Husky Secondary Jobs Are Up for Grabs This Week

The University of Washington football team is supposed to be prolific on offense, as difficult to stop as any nationwide. However, the downside to the daily fireworks show in Husky Stadium is you can't readily tell how much the secondary has improved.

On Tuesday, quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Dylan Morris unloaded a combined four long touchdown passes against a group in which vast improvement and finding additional personnel was an offseason focus for the coaching staff.

In order, Penix beat senior safety Dom Hampton with a 47-yard scoring strike to Ja'Lynn Polk; Morris threw a 57-yard TD pass to Denzel Boston over the head of freshman corner Leroy Bryant; Morris connected with Germie Bernard on 53-yard TD last that beat sophomore cornerback Davon Banks; and Morris finished off his TD pass trifecta with a 47-yard laser to Bernard over JC transfer corner Thaddeus Dixon.

Afterward, cornerbacks coach Julius Brown said this week, in particular, would be used to settle on two guys who will draw game-opening assignments for the Sept. 2 opener against Boise State. 

"We rolled them in and out of there today," Brown said. "It's a big week to determine who the starters will be. They know they have to stack days."

That said, Oklahoma State transfer Jabbar Muhammad appears to be a lock at one cornerback spot with a host of others lined up to try and join him in the other starting job.

"When he goes out there, he's able to see the big picture with things," Brown said of Muhammad. "He just has a knack when they're going to take a shot. He's been providing some of that to the other guys, explaining it to them, helping them out. It's been good."

Others in the competition are sophomore Elijah Jackson, Oregon transfer Darren Barkins, sophomore Jaivion Green, Banks, Dixon and freshman Leroy Bryant. 

"It's about seven guys rolling in," Brown said. "We're just letting those seven guys duke it out and see who can do what."

Jackson is much improved while Barkins brings a noticeable speed upgrade and Bryant has been more ready to compete right away than fellow freshmen Caleb Presley and Curley Reed.

"We keep track of everything every day," Brown said. "The guys know where they stand. We have a big old board in there. It's basically a stock board. You go up and you go down. Literally, we keep track of every single stat. When they walk in, they know exactly how practice went."

The Huskies likely have a dozen practices left in which to solidify lineups and try to have a cornerback upgrade ready to go..

Offensively, redshirt freshman Parker Brailsford continues to audition for a possible starting job, taking turns at both the No. 1 left guard and right guard  during the scrimmage sets when he's not pulling snaps at the back-up center. The coach staff is tempted to find a spot for him because of his elite strength and understanding of leverage.

Players nursing injuries and not involved in the Tuesday workout were junior linebacker Carson Bruener, junior tight end Quentin Moore, redshirt freshman tight end Ryan Otton, sophomore defensive tackle Jayveon Parker and freshman tackle Elishah Jackett.

Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories — as soon as they’re published.