The Husky football season begins at the end of August. Continuing our look at this year’s program, it’s time to project the week one starting offense for Washington. The offense returns zero majority starters from last year’s high-powered unit. It added several transfers at many positions, and the new staff will be running a pro-style system. Big Ten Media Days are later in July, and Fall camp will get underway shortly thereafter. We have predicted the starters in the secondary and the front seven. But now, and based on what we’ve seen thus far in the offseason, here’s what the starting skill position players on the Washington offense might look like come August 31st.
Quarterback: Will Rogers III
Under center for Washington, this fall will be the second all-time leading passer in SEC history. Will Rogers III threw for 12,315 yards and 94 touchdowns with a near-70% completion percentage over four years at Mississippi State. Rogers set an SEC record with 505 completions in a single season in 2021. The new Husky quarterback is among the most statistically accomplished quarterbacks in college football history. Other than his obvious experience advantage over the rest of the quarterback room, the coaches have spoken highly of the maturity and overall football acumen that Rogers has brought to Montlake. And Jedd Fisch has called him the biggest fan of his teammates. Rogers brings a level of leadership and command to Montlake that will be pivotal in a transition year to the Big Ten.
Running Back: Jonah Coleman
Washington will have one of the more physical running backs in the Big Ten Conference this fall. Jonah Coleman is listed at 5’-9” and 229 pounds and runs with power, agility, and acceleration. Arm tackles do not get the job done with Coleman, and he often drags defenders an extra yard or so before being brought down. That physicality is crucial behind an offensive line that will feature an entirely new group of starters. While there is some experience up front, having a tailback who is comfortable with contact helps mitigate any weakness in the line. But Coleman can also burst out of the backfield. His quick cuts and acceleration can put him into the second level of the defense in a hurry. This combination of skills is what put Coleman at the top of the projected depth chart.
Wide Receiver: Denzel Boston
If there’s a player on this offense that might surprise some people around the nation this fall, it’s Denzel Boston. The redshirt sophomore wide receiver has just seven receptions in his Washington career. He played behind NFL talent in each of his first two years on campus. But from what we observed at practice this Spring, Boston is ready to be the premier guy in this receiver room. At 6’-4” and 209 pounds, Boston has the ideal frame to be Washington’s X-wide receiver. Boston’s catch radius and hands allow him to naturally pick the football out of the sky. We saw Boston go up against Washington’s top cornerbacks to make contested catches regularly this Spring. Whether it be a 50-50 ball on a vertical route or a physical catch on the sideline, Boston is a natural pass catcher who looks ready to be the next man in. Look for Boston to not only start but maybe lead receiving categories this Fall in the Washington offense.
Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Hunter
Opposite of Boston, Jeremiah Hunter is likely to be the other starter on the outside. Hunter transferred to Washington from Cal, where he was the Golden Bears’ leading receiver in each of the last two seasons. He tallied 144 receptions and over 2,000 yards with 13 touchdowns in Berkeley. This Spring, Hunter previewed the skillset he is bringing to Seattle. He’s 6’-2” and 212 pounds and brings a slightly more physical build than Boston to the wide receiver room. His experience at the position is key, and he fits into the lineup seamlessly as the team’s middle-of-the-field receiver threat. Last season, Hunter caught 29 of his 62 catches over the middle of the field for 417 yards. If Boston is the vertical threat, Hunter is an excellent complement with his over-the-middle abilities.
Slot Wide Receiver: Giles Jackson
Giles Jackson has lined up in the slot an average of 68% of the time over his five-year career at Michigan and Washington. Last season, he took 76 snaps out of the slot for an 82% clip. Jackson is 5’-9” and 187 pounds with great speed and some of the best hands on the team. This Spring, we saw Jackson working a lot on the end-around play and on short routes where he was able to utilize his feet. The Husky wide receiver catches everything that hits his hands and does so on the move with quickness and pure route-running abilities. Jackson is one of the few sixth-year players on this roster and this offense will want to get the ball to him in multiple ways this Fall. The Washington slot receiver figures to be a dependable presence at wideout this Fall.
Tight End: Quentin Moore
Stepping into the starting tight end role this Fall is likely to be Quentin Moore. The fourth-year player caught just two passes last season, but one of which was the game-clinching touchdown against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game. It was Moore’s first career touchdown. This season, Moore projects as the starter with his 26 games of experience. He stands at 6’-4” and 257 pounds. He is an imposing tight end with a great frame on the offensive line and as a pass catcher. Moore’s run blocking will be a big component of the Washington offense this fall as well with its pro-style scheme. The experienced tight end should begin tallying starts to his resume on August 31st.
