Huskies notes: Five practices in, UW ‘made some great strides this week,’ DeBoer says; QBs continue to get equal reps
Washington is now five practices into its spring schedule following Friday’s workouts at a windy Husky Stadium.
“It’s crazy how fast it goes,” UW coach Kalen DeBoer said afterward. “Five down already, so that’s a third of them. I thought we made some great strides this week.”
Where is the program — with a new coaching staff and a new system — at with a handful of practices complete?
“Wednesday (we) threw a lot of stuff at them — the offensive install, the defensive install, kind of two worlds colliding — and those guys cleaned that up today,” DeBoer continued.
“So, that’s what you really want to see, is the mistakes that were made on Wednesday, guys on both sides of the ball really cleaning those things up, and really solid practice today.”
The Huskies remain four-plus months away from hosting Kent State in their season-opener as the roster begins to take shape.
Perhaps the biggest roster question throughout this spring — and maybe longer — will be who the program will send out as its starting quarterback Sept. 3.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb noted before spring practices began last week, the three quarterbacks expected to compete for the spot — Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr. and returners Dylan Morris and Sam Huard — would get equal reps with the No. 1 and No. 2 offensive groups through at least the first four practices.
In the practices ahead, it seems that same plan to give the three even time will continue on.
“We did the same thing today,” DeBoer said. “We kept it equal, and we plan on keeping it equal here the next couple practices as well.”
As the Huskies install their offense, DeBoer noted the thought is to give each of the three an opportunity to get reps running different concepts.
“We want to be able to work to where those guys had a fair shake and really had a good chance of running each concept a certain number of times,” DeBoer said.
Penix, a fifth-year junior, has the most familiarity with this offense, having played for the Hoosiers when DeBoer was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019.
Penix completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns in six games in DeBoer’s offense that season before a shoulder injury ended his season.
He has completed 59.4 percent of passes in his four-year career, and has thrown for 4,197 yards and 29 scores to 15 interceptions in 20 games, including 17 starts.
Morris, a former Graham-Kapowsin High School standout, is the more experienced of the Huskies’ two returning quarterbacks from last season, having started 15 games in the past two seasons, including 11 last fall.
The four-year redshirt sophomore has completed 60.7 percent of passes for 3,355 yards in his career, and thrown 18 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.
Huard broke the state’s career passing record as at Kennedy Catholic prior to his arrival at UW, and made his first college start as a true freshman in the Apple Cup in November.
EXTRA POINTS
▪ The program received transfer commitments from two versatile offensive players earlier this week in former Virginia running back Wayne Taulapapa and former Nebraska wide receiver Will Nixon.
Taulapapa, a fifth-year senior, led Virginia in rushing last season, and has averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his career, collecting 1,192 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns.
Nixon played in three games for Nebraska last season after missing his true freshman season with an injury. He also has significant experience in the backfield from his high school career at Midway (Texas).
▪ UW announced Friday afternoon the program will add an open practice to its spring schedule on April 23. The practice, which is set for 11 a.m. that Saturday morning, is free and open to fans.
The annual spring preview is schedule for the following week, at 11:30 a.m. April 30, is also free and open to fans and will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
▪ DeBoer said Friday redshirt freshman running back Emeka Megwa will miss spring practices due to injury.
Megwa was originally a 2022 recruit, but reclassified to 2021, and joined UW last fall. He has not yet appeared in a game.
“He won’t be able to practice all spring, and throughout the summer and maybe a little bit into the fall,” DeBoer said.
The four-star running back from Timber Creek (Texas) was considered the No. 19 athlete in the 2021 class and No. 48 player in Texas by 247Sports.com composite rankings. He reported offers from 37 schools before choosing UW.
▪ DeBoer and the Huskies continue to wait on an eligibility update for two-time All-Pac-12 left tackle Jaxson Kirkland, who withdrew his name from the NFL Draft this winter due to an ankle injury.
Kirkland is enrolled in school, DeBoer said ahead of spring practices, and UW has filed a waiver with the NCAA, but is still waiting for an update.
