Washington’s fifth fall camp practice stretched out to about 150 minutes, easily the longest session of training camp so far, and the extra time showed up everywhere. The Huskies packed in a heavy dose of position work and installation, then finished with the most team periods they’ve had yet.
The last couple of those team segments were moved into Husky Stadium so the fans in attendance could watch the action unfold in the Greatest Setting in College Football.
From the start, it was the kind of day that makes football practice look good. The weather on Montlake was about as ideal as it gets, and the session carried a different feel than some of the earlier ones. The defense didn’t own the day this time.
If anything, the offense got plenty of opportunities to land punches of its own. That said, the team work was mostly set up around the red zone or just outside it, with drives beginning at the 25-yard line, so the defense wasn’t exactly being asked to hold up in full-field situations all afternoon.
When Demond Williams needed something down the field, he found Dezmen Roebuck. The second-year receiver has become Williams’ clear favorite target, and he was the guy the quarterback leaned on when a play had to be made. Kim Grinolds and Chris Fetters also noted that a couple of other receivers made their presence felt on Tuesday.
The quarterbacks overall had a solid day, too, and not only once the team moved inside Husky Stadium.
After five practices, the questions around the program have shifted. It’s no longer just about how Washington will patch holes at certain spots. The bigger question now is how good this group can look once its key pieces are back and fully healthy.
Not everyone was out there in team periods, though. Jayden Limar, Trey Cooley, Geirean Hatchett, Landen Hatchett, Isaiah Ward, Paul Mencke, and Dylan Robinson practiced but were not used.
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For Washington, the intrigue starts with Demond Williams, who steps into another season with plenty of expectations attached to the quarterback position and the kind of scrutiny that comes with facing Oregon again. The Ducks also bring their own headline names into the picture, including Malik Benson, which only adds to the sense that this late-season meeting could shape more than just bragging rights. Even in August, this one already feels like a game that could tell us a lot about where the Huskies stand in the Big Ten race and how far they still have to go. [Read more 🡒]
