The Washington Huskies will take the field on Friday at 6:30 PM for their annual Spring Game (Dawgs After Dark). In a clash between purple and gold, many new Dawgs are expected to make their first appearances in Husky uniforms. Three positions of intrigue will be wide receiver, defensive line, and running back. Each of those groups is going to be interesting to watch because of the turnover at those roster spots. Here is a look at the players who left and the new guys who hope to make a name for themselves at these positions.
The Huskies lose receivers, but replenish the room with young talent
At wide receiver, the Huskies recently lost three key players this past offseason. Denzel Boston decided to leave for the NFL after a year in which he had 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 TD. He was recently selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 39th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. On top of Boston leaving the program, two other Husky receivers exited via the transfer portal. Raiden Vines-Bright, who had 24 receptions for 234 yards and one TD, decided to go to Arizona State. Audric Harris bolted for Hawaii following a season in which he had five catches for 99 yards and a TD.
Washington has three receivers who could replace the ones the program lost, who will make their debuts at the Spring Game
WR Trez Davis is going to have his first opportunity to play in front of Husky fans at Dawgs After Dark. The Four-Star recruit from West Monroe, LA, had 38 catches for 871 yards and nine TD as a senior in high school. Davis is known for his speed and ability to make yards after the catch. Another Four-Star freshman receiver to watch is Mason James, the top WR recruit out of Oklahoma. Like Davis, James has explosive speed and operates well in the short passing game. He had 66 receptions for 926 yards and nine TD in his final year of high school. One more receiver, Bodpegn Miller, a redshirt freshman transfer from Ohio State, will also make his debut. Miller has top-tier athleticism and changed positions from QB to WR in 2025.
The Huskies face changes at defensive line in 2026
Five Husky D-Linemen transferred out of the program this winter: Bryce Butler, Armon Parker, Jayvon Parker, Dominic Macon, and Caleb Smith. The most notable among them was Butler, who finished the 2025 season with 19 total tackles (2.5 for loss) and two sacks. Two other d-linemen, Zach Durfee and Anterio Thompson, were selected in the NFL Draft after strong senior years. Durfee had 37 tackles (five for loss) and four sacks, while Thompson had 30 tackles (2.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks. Also, Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei and Deshawn Lynch graduated from the program after making impactful contributions on defense in 2025. Uiagalelei had 20 tackles (four for loss) and two sacks. Lynch finished with 19 tackles (3.5 for loss), an INT, and a sack.
Washington has three talented freshmen D-Linemen looking to make an impression on Friday
The Huskies landed three Four-Star defensive linemen in their 2026 recruiting class who have enrolled and are expected to participate in Dawgs After Dark. One of them is Derek Colman-Brusa, a local product from Kennedy Catholic High School in Washington. Colman-Brusa put together a solid senior season, with 50 tackles (19 for loss) and eight sacks. In addition to him, the Huskies also have T.I. Umu-Cais, the top defensive lineman from the state of Colorado in 2025, who will play in the Spring Game. J.D. Hill will also be making his first appearance in front of fans at Husky Stadium. The D-Lineman committed to Huskies late in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Hill had 108 tackles (25.5 for loss), 13 sacks, and two forced fumbles in his senior year at Mission Viejo High School in California.
Huskies move on without two key running backs
Washington’s best rushers in 2025 graduated and transferred out of the program. Jonah Coleman was the Huskies’ top running back last season. Racking up 758 rushing yards and 15 TD on the ground. He also had 31 catches for 354 yards and two TD receptions. Adam Mohammed left Washington via the transfer portal during the offseason and is now at Cal. He rushed for 523 yards and five touchdowns, as well as 17 catches for 138 yards in 2025.
Washington’s two true freshmen running backs look to seize the moment with three tailbacks out due to injury and delays in joining the team
Jordan Washington, Jayden Limar, and Trey Cooley will not play in the 2026 UW Spring Game. Washington has a neck injury, and Limar is still recovering from ankle surgery. Cooley is not expected to join the Huskies until the summer. With these three backs out, freshmen RBs Brian Bonner and Ansu Sanoe have a chance to receive more reps. Bonner was the top running back out of California in the 2026 recruiting class. Known for his speed, he had 1,051 yards rushing, 13 TD on the ground, 18 catches for 525 yards, and 5 TD receptions as a senior at Valencia High School. Sanoe is a power back known for his ability to break tackles. In his last year at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, he had 837 rushing yards and ran for 11 touchdowns. He also caught 88 passes for 770 yards and 10 TD.
206 Sports Analytics 
Leave a comment