SEATTLE - Washington’s receiving room has become a lot more than a one- or two-man show, and the Huskies are leaning into that reality.
True freshmen Mason James, Trez Davis and Jordan Clay have given the offense extra layers through the first stretch of the season, and all three have already found ways to matter. Clay and Davis both scored in Washington’s 48-16 win over Eastern Washington on Sept. 19, while James has been used in more of a gadget role in both that game and the Huskies’ 16-14 win against Utah State the week before.
Clay lined up at the “X” spot previously held by now-NFL wide receiver Denzel Boston and hauled in a back-shoulder fade against Eastern Washington. Davis scored on a jet sweep. A week earlier, both had more than 40 receiving yards against Utah State.
That early production has mattered even more because Washington is missing a piece it expected to have. Sixth-year wide receiver and Kennesaw State transfer Christian Moss is out two-to-three months after suffering a lower-body injury in the Huskies’ Week 1 win against Washington State.
With Moss sidelined, the freshmen have picked up more snaps and more chances, and Jedd Fisch said that has changed the way Washington can operate.
"Unique to this year, for us as a staff, is that we are playing more wide receivers than we've ever played," Huskies coach Jedd Fisch said in a weekly news conference Monday. "We've, traditionally, been a team that's had three wideouts, played three wideouts, and then have a backup.
This year, we feel like our depth has gotten to a point that there's not much separation between our wide receiver group. So it enables us to play six (wide receivers) and be able to keep guys fresh. ...
We're able to get guys in and get guys out ... and I think that's the cool part about our system that's unique to this year.
" ... I think with this group, you're looking at a chance now with these six guys that, maybe one guy hits 90 (catches), maybe they don't.
But we have a lot of guys that can hit 30 and 40 and 20 and 15 and 35. And if we can do that, it becomes harder and harder to defend."
Fisch also pointed to the tight end tandem of third-year Decker DeGraaf and second-year Baron Naone as part of what can make the passing game more difficult to handle.
In Other News...
Washington Looked Sharp In One Win That Still Raised Two Concerns
Washingtons non-conference win over an FCS opponent gave the Huskies plenty to like on film. They piled up 546 total yards and averaged 8.8 yards per play, with Demond Williams looking poised in command of the offense, showing good anticipation and letting the receivers and tight ends do much of the damage. The passing game produced several touchdowns and explosive plays, while the defense did its part by limiting the opponents scoring and yardage with solid work up front and in coverage.
Even with the comfortable final result, the performance was not spotless. The rushing attack was less efficient than the rest of the night, which left some balance questions for a team trying to sharpen its offense before tougher tests arrive. There were also signs that discipline and protection will need cleaning up, leaving Washington with a win that looked convincing on the surface but still offered a few reminders of what has to improve. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Get A Key Defensive Boost At Crucial Time
Washingtons defense has managed to hold up despite being shorthanded, with other players stepping in and keeping the unit steady through the absence of a couple of key pieces. Now the Huskies are set to get a notable lift for their next matchup with Minnesota, as fourth-year defensive tackle Elinneus Davis is expected to be back after sitting out with a calf injury.
The same cant yet be said for cornerback Emmanuel Karnley, whose status remains up in the air after a soft tissue injury. For a defense that has already shown it can function without him, the question now is whether the Huskies can get one important reinforcement back while waiting to see if another arrives in time for a crucial stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Opens Big Ten Play With More On The Line Than Usual
Washingtons first Big Ten game at Husky Stadium brings a little more weight than a typical conference opener, and not just because the league switch has changed the stakes for the program. Minnesota comes in as a familiar but infrequent opponent, with the schools having crossed paths 17 times over the years, and the meeting adds another layer to a matchup that already carries some historical texture for both sides.
Jedd Fisch has made clear he respects what P.J. Fleck has built in Minneapolis, pointing to the Gophers as a well-coached group that consistently does the little things right. For Washington, that means the opener is about more than settling into a new conference routine, with an old series edge and a fresh Big Ten chapter both quietly hanging over the night. [Read more 🡒]