Photo Courtesy: seattletimes
The Huskies performed great during the spring and had leaders stepping forward.
The University of Washington football team had ten players drafted by the NFL, including three first-round picks and five more who signed as free agents. Former coaches Chris Petersen, Jimmy Lake, and Kalen DeBoer all contributed to this remarkable display of talent.
Here is a list of the top ten Huskies for the upcoming season. They are ranked according to their overall football skills and abilities.
UW football team’s top 10 players
Denzel Boston – Wide Receiver:
This handsome guy is a wide receiver from South Hill in Washington. He is 6-foot-4, weighs 207 pounds, and attended Emerald Ridge High School. Boston, a sophomore, is well-known for his size, speed, and athletic ability on the field. During Husky’s spring practice, he was one of the top performers and demonstrated exceptional catching abilities. During the spring game, he caught seven passes for 127 yards and one touchdown demonstrating his talent and potential.
Boston is working to increase his muscle mass and hopes to reach 215 pounds, laying the groundwork for what promises to be an incredible season.
Ephesians Prysock – Cornerback:
Prysock is a tough player who frequently faced off against Boston during spring practice. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 190 pounds, the junior had his share of victories and defeats in their games. Despite this, he’s already being referred to as an NFL prospect. Prysock, an Arizona transfer and returning All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection, is expected to improve even more as he competes with Boston, the top UW receiver. Despite being injured during the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma, he earned Coach Fisch’s respect. His combination of height, attitude, and speed makes him a favorite among pro performers.
Zach Durfee – Edge Rusher:
Zach Durfee, an edge rusher, has experienced some setbacks, including an NCAA ruling that was later overturned and a spring elbow injury. Despite this, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound junior is extremely talented. Coach DeBoer’s staff is excited about his potential, describing him as the team’s fastest, strongest, and most athletic edge rusher. Durfee stood out last season, despite facing competition from Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui. When he returned to full health, Coach Fisch’s staff immediately assigned him to the top defense. When allowed to fully demonstrate his abilities.
Jonah Coleman – Running Back
Jonah Coleman, a 5-foot-9 running back who weighs 225 pounds, relies heavily on the veteran Husky offensive line. He’s a strong and fast runner, but during spring ball, he struggled to find open lanes for big runs. In the spring game, he rushed for 18 yards on four carries while catching two passes for 42 yards. Despite this, Coleman has previously proven himself by rushing for 179 yards against Colorado and 143 against USC. He is confident that the coaching staff will put together a reliable and productive offensive line in time for the season.
Landen Hatchett – Center
Landen Hatchett, a 6-foot-2 center weighing 310 pounds, has the potential to be a team leader and a candidate for honors if he stays healthy and involved. Despite dealing with a knee injury in December, he remained focused on his recovery throughout spring training. Although he was unable to fully participate, he was actively involved in practices, snapping the ball to quarterbacks, taking handovers, and participating in non-contact drills. He demonstrated leadership by attending all practices, interacting with teammates, and maintaining a veteran’s attitude.
Jeremian Hunter – Wide Receiver
Jeremiah Hunter, a wide receiver, started in the second unit during spring practice before being promoted. The coaches wanted him to learn the ins and outs of a pro-style offense, so he transferred from California to the University of Washington. Whether playing with the first or second unit, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Hunter was a physical and aggressive receiver. He had three receptions for 16 yards and one touchdown in the spring game. During his time at Cal, he caught 143 passes for 2,056 yards and 13 touchdowns, including one in Husky Stadium. He’s expected to produce impressive numbers again this season.
Carson Bruener – Linebacker:
Carson Bruener, a linebacker, spent two seasons as a backup for Coach DeBoer. Bruener is determined to prove himself and demonstrate that he possesses the necessary skills to compete in the NFL. Despite being listed at 6-foot-2 and 226 pounds, he appears much heavier. He is known for covering a lot of ground and has four games with 14 to 16 tackles during his time at UW. Bruener has taken on a more active leadership role on the team and is driven to succeed in the NFL. It’s important to remember that he is the son of a 14-year NFL veteran and Bruener aims to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Drew Azzopardi – Offensive Tackle:
Drew Azzopardi, an offensive tackle, has transferred from San Diego State to Washington. At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, he is in excellent shape and surprisingly flexible for his size. When he entered the transfer portal, several top programs expressed interest in him, including Arizona, Washington, UCLA, and Tennessee.
Even though Azzopardi is only a freshman, he and Hatchett are regarded as key members of the UW offensive line. It’ll be interesting to see which three players join them as starters.
Alphonzo Tuputala – Linebacker:
Alphonzo Tuputala is the most experienced player on the UW team, with 27 starts in 40 appearances. He and Bruener shared a linebacker spot last season, but this season they’ll play together on the No. 1 defense, bringing experience and muscularity. Tuputala recorded four tackles during the spring game, demonstrating his toughness and consistency. He’s determined to make big plays this season, such as intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown, after narrowly missing one in November. Tuputala has returned to UW for a sixth season, to make it to the NFL.
Grady Gross – Place Kicker:
Grady Gross has established himself as the Huskies’ go-to kicker. The team trusts him to make every kick.
Grady Gross first joined the team as a walk-on, which means he was not given an athletic scholarship. But he performed well enough to receive a scholarship from the team later on.
In 2023, he had a successful season, converting 18 of 22 field goals and all 63 extra-point kicks. He made field goals of 33 and 42 yards in the spring game and has been working on his long-distance kicks. He even kicked a 63-yard field goal during pregame warm-ups and demonstrated his impressive range.
Conclusion:
So this was an update to the UW Football Ranking of the Top 10 Players on the UW Football Team. Please share your thoughts on your favorite player and this ranking in the comments section. The UW football team has a lot of potential, and we look forward to seeing them perform even better in the remaining 2024.
