SEATTLE - Washington’s first fully padded practice of fall camp brought a little bit of everything Thursday at Husky Stadium: a pair of receivers pushing for bigger roles, a safety making another jump, and a running back group still trying to sort itself out before the Sept. 6 opener against Washington State.
The sixth practice of camp came with the Huskies not quite at full strength, but there were still plenty of snaps that stood out once the pads came on and the tempo picked up.
At receiver, second-year Chris Lawson and sixth-year Christian Moss kept building on strong weeks. Both had already flashed in Tuesday’s session, each coming down with touchdown grabs, and Thursday gave them another chance to make their case for starting reps.
Lawson picked up extra work with usual slot starter Dezmen Roebuck away from practice for personal reasons. He made the most of the added opportunities, collecting several first-down runs and breaking loose for a 44-yard touchdown on a sweep.
Moss was busy too, hauling in several first-down catches in team periods and adding two touchdowns of his own.
“You look at Chris Lawson and Christian Moss and those guys are openly stepping up trying to take that (starting) role,” UW safeties coach Taylor Mays said after practice Thursday. “Those guys have been making awesome plays the last five, six practices.
So, our guys have been, competitively, trying to shut down those guys at the same time. It helps us because it's almost an 'iron sharpens iron' thing.”
On the other side of the ball, first-year safety Gavin Day kept his momentum rolling. The four-star Class of 2026 recruit had already been one of the more noticeable risers from spring ball, and that trend has carried into camp. Day picked off a pass intended for third-year wideout Justice Williams during team drills Thursday.
“I love Gavin Day,” fourth-year safety Alex McLaughlin said in a postgame interview after practice Thursday. “I've tried to take him under my wing and he made great plays today. ... (He's) gotten just so much more comfortable in this scheme.”
Washington’s backfield picture is still unsettled, and Thursday offered another look at the competition. The defense held up well against the run in team drills, and it also limited the short-pass and screen game, but the backs still found room here and there for bigger gains.
Second-year Quaid Carr, first-year Brian Bonner, sixth-year Trey Cooley and fourth-year Jayden Limar all had solid runs during the session.
In Other News...
Washington's Transfer Class Could Decide How Far The Huskies Go
Washington spent the offseason reshaping its roster through the portal, bringing in 14 transfer players as it looks to build on last season and keep pace in a competitive Big Ten race. A handful of newcomers stand out right away because of both their experience and the positions they fill, including cornerback Emmanuel Karnley, defensive lineman Darin Conley, kicker Tyler Robles and running back Jayden Limar.
Karnley and Conley figure to help a defense that needs more reliable play on the back end and up front, while Robles gives the Huskies a specialist with a chance to stabilize a key spot. Limar, meanwhile, adds another layer to the offense as Washington tries to sort out its rotation and find answers that can hold up over a full season. The talent is there, but how quickly those transfers settle in may end up saying a lot about just how far the Huskies can go. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Camp Battle Is Starting To Reveal A Defensive Climber
Washingtons training camp brought the Huskies back inside Husky Stadium for a practice that mixed offense-versus-defense drills with a few notable absences, and the defense came away looking like the sharper side for much of the day. The offense still had its moments, with Christian Moss and Justice Williams both flashing in spots, but the overall tone of the workout leaned toward a unit that was winning more of the key battles.
Among the players drawing attention was freshman safety Gavin Day, who kept showing up around the football and continuing a camp trend that has made him hard to ignore. With several Huskies sidelined for the session, the door was open for younger players to make an impression, and Day appears to be climbing fast enough to force the staff to keep a closer eye on how much more he can carve out before the season turns from competition to consequence. [Read more 🡒]
Washingtons Backup QB Battle Is Starting To Get Real
Jedd Fischs latest look at Washington camp had a little bit of everything, from the defensive front to the quarterback room, but the most interesting subplot might be the one behind Demond Williams Jr. Stanford transfer Elijah Brown is in the mix to become the Huskies No. 2 quarterback, with Dash Beierly and Tristan Kini McMillan also trying to make that job their own as fall work continues. Its the kind of competition that can shape a season quietly at first, especially for a team that wants every snap in August to sort itself out before the games start counting.
Fisch also pointed to the defensive line, where Ramzak Frueans explosiveness has stood out and Taitai Uiagaleleis return adds another layer of depth for Washington. For a roster trying to build stability on both sides of the ball, those developments matter just as much as the headline battle under center. The Huskies have already seen one offseason story line settle into place at quarterback, but the backup race is still one of the cleaner ways to measure how much trust this team really has behind its starter. [Read more 🡒]