The Husky football season begins next month. As such, it’s a great time to begin projecting the week one starters for Washington. Only two majority starters return from last season on the defensive side of the ball. It added a few transfers, and with a new defensive coordinator, things are going to look different for the Washington defense. Big Ten Media Days are later in July, and the Fall camp will get underway shortly thereafter. But based on the things we’ve observed at Spring practice and over the offseason, here’s what the Washington secondary could look like come August 31st.
Safety: Kamren Fabiculanan
Starting at the back end, Kamren Fabiculanan is likely to be one of the starters at safety. He made four starts at the position last season and was on the field for nearly 400 snaps. Fabiculanan made 26 tackles last year with two interceptions. The year prior, Fabiculanan started six games with 500 snaps in the Washington secondary. He’s one of six sixth-year seniors on this roster, so the experience is in place. Fabiculanan is an energetic football player who plays with command. His experience will lend itself well to directing the secondary under the new direction of Steve Belichick. This Spring, we saw Fabiculanan running with the first team almost exclusively, and that will very likely carry over into the fall.
Safety: Cameron Broussard
Washington picked up a sure-tackling safety with loads of experience at the FCS level in the Spring transfer portal. Cameron Broussard transferred to Washington from Sacramento State where he played in 34 games with 21 starts over three years. Pro Football Focus tabbed Broussard with a 91.3 tackling rating last season, good for sixth nationally in the Championship Subdivision. The new Husky also brings length to the back end, standing at 6′-3″. His 73 tackles were second-most on his team last year, and he also added seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Broussard has registered a total of 169 tackles, four interceptions, and 15 pass breakups in three seasons. While we haven’t seen Broussard in purple and gold yet, his physical style, consistency as a tackler, and experience are enough to project him as a starter this fall.
Cornerback: Ephesians Prysock
At 6’-4”, the length of Ephesians Prysock is going to be a valuable component of the Washington secondary. Last season at Arizona, Prysock tallied seven pass breakups and 61 tackles. The former Wildcat has a diverse skill set at corner. His length allows him to defend a wide radius of passes, and he eliminates the height advantage a receiver might typically have downfield. Prysock also moves fluidly for his height, maintaining leverage and adjusting to the football. He goes step-for-step with the talented wide receivers of the Washington offense, playing with confidence and consistency. Expect to see Prysock as an everyday defender on the outside beginning in August for Washington.
Cornerback: Elijah Jackson
He made the play to send Washington to the National Championship last season, and this fall Elijah Jackson should maintain his everyday status at corner opposite Prysock. Jackson was one of just two returners on this defense who started every game they were available. He played just shy of 800 snaps in 2023, tallying six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The 6′-1″ cornerback has a tremendous vertical leap that allows him to make plays on the football. It was evident with his game-winning play in the Sugar Bowl, and he uses it to his advantage at corner. Jackson isn’t afraid of the moment. His aggressive playing nature and athleticism, combined with his experience, make him a difficult player to go up against. With Jackson and Prysock, the cornerbacks return over 1,600 snaps from 2023 and figure to be in good hands.
STAR: Jordan Shaw
The “Husky” position will take on a new name this season in the Belichick defense. At STAR, Indiana transfer Jordan Shaw is who we’d slot as the starter if the season began tomorrow. Shaw played in four games with two starts as a true freshman in Bloomington last year. He then followed Fisch and staff from Tucson to Seattle in the Winter transfer portal. Once at Washington, Shaw made countless plays in the Spring. He broke up passes, came down with around a half-a-dozen interceptions, and most importantly played this versatile role with consistency and explosiveness. Despite his wiry frame at 6’-1” and 180 pounds, Shaw has high-level physicality and makes hard contact on the ball. Like Jackson, Shaw is not afraid to be aggressive in the secondary and uses it to make plays at all levels. The tools and athleticism are in place for Shaw to slide into the starting role as a true sophomore.
