With the return of quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin this season, Washington becomes a prime Pac-12 contender, given its opener against Auburn in the Chick-Fil-A Game heightened importance not just for the Huskies, but for the entire conference. After that, the Huskies’ schedule is set up for success.
MORE: Pac-12 conference primer
Washington jumped up to NO. 7 in Sporting News’ updated way-too-early top 25, a nod to the success the program has enjoyed the last two seasons. Here’s a look at the Huskies heading into 2018:
Washington schedule 2018
Washington recruiting 2018
Washington’s recruiting class ranked No. 13 in 2018 according to 247Sports’ Composite team rankings, and two quarterbacks are on campus in Colson Yankoff (Coeur d’Alene, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) and Jacob Sirmon (Bothell, Bothell, Wash.). Four-star receiver Marquis Spiker (Murrieta Valley, Murrieta Calif.) and defensive tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa (De La Salle, Concord, Calif.) were the biggest gets on Signing Day. It’s the Huskies highest-ranked class under Petersen, and that’s the next step for this program.
Pac-12 team reviews: Stanford | USC
Washington football roster 2018
Washington’s roster will be updated in the spring and fall here.
What to watch in 2018:
- How will Browning finish career?
Browning’s stats dropped dramatically after a 2016 season in which he passed for 3,430 yards, 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions while leading Washington to the College Football Playoff. Last year, Browning had 2,719 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s an efficient playmaker, but he needs elevate his play for Washington to accomplish those lofty goals without offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith, who took over as head coach at Oregon State. The good news? Bush Hamdan is back on staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after spending a year with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. That should add some wrinkles to Browning’s game.
- Who steps up at receiver?
Dante Pettis led the Huskies with seven touchdown receptions last season. Nobody else had more than three. Pettis is gone, but Aaron Fuller and Andre Baccellia are young receivers who can — and must — step up. The freshmen will have a chance to break in early. Tight end Hunter Bryant also returns, and Gaskin will be an active pass-catcher out of the backfield.
- Will the defense be a game-changer?
The Fiesta Bowl loss to Penn State was a bad game for a unit that allowed just 14.5 points per game in 2017. The Huskies allowed 14 points or fewer in eight games last season, but gave up 30 and 35 points in losses to Stanford and Penn State, respectively. Leading tackler Ben Burr-Kirven returns along with Ryan Bowman, who had a team-leading 5.5 sacks a freshman. Taylor Rapp leads a young secondary. This unit gets to prove itself at the start against Auburn.
