Washington may be getting some help back on defense just in time for the start of Big Ten play.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer said fourth-year defensive tackle Elinneus Davis is set to return Saturday when the Huskies host Minnesota at 8 p.m. PT at Husky Stadium, while fourth-year cornerback Emmanuel Karnley remains uncertain.
Both players sat out Washington’s 48-16 win over Eastern Washington on Sept. 19, the final game before conference play. Davis was dealing with a calf injury suffered in the Huskies’ 24-10 win over Washington State on Sept.
- Karnley’s issue came in the 16-14 victory over Utah State on Sept. 12, when he picked up a soft tissue injury.
Davis had already tried to work back toward action, warming up in full pads before the Eastern Washington game. Karnley, on the other hand, stayed in street clothes throughout the day.
When healthy, Karnley has been productive early on. Through two games, he has five total tackles, including three solo stops, along with two pass breakups. Davis logged one tackle against Washington State before leaving that game.
Even without Davis, Washington’s interior defensive line has held up. Kai McClendon, Darin Conley, DeSean Watts and first-year starter Derek Colman-Brusa have all filled the rotation, helping the Huskies limit opponents to 87.5 rushing yards per game, a figure that ranks 16th nationally.
Karnley’s absence has opened the door for first-year cornerback Jeron Jones, who handled the job well enough against Eastern Washington but also drew two pass interference penalties that extended drives for the Eagles.
If Karnley is available, it could give Washington a needed boost as it tries to move to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play.
Minnesota comes in at 2-1 and sits ninth in the 18-team Big Ten in passing yards per game at 277, though the Gophers are 17th in yards per attempt at 7.4. On the ground, they rank 17th in rushing yards per game at 117 and 14th in rushing yards per carry at 4.1.
Washington’s offense has been more productive through the air, ranking sixth in the conference in passing yards per game at 305 and 11th in yards per attempt at 8.2. The Huskies are 15th in rushing yards per game at 129.7 and 13th in yards per carry at 4.4.
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Washington's Freshmen Receivers Are Creating A New Problem For Defenses
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Jedd Fisch pointed to the wider use of receivers and tight ends in his weekly news conference, and that shift matters because it gives Washington more ways to stress defenses beyond the familiar names. Clay and Davis each found the end zone against the Eagles, another sign that the Huskies are not just filling reps while waiting for veterans to return, but uncovering more options for a passing attack that already looks more varied than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]