Time To Put On the Pads As Defense Begins To Take Shape

Spring ball offers several thresholds to cross for the University of Washington football team to reach the finish line.

Getting the first two practices out of the way — both pad-less — is the first one, with the Huskies now coming out in full body armor on Saturday and everyone really looking forward to some hitting, no more than defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.

“That’s real ball,” he said of the weekend workout coming fast. “This is fake football, where you run around in shorts and T-shirts. That’s not how football is played. We’ll find out who the Dawgs are.”

At this point, as the Huskies second spring football practice on Thursday began in sunshine and was played mostly in a light drizzle, there were still signs this could be a defense that holds great promise, that it could be as physical and athletic as any in recent times.

Over two and a half hours, there was sophomore linebacker Zayrdius Rainey-Sale nearly running down extra speedy Demond Williams Jr. going around the left end, maybe surprising the junior quarterback some.

Then there was loquacious sophomore safety Rylon “Batman” Dillard-Allen holding a running commentary with the offensive sideline between snaps.

Clearly, this Husky defensive unit won’t lack for confidence coming into next season.

Foremost on this side of the ball are those four highly decorated linebackers in seniors Jacob Manu and Xe’ree Alexander and the aforementioned Rainey-Sale, plus junior Buddah Al-Uqdah, who’s recovering from knee surgery.

Walters has had to remind these guys that competition for starting jobs may be unlike anything they’ve had to go through.

“We’ve got arguably four Big Ten starting linebackers — and we mostly play two,” the defensive coordinator said. “Any time, you have competition, it elevates the room. When that room gets elevated, out defense gets elevated and then the program is elevated. … We’ll get creative to get more than two out there.”

A lot of eyes are on the defensive line, in particular the interior spots, and Walters is encouraged by what he’s seen so far from the four new guys who will supplement returning starter Elinneus Davis.

They include transfers DeSean Watts from Sacramento State and Darin Conley from Ball State, and freshmen Derek Colman-Brusa and IT Umu-Cais.

Watts, who was an All-Big Sky selection last season, looks like a refrigerator at an extremely compact 6-foot and 313 pounds and he’s got a free-spirited attitude to go with it.

“I love DeSean Watts and his energy and enthusiasm,” Walters said. “And he’s got that natural leverage.”

While everyone is well aware of Colman-Brusa’s advanced 6-foot-5, 295-pound build, Walters shared how Umu-Cais is packing a hefty 6-foot-2, 330-pound frame, up nearly 20 pounds over his roster listing. It’ll get both of them playing time this fall.

“You talk about guys who physically can play at this level, even the young guys,” the UW defensive coordinator said. “Any time you have guys fit the mold for the Big Ten, you start building confidence.”