimmage format. In fact, Fellner was sent to stand near the east end zone by himself. … Something defensive coordinator Nick Holt and his coaches will experiment with over the next few days is switching John Timu to strong-side linebacker in place of Princeton Fuimaono. Timu is faster and hase longer arms to cover the tight end. … Sarkisian will attend the funeral of Fred Petersen, his former coach at West Torrance High, today in California. “He is family to me,” Sarkisian said. Practice has been delayed until 4:30 p.m.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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