Year three of the Jedd Fisch tenure at Washington is underway as Spring practice kicked off on Tuesday evening. Much of the first practice was spent working on fundamentals and technique, and less in team periods. The team took the field in shells, but it was a good opportunity to see the athleticism and physical improvements of the team up close. The coaching staff made multiple comments this offseason regarding the players’ work in the weight room and their increase in size. That was evident among the various position groups on Tuesday. But on day one, Fisch’s focus was on establishing a rhythm.
Washington Opens Spring Practice
“I think it’s really about getting guys comfortable with being out on the field,” Fisch said after practice. There are about 35 new players on this team when counting transfers and freshmen enrollees. “It’s more about being comfortable, getting into a rhythm, seeing if we can break a huddle, complete some balls, [and] do a good job in the running game.” Fisch said they’ll spend more time in 11-on-11, team-period sessions on Thursday
“We don’t have Jonah [Colman], we don’t have Denzel [Boston], we don’t have some of the leaders of the past that they can follow,” Fisch continued. “But on the same token, the younger guys are stepping up and being good leaders.”
Freshman Standouts
Among the younger players, Derek Colman-Brusa was one who caught the attention of many in his first time on the college football practice field. Colman-Brusa is listed at 6’-5” and just shy of 300 pounds, and he carries it extremely well. The class of 2026 four-star has the physique of an EDGE rusher, but lined up on the interior on Tuesday. “He can play all four spots on the defensive line,” Fisch explained after practice. “We just felt like [the interior] was a good place to start him.” Fisch mentioned they see him as a potential starter as a true freshman during the press conference on Monday. And he did line up with the first-team defense during the program’s first two-minute session of the practice season near the end of practice.
Another freshman with an excellent physical build is TI Umu-Cais, the former three-star defensive tackle out of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado. He’s listed at 6’-2” and 312 pounds, and for a freshman defensive lineman, that’s quality size. To go from the high school ranks to earning time along a Big Ten front seven is a significant jump. But Colman-Brusa and Umu-Cais already have the advantage of their strength. Plus, the competition of an offensive line that returns over 2,500 snaps from last year to go up against in practice.
During one of the seven-on-seven sessions, Ksani Jiles pulled down an interception. It came off a tipped pass, and the true freshman showed great awareness to find the football and make the play before it fell to the turf. It was the only turnover of the day during team periods, and it had the defensive sideline erupting in cheers.
First Impressions of Christian Moss
In the receiver room, Kennesaw State transfer Christian Moss is every bit of his 6’-3” and 205-pound listing. He stands tall in the receiver room as one of four receivers listed at that height. The Huskies brought him in to compete for the X-receiver position that Boston once held. Physically, Moss looks the part, and he ran well with the offense in his first time out.
“I thought Christian did a really good job. It was certainly nice to see him out there competing,” Fisch said after practice. “I thought that he made some nice plays in the couple of one-on-one rep-type plays we had.”
Moss brings an experienced resume to the receiver room, though he’s new to the team. Last season, he caught 45 passes for 689 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Kennesaw State. “I thought that he understood what we were asking him to do, which is important,” Fisch said of Moss. “I think that Luke Del Rio and Kekoa Crawford have done a great job of preparing the guys that just got here to be able to get going,” Fisch continued. “And then [Kevin Cummings] obviously does a tremendous job of getting them ready.” It’s early, but it seems as though Moss has made a quality first impression on the coaching staff with his football acumen.
The Huskies will be back out on the practice field on Thursday with more 11-on-11 action expected to take place. Tuesday was the first of 14 practices, plus the Spring Game scheduled for May 1st under the lights.
Main Image: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
