No position for the University of Washington football team has been in a more state of flux than running back — and that was the case even before Kalen DeBoer took over as coach.
The new Husky staff brought in portal transfers from Nebraska, New Mexico and Virginia to boost the numbers and increase competition. The coaches have been patiently waiting for the remaining three players to return to good health after knee or shoulder injuries. And they have steadily thinned out the once heavy contingent of power runners in Texas.
If freshman Wayne Taulapapa is named the starter for the first game against Kent State out of the seven-man contest — and all signs point to it — the Huskies will open with five different returning players in the last five games dating back to the past. the season.
Before him, graduate Kamari Pleasant started against Washington State; now sophomore Cam Davis opened at Colorado; left tight end Cade Otton slid into the running back spot for the first game against Arizona State and graduate Sean McGrew took the field first against Oregon.
Taulapapa, 5-foot-11, 207 pounds from Honolulu through the Atlantic Coast Conference, brings 27 starts with him from Virginia and he and former Cornhusker Will Nixon of Waco, Texas, have taken the most snaps since fall camp . it started
On Saturday, DeBoer singled the two out when asked about the ongoing position battle.
“Wayne and Will both had some really nice games,” the Husky coach said after the team’s second scrimmage. “They did what they had to do. They were really consistent, broke some tackles. Wayne showed some physicality when we needed it.”
Asked if they were the frontrunners to be the No. 1 defense this season, DeBoer said, “Wayne for sure; Will is right there in the hunt.”
Nixon comes to the Huskies after spending two seasons at Nebraska as a wide receiver and running back, which he played as a senior.
“He’s not shy about being physical and getting tough yards,” DeBoer said.
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After injuries and the reunion, redshirt freshman Sam Adams II and sophomore Cam Davis fit into the next category of candidates.
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The highly touted Adams, the son of a former Seahawks defensive lineman and the grandson of an NFL offensive lineman, both named Sam Adams, recently surprised his coaches with the full range of his skills.
“He was probably a little more slippery inside than I imagined,” DeBoer said. “He’s been consistent catching the ball, just solid all around.”
New Mexico transfer Aaron Dumas and redshirt freshman Jay’Veon Sunday appear to come next because they aren’t quite suited to the spread offense that will be used. Neither has a big background as a receiver coming out of the backfield.
Asked about those two, DeBoer said, “They’re rotating in. When you have that many guys, it’s hard to give everybody a ton of reps.”
Finally, there’s Richard Newton, a junior who started three games last season before suffering a season-ending injury against UCLA. He has been in uniform but has not yet been cleared to practice without restrictions.
“He’s doing everything he can, he just hasn’t done anything,” DeBoer said. “He’s easing back in. It takes time. … I can’t wait for him to get back out there because I know he’s made a lot of plays for us.”
Check out the attached photo gallery for a more detailed overview of each of the seven candidates.
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