Washington’s youth movement on defense got another spotlight this week, even with the Huskies on a bye.
Derek Colman-Brusa picked up his second true freshman All-American honor, and cornerback Jeron Jones joined him on The Athletic’s All-Freshman team, released Oct. 20 by Mike Navarro. Washington is now 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten play as it prepares to face Nebraska at 5 p.m. PT on Oct. 31 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.
Colman-Brusa landed on the list as one of two defensive tackles, while Jones was included among five general defensive back spots. The recognition fits the way Colman-Brusa has shown up from the start of the season. He entered the year as one of two true freshman starters on Washington’s defensive line, alongside edge rusher Ramzak Fruean, after being identified early in spring practice as a likely starter.
The Seattle native and former four-star recruit has 11 tackles this season, including two for loss, one sack and one pass defended. Navarro pointed to the same body of work, writing that Colman-Brusa has 11 tackles, including two (tackles for loss) and one sack, with 10 pressures over seven starts and 242 snaps. Navarro also highlighted Colman-Brusa’s early impact in the season-opening win over Washington State, when he tipped a third-down pass that Jeron Jones intercepted.
Jones’ path to the honor looked different. He was not projected as a starter when spring practice opened, but he spent plenty of time with the first unit in the offseason because nickelback Rahshawn Clark and outside corners Dylan Robinson and Emmanuel Karnley all missed time with minor injuries.
This season, Jones has filled in at both nickelback and outside cornerback because of injuries to Clark and Karnley. When Washington is fully healthy, he sits fourth on the cornerback depth chart.