Giles Jackson's football season hangs in the balance unlike any other veteran University of Washington player — he either has just two games remaining or, if all goes well for the Huskies, anywhere from six to eight outings.
Earlier this month, the 5-foot-9, 178-pound senior from Antioch, California, returned from a broken thumb just as fellow pass-catchers Jalen McMillan and Germie Bernard went down with their own injuries.
While the Huskies could play all of them going forward, should each wide receiver regain optimum health beginning at Stanford this weekend, the personnel dilemma is this:
With as many as three UW wide receivers in Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk and McMillan potentially leaving at the end of the year to pursue NFL aspirations, Jackson still has a redshirt season available that would enable him to play a full schedule in 2024 and become more of a centerpiece player.
The coaching staff isn't shy about discussing all of these available options and saving Jackson for a bigger role if possible.
"If we got more guys healthy, we don't have to play him," UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. "We'll certainly try to do that and continue to try and preserve his redshirt."
As for Jackson, who has 9 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown in two showings since returning, he seems open to whatever is asked of him.
"We'll see, I'm not sure," Jackson said of the possible redshirt hovering over him. "Whatever the coaches tell me, that's what I'm doing."
The Husky coaches think so highly of Jackson, who has a career 69 catches for 798 yards and 3 scores at Michigan and Washington, they would gladly build around him and players such as Denzel Boston and Bernard when entering the Big Ten next season.
Jackson, who broke his thumb during a fall scrimmage when he landed awkwardly, will travel to his native Northern California this weekend regardless and not have to concern himself with any of his eligibility ramifications just yet. He's coming off consecutive starts and an especially strong showing in the Huskies' 36-33 victory over Oregon with 6 catches for 58 yards and a TD.
"It's week to week, that's how we're doing it with him," Grubb said. "He's doing such a good job of just trying to keep his eyes up and focus on the week in front of him and get ready to play like he's going to be the starter. Whatever we can do for the team is obviously priority No. 1 and Giles is all in on that."
For Jackson that involves this season for now — and quite possibly next year, as well.
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