Washington is using a full week of practice to sharpen itself for the 118th Apple Cup, and Jedd Fisch made clear Monday that the Huskies aren’t treating this one like just another game on the calendar.
After taking the weekend off, Washington will get five days on the field before facing Washington State. Fisch said the staff spent time with the team on the rivalry itself and on the reality that the Cougars have gone into Husky Stadium 17 times and won. The message, in his words, was simple: focus has to be there.
He also confirmed a key personnel change up front. Fisch said he does not expect Landen Hatchett to play this weekend, which means Kolt Dieterich will start and work with the first team against Washington State.
Dieterich’s flexibility is a big reason he’s in this spot. Fisch described him as smart, big, and versatile, a player who doesn’t need to be locked into one role.
For now, he’s the right fit at center, and when Hatchett returns, Fisch said Dieterich can line up anywhere along the offensive line.
There’s also movement in the tight end room. Baron Naone has been listed as an “OR” on the depth chart, and Fisch pointed to a camp that stood out in multiple areas.
He said Naone has blocked well, caught the ball well, gotten bigger and had a fantastic camp, which is why he’s in the mix. Naone and Decker DeGraaf are expected to split time this season.
The Huskies are also preparing for Sunday, and Fisch didn’t hide how he feels about that slot. He said Washington will be the featured game and that the program benefits when everyone can watch them. He added that, “we couldn't say 'yes' fast enough”.
In the backfield, Fisch said Quaid Carr, Jayden Limar and Trey Cooley will all get carries, and that it will be a true “running back by committee”.
At quarterback, Fisch said Demond Williams and JP Losman have been connecting well, which lets him concentrate on calling plays while Losman can help from the sideline.
Fisch also addressed the challenge of preparing for Washington State while facing a third different Cougars coaching staff in three years. His answer leaned on Washington’s own identity: the Huskies have plenty of new faces on the other side, but they’ll prepare for each staff and keep doing what they do.
There are a few more names to watch on Saturday. Fisch said he expects to see the Caden Pinnick that showed up early last season and again late in the year. He pointed back to Washington’s strong game plan last season against Pinnick and his old team, UC Davis, and said no one should expect the same thing this week.
The cornerback battle between Jeron Jones and Rahshawn Clark is still very much alive, and Fisch said both players are playing well. Jones saw plenty of time outside while Dylan Robinson wasn’t fully healthy, and Fisch said he expects to see “a lot of football” out of both Jones and Clark.
Clark’s value isn’t limited to defense, either. Fisch said he has been the top returner in camp and praised the way he fields the ball, tracks it and makes decisions as a returner.
Kai McClendon is another player Fisch believes can make an impact. He said Washington brought McClendon in expecting him to be a “significant contributor”, and that his film and practice work backed that up.
On defense, Fisch said Jacob Manu has settled in as the starter at linebacker and that he makes everyone better. Washington is still sorting through how it wants to use two or three linebackers schematically, but Fisch said the staff trusts four players there and believes they can all play.
He also noted that Washington has played a lot of first-year players before. The key, he said, is still the same: football is football, and the players are already comfortable enough to go out and play at a high level, but they have to do it.
Fisch was asked about the possibility of bringing in NFL players, and he said that won’t happen because he doesn’t believe in it.
He also congratulated the Huskies who made 53-man active rosters in the NFL and survived Cut Down Day.
Finally, Fisch touched on the addition of Grady Gross and Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, which brought Washington’s roster to 104. He also said Justice Williams earned his spot in the two-deeps by making a ton of plays during the second part of fall camp, winning battles and showing up on film with big plays over and over again.
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