Good news for Washington Huskies:He is back
Returning all-stars provide much-needed positive news for the UW football team and its supporters.
As is often the case these days, a tweetstorm accompanied the news.
Separately on Monday, three well-known Washington football players announced on social media that they plan to return for the 2021 campaign, arranged like a carefully thought-out formation.
The darkness that had descended upon the Husky program since the decision to end the season two weeks ago started to fade, if only slightly.
“I have some unresolved matters involving my brothers.” Anticipating returning to work with my Dawgs. Husky Nation, I’m coming back for another year! It began with an offensive lineman named Jackson Kirkland tweeted.
Later on in the day, tight end Cade Otton teased fans who were speculating about his potential NFL career by tweeting, “I’m declaring…” that I’m excited to be a part of the Dawgs’ 2021 assault on all fronts. (Otton later, with a sheepish look on his face, tweeted out a correction, clarifying that, if you took it literally, he meant to say “a part,” not “apart.” “I’m glad I’m returning to school,” he said, interspersing his statement with laughing emojis.
The Husky defense would have suffered greatly if breakout linebacker Zion Tupuola-Fetui had left: “I think it goes without saying that this team is just getting started, and so am I.” I’ll see you in Husky Nation next year!
Running back Sean McGrew demonstrated his independence late on Monday night by announcing his return on Instagram rather than Twitter: “The season didn’t end the way we had hoped, but there were still matters that needed to be resolved between my Dawgs and I. Returning for a sixth season!!!! #6thyear
Thus, in a single stroke, UW head coach Jimmy Lake discovered that Kirkland, Tupuola-Fetui, Otton, and his top rusher, McGrew, were returning as first-team All-Pac-12 players. Luke Wattenberg, a senior center, had previously declared the same choice, which means that the Huskies’ entire starting offensive line will be back in 2021. With a playful tweet, “We Signed a Few 5 Star Players Today,” Lake posted.
One final gift to the program before the year ended arrived on Thursday in the form of a tweet from senior outside linebacker Ryan Bowman announcing his own return in 2021.
Though Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News was sufficiently impressed to declare the Huskies the early front-runners over Oregon in the Pac-12 North Division, it is obviously insufficient to ensure a successful season. However, it’s unquestionably preferable to the alternative—a tidal wave of defections. With standout defensive backs Elijah Molden and Keith Taylor having already declared their intention to forgo their remaining college eligibility in order to turn pro, that very well could have been the result. Particularly Otton and Kirkland could have easily chosen to start their professional careers.
Josiah Bronson, a defensive tackle, and running back Kamari Pleasant have yet to make decisions, and the Huskies are still waiting. The Huskies may return 20 of their 22 starters from the squad that finished 3-1 in their incredibly shortened 2020 campaign.
In quick succession, the Huskies also saw three quarterbacks leave the program: inevitably, these were the three that Dylan Morris defeated in the competition for the starting job this fall. While Jacob Sirmon and Ethan Garbers signed up for the transfer portal and ultimately transferred to UCLA and Central Michigan, respectively, Kevin Thomson declared he was going to pursue a professional career.
Will Rogers pledges to play football for Washington while the Huskies are still active on the transfer portal.
The following players are linked to Washington football through the transfer portal: wide receiver Tobias Merriweather, DT C.J. Clark, running back Jo’Quavious Marks, and quarterback Will Rogers.
Once again, Washington football has become an active user of the transfer portal, scouting talented prospects at different positions to add to their roster in the coming seasons.
Will Rogers of Mississippi State, Jo’Quavious Marks of Mississippi State, C.J. Clark of North Carolina State, and Tobias Merriweather of Notre Dame are a few of the prominent prospects that the Huskies are hosting. Even though every player has a different set of skills, Rogers sticks out as the big name associated with the Huskies, creating a lot of excitement about the program.
Mississippi State product Will Rogers is a skilled quarterback that Washington could start right away. In his four years at MSU, he has thrown for 12,315 yards and 94 touchdowns against just 28 interceptions. In 2021, he had his best year throwing for 4,739 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. Rogers missed multiple games in 2023 as a result of a shoulder injury.
After Washington’s College Football Playoff berth, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be heading to the NFL, so the Huskies will need to find a new quarterback to spearhead their offense.
Jo’Quavious Marks, a dynamic running back from Mississippi State whose agility and versatility make him a valuable asset in both rushing and receiving, is accompanying Rogers. With Marks’ skill set, the Huskies’ backfield could gain strength and become an explosive offensive threat. Prior to Johnson moving to Washington before the season, he shared carries with Dillon Johnson.
On the defensive end, North Carolina State’s intimidating C.J. Clark provides size, strength, and disruptive ability to the interior line. His presence might strengthen the Huskies’ defense by giving their defensive line more depth and resiliency.
The athleticism and playmaking skills of Notre Dame wide receiver Tobias Merriweather could improve Washington’s passing game. His possible addition might give the Huskies a dependable target to go along with their offensive plan.
The Huskies are pursuing these transfer prospects aggressively, and the addition of Will Rogers could be a huge game-changer. With him joining the team, Washington’s offensive dynamics might change, setting them up for future success. That being said, the combined effect of these possible transfers may greatly increase the team’s overall level of competitiveness in both the offensive and defensive units, paving the way for an exciting new era in Washington Huskies football history.
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