University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb offered a round of applause, basically to himself, for getting wide receiver Giles Jackson another year of eligibility.
That is, he was able to resist using the 5-foot-9, 178-pound senior in the closely-contested Apple Cup, in fact informing his speedy pass-catcher that he wasn't even going to suit up for the Washington State game. They were taking no chances.
"We made it," Grubb said as he clapped at the coaches' Monday news briefing.
After breaking his thumb, Jackson missed the first five games of the season and this got everyone thinking that maybe he should redshirt and return in 2024, especially after veteran receivers such as Rome Odunze and others have moved on in pursuit of NFL careers.
The Huskies were able to make this happen by playing Jackson in just four games of the remaining seven in the regular season before he would be able to participate in Friday's Pac-12 championship game and the rest of the postseason without any eligibility drawbacks.
With that, Jackson was spotted in his No. 0 jersey and black sweats chatting up injured running back Cam Davis, who stuck out in his UW letterman's jacket, on the sideline before the Apple Cup opening kickoff.
While Jackson officially is in the mix for next season, Grubb was asked about the status moving forward for junior Jalen McMillan, whose season has been greatly disrupted by a knee injury.
McMillan has missed four games and played very little in three others while dealing with the knee, and he has another UW season if he wants it.
"With J-Mac, I think with the situation he's in, he'll have a lot to evaluate after the season," Grubb said. "I think he sees the value of what happened with Rome this year in coming back and playing another season and upping his status."
The UW coaches also mentioned that junior wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk is another possibility to return if he chooses, as is injured senior free safety Asa Turner.
Turner, who recently underwent hand or wrist surgery, has appeared in just four games this season. With yet another year of eligibility open to him, he had been fairly assertive at the beginning of the season that this would be it for him. However, he has the option to come back, as well.
Grubb also mentioned that he had submitted a request for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to return as a seventh-year player. The offensive coordinator added that he was joking.
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