Washington 2021 Football Preview

2020 Recap

Washington barely played football in 2020. First the Pac 12 delayed the start of their season more than any major conference, then the Huskies had their opening game cancelled due to Covid protocols. The Huskies finally took the field on November 14 and pulled out a 27 – 21 home win. The season was finally off the ground and for the next few weeks there would be football.

The Huskies would pick up two more wins against Arizona and Utah the next two weeks to set themselves up atop the Pac 12 North. Washington stumbled the next week against Stanford in a 31 – 26 loss, but still held first place in the North division. Unfortunately, Washington was hit with Covid issues and because of the Pac 12 protocols could not play their regular season finale or in the Pac 12 Championship game.

Four games is all Washington played in 2020 and though they went 3 – 1 in those four games, the season told us very little about the Huskies team. They did not play rivals Oregon and Washington State and this hardly felt like a football season. Four games is an NFL preseason, the Huskies will look to play a full season in 2021 and make up for lost time.

2020 Leaders

Projected Starters

Reasons For Optimism

The Offensive Line

Washington’s offensive line returns all five starters from 2020, featuring a talented and experienced group of players. The unit is led by star left tackle, Jackson Kirkland who is a massive and talented player that dominated in the trenches. Opposite him, Victor Curne has developed into an excellent right tackle to help book end the offensive line. Senior, Henry Bainivalu is a powerful guard on the interior and is joined by Ulumoo Ale who performed well as a first time starter in 2020. Senior center, Luke Wattenberg anchors the line as the leader in the middle. The Washington offensive line will help the running game be productive and allow the quarterbacks time to make their reads and deliver the ball in the passing game. The experience and talent up front provides a strong foundation for the offense to build on.

Strong RB Room

Washington also has a capable group of running backs to run behind that offensive line. Seniors Sean McGrew and Kamary Pleasant will lead the way. McGrew maybe small at 5’7″ 175 lbs, but he is quick and has rushed for over 5 yards per carry the last two seasons. Pleasant came on in 2020 and is a 230 lb battering ram that compliments McGrew well. Also in the mix is Richard Newton, who is the most complete back of the trio, he has good size at 210 lbs and has been effective his first two years on campus, rushing for over 600 yards and 12 touchdowns. Washington has recruited good depth at the position, but this trio will lead the way for what should be a diverse and potent running game in 2021.

Defensive Line Depth

Washington has employed a 2 – 4 – 5 defense and despite a change at defensive coordinator, expect that to continue to be the primary look for the Huskies. The defense relies on it’s two defensive linemen to be strong at the point of attack and clog the interior and allow the second level players to fly to the football. Washington returns their key players at the two tackles spots from last season and will have the depth to run this scheme effectively. Both Sam Taimani and Tuli Letuligasenoa played a good amount last year and the two 300+ pounders will be ready to lead the way on the interior. They are backed up by Jakob Bandes and Faatui Tuitele who are both promising young players that were top 100 recruits in the 2019 class. The time is now for the pair to step in and provide key depth on the interior. With a pair of starters that got some experience in 2020 and showed they can handle the job and talented young players ready to assist the defensive line should be a strength in 2021.

Causes For Concern

Injury to Zion Tupuola-Fetui

The goal every spring is to come out of winter conditioning and spring practice healthy. Unfortunately, the off-season injury bug hit Washington below the belt this year. Zion Tupuola-Fetui was one of the breakthrough performers of 2021 as he became a nightmare off the edge for offenses to contend with. He tallied seven sacks in just four games and was expected to be a key pass rusher for the Huskies this year. Because of the injury, Washington will need another player to emerge as the lead pass rusher for the team. The smart money is on Sa’Vell Smalls, a top recruit in the 2020 class, filling in and providing the pass rush needed. Until Smalls or someone else steps up, Tupuola-Fetui will be sorely missed by the Huskies.

Quarterback Development is a Must

Dylan Morris made his debut as the starter for Washington in 2020 and really would have benefited from a longer season. Morris was solid for a first time quarterback but struggled against Utah, when he threw three interceptions. In the other three games he did not have to throw the ball as often, but was more efficient and did not throw any interceptions. In a full season, Morris would have gotten 300 or so pass attempts under his belt and gained a lot of experience, instead he got 110 attempts in 2020. Morris has potential and showed flashes of it in 2020, but will need to continue to improve if he is to lead Washington to the Pac 12 Championship. Morris will be pushed by top quarterback recruit, Sam Huard, who joined the team in the spring. If Morris is not ready to lead the team Huard will be placed on the fast track for 2021.

2021 Schedule

Top 25 Players

2021 Projection

Washington has a tough out of conference game at Michigan the second week of the season. The Wolverines are coming off a tough season and have an unsettled quarterback situation. Washington has a chance to win that one on the road and head into conference play undefeated. In conference play Washington gets Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State and Washington State at home this year, setting the Huskies up for success. This does not look like a team that will run the table, but they should do well in conference play and finish the year with ten wins. The big question will be if they win the home game against Oregon, which is likely to decide who represents the Pac 12 North in the conference championship game.