SEATTLE — The beginning of college football’s transfer window brought the expected chaos: 780 players entered the portal Monday alone, per The Athletic’s Max Olson, with 483 of those leaving FBS programs.
So far, only two are from Washington: redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kuao Peihopa, who was suspended for most of the season, and safety Cam Williams, who had chosen to redshirt this season to preserve eligibility. The window is open until Jan. 18, so there could be more attrition after the Huskies’ bowl game, if not at some point(s) in between.
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The most important personnel questions, though, regard players who may or may not leave for the NFL. Those decisions — like the one already made by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to return in 2023 — will go a long way toward shaping Washington’s roster, and toward forming the Huskies’ strategy as they plumb the portal to fill needs and upgrade talent.
Which positions could use an influx of veteran talent, or some additional depth? We go position by position to determine what the Huskies’ priority level might be for bolstering their 2023 roster via the portal.
Quarterback
Had Penix left for the NFL, the Huskies likely would have explored portal options, whether for scholarship competition or for their 2023 starter. Instead, Penix dropped a Sunday-night bombshell by announcing he will return to Washington for his final year of eligibility, so there isn’t really anything for the Huskies to gain through the portal at present, with Dylan Morris and Sam Huard still on the roster. Morris will be a fifth-year junior next season, and Huard a third-year sophomore. The Huskies still have a commitment from 2023 prospect Lincoln Kienholz, too, though Ohio State also is in pursuit. Attrition always could change plans here. If the roster stays pat, the Huskies are set. If someone leaves — or if Kienholz flips — they might want to look around.
Portal Priority: Low
Future’s lookin’ bright @themikepenix #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/g7TH9GfMGZ
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) December 5, 2022
Running back
Leading rusher Wayne Taulapapa is moving on, but every other scholarship tailback has eligibility remaining. That includes Cam Davis, UW’s leader in rushing touchdowns, who could be in line for lead-back duty as a fifth-year junior in 2023; Richard Newton, who played sparingly after returning from an ACL injury; contributors Will Nixon and Sam Adams II; Jay’Veon Sunday, who played sparingly in 2021; and New Mexico transfer Aaron Dumas, who did not see the field. Washington also has a commitment from three-star prospect Tybo Rogers out of Bakersfield (Calif.) High. Such a crowded room, though, could always lead to attrition, and it’s possible offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb still is looking to mold the position to his schematic preferences. Assuming one or two players move on — and with the starting job vacated — my guess is the Huskies will look to upgrade here.
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Portal priority: High
Receiver
When two players each post 1,000-yard receiving seasons, it’s fair to wonder if either (or both) might leave for the NFL. Indeed, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan played well enough this season to think about the next level. Right now, I’d be surprised if McMillan, at least, isn’t back in 2023. Odunze told KJR 93.3 FM that he is “right down the middle” as he weighs his options, but that was before Penix announced his decision to return. Might that influence Odunze’s thinking? It probably depends on what kind of feedback he gets from the college advisory committee board, assuming he requested it. For now, it is at least possible that Washington could pair its top two receivers with Penix for one last go-round in 2023.
Every other scholarship receiver — including key contributors Ja’Lynn Polk, Taj Davis and Giles Jackson — has eligibility remaining, too, with younger players such as Lonyatta “Junior” Alexander and Denzel Boston also showing promise, to say nothing of 2023 commitments Rashid Williams and Keith Reynolds. This could again be a stacked room, but the Huskies had the kind of offensive season that should make them attractive to experienced, talented receivers. If Odunze does declare for the draft, Washington might be in the market for another top-flight wideout to star alongside McMillan and Polk.
Portal priority: Moderate
Tight end
The Huskies made it through the 2022 season with relatively little depth at tight end, all things considered. They had a solid 1-2 with Devin Culp and Jack Westover, and Quentin Moore filled in when needed. But the only other scholarship tight ends on the roster are 2021 signee Caden Jumper and Ryan Otton, who redshirted. They don’t have anyone committed in their 2023 class, either. Culp and Westover each have one season of eligibility remaining. Assuming both choose to come back, I could see the Huskies targeting a younger player in the portal, someone who could compete for a starting job in a year or two. They need a body either way. We know of one offer so far: Josh Cuevas, who caught 57 passes for 663 yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt freshman this season at Cal Poly.
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Portal priority: High
Offensive line
Would the Huskies take a potentially dominant interior lineman if he were available and interested? Maybe, and the calculus could change if someone like, say, left tackle Troy Fautanu were to leave for the draft. But the Huskies should be good on bodies here — with a relatively experienced starting five, even with Jaxson Kirkland, Henry Bainivalu and Corey Luciano out of eligibility — and they’re about to sign five O-line prospects in their 2023 class. Assuming no further attrition, Washington has 18 scholarships currently committed for O-linemen in 2023.
Portal priority: Low
Defensive line
Tuli Letuligasenoa is among the Huskies’ fifth-year juniors who could decide to turn pro, and Washington already lost Peihopa to the transfer portal. They do have two interior D-linemen committed in their 2023 class — four-star prospect Anthony James II and three-star prospect Elinneus Davis — and could return seven other scholarship D-linemen aside from Letuligasenoa. Several of them — Faatui Tuitele, Voi Tunuufi, Ulumoo Ale, Jacob Bandes, Jayvon Parker — either started or contributed in 2022. A big-name defensive tackle with a connection to the program would always draw interest, but this is the second-most competitive position in the portal behind quarterback, and the Huskies probably don’t have a glaring enough need to invest much time here.
Portal priority: Moderate to low
Edge rusher
Jeremiah Martin and Bralen Trice were a consistently productive duo in 2022, combining for 16.5 sacks to lead a pass rush that helped counteract some of Washington’s coverage issues. Martin is out of eligibility, though, and Trice is considered a potential NFL Draft pick, should he declare. The Huskies might also lose Zion Tupuola-Fetui, who had 4.5 sacks and seemed set back in August on this being his final college season. Should Washington lose two of those three players — and maybe even just one — it will need reinforcements, even with players such as Sav’ell Smalls and Maurice Heims earning rotational snaps this year. Maybe they’ll find the next Martin, a veteran player who greatly benefited from a change of scenery the past two seasons.
Portal priority: High
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Linebacker
Washington mostly relied on a rotation of four players here in 2022 — starters Cam Bright and Alphonzo Tuputala, plus Kris Moll and Carson Bruener — and both Bright and Moll are out of eligibility. The Huskies did recently regain the services of Edefuan Ulofoshio, perhaps their most talented linebacker when healthy, and Tuputala and Bruener each have two years of eligibility remaining. They’ve also seemingly committed to restocking this position with high school prospects, taking pledges from a pair of three-star recruits, Deven Bryant and Jordan Whitney. The Huskies also have junior Demario King on scholarship — and fourth-year sophomore Daniel Heimuli, though he is currently suspended for a violation of the ICA code of conduct. The top of the rotation could be OK, between Ulofoshio, Tuputala and Bruener, but it might be worth looking into some depth options here. It would change the picture if either Bryant or Whitney are ready to contribute as freshmen.
Portal priority: Moderate
Defensive back
Cornerback is the biggest positional need on the roster, as the 2022 season showed exactly what happens when a pair of veteran starters go down with no experience behind them. Jordan Perryman, an every-down player when healthy, is out of eligibility, and it should surprise nobody if the Huskies seek another veteran transfer to replace him. There are younger options to pair with returning starter Mishael Powell — Elijah Jackson, Davon Banks, Jaivion Green — but there is no reason not to try to sell a proven veteran on joining what could well be a preseason top-10 team in need of a defensive upgrade or two.
The need might not be as glaring at safety, where Alex Cook is out of eligibility but Asa Turner could return for another year, and coaches seemingly are high on younger players like Vincent Nunley, Makell Esteen and Tristan Dunn. The Huskies are about to sign at least four defensive backs in their 2023 class, so they’re trying to build for the future, too. But the portal also affords the ability to get better now.
Portal priority: Very high
(Photo of Kalen DeBoer: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)