Jedd Fisch Opens Game Week at Washington

It’s game week on Montlake. Jedd Fisch took the podium on Monday afternoon to kick off the Washington football season ahead of its week one matchup against Colorado State. The Huskies’ depth chart was released on Monday as well. Though it’s not an official representation of who will start for the duration of the season, it offered insight into what Washington might look like come Saturday. Fisch addressed some of the position competitions and announced that a true freshman has earned the starting nod with the offense. 

Jedd Fisch Opens Washington Game Week

True Freshman Earns Starting Nod

“Raiden [Vines-Bright] will start for us right now going into Saturday,” Fisch said during his press conference. “He deserves it based on how he practiced, how he prepared, the plays that he made when the opportunity presented itself.” Vines-Bright caught the attention of many with his eight catch, 131 receiving yard performance that featured a reception touchdown in the team’s Spring Game in May. The former three-star from Arizona a lso started at slot wide receiver in the team’s Mock Game in mid-August. 

“As practices have continued, he’s continued to show up,” Fisch continued. “[Dezmen] Roebuck and Raiden are both going to be playing out there on Saturday night.” Roebuck is another freshman who has quickly risen up the depth chart despite his youth. He was also a three-star from Arizona, but Roebuck arrived on campus this Summer, later than several of his 2025 class counterparts. Regardless of their first day on campus, each has clearly made the most of their opportunities.

Update On Nickel Competition 

“Rahshawn Clark and Leroy [Bryant] have been battling every day,” Fisch said on Monday. “It’s been fun to watch one guy come in and make a play, one guy come in and make a tackle, one guy come in and get a pick, one guy come in and then lose a rep. That competition is constant.” Clark pulled down seven interceptions during the Spring, and notched a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup in the Spring Game. But Leroy elevated his game this Fall.

“Leroy continued to make plays on the ball which was a big thing,” Fisch continued. “And [he] was in the right position at the right time and competed really hard every chance he had.” Fisch also noted the experience that Bryant brings to the table as another differentiating factor between the two. Bryant has played in 13 college football games, compared to just one for Clark.

As for what to expect on Saturday, Fisch said, “He and Rahshawn will rotate, whether it be by series or by personnel groups. But we’ll see both of those guys.”

Left Guard Rotation

It will be a similar story at left guard, another highly competitive position battle this Fall. Between redshirt freshman Paki Finau and true freshman John Mills, Fisch said, “We’ll see both guys in the game regardless of who starts.” We broke down the competition at left guard, and one of the factors that plays into Finau’s favor is his experience. Though limited, he saw 51 snaps as a true freshman a year ago. Fisch said his message to Finau is to “Just k eep getting stronger, keep getting better, keep believing in the scheme.”

As Fisch analyzes his offensive line, he believes that there are at least seven players who are ready to play on Saturday. “I certainly think John Mills is ready to go, excited to see that. Paki has done a great job of continuing to compete.” This coaching staff does not hesitate to play freshmen. They showed that at Arizona, and they’re continuing to do that at Washington. But the important takeaway regarding the offensive line is that they’re physically different this season. “When you look at our offensive line,” Fisch said. “They look the part now.”

Options at Punt Returner

Last season, Denzel Boston returned all but one punt. He remains the lone player listed at punt returner on the new depth chart for 2025. But Fisch spoke to this on Monday, and it sounded like there could be some variability this season. “[Boston] competed with Rahshawn Clark,” Fisch said. “Those are probably the two guys that will be sharing duties as a punt returner. And some Kevin Green Jr. back there.” Throughout the Fall, we observed Clark and Green primarily returning punts. But per Fisch, “Right now we’ll start Denzel as a punt returner.”