The competition for a starting cornerback spot is fierce. Elijah Jackson, a 15-game starter last season, and Thaddeus Dixon, another standout, are both vying for a spot. So, surely, Prysock, a presumed star under coach Jedd Fisch, has locked up the other position, right?
“Who said 7 is solidified? I’m missing that part,” Richardson remarked with a grin after Thursday’s practice. “Everybody’s been going with the ones, so it’ll be a competition battle all the way up to Game 1. That’s how it should be with competitive guys that can all play football at the college level. They’re growing, they’re maturing, and they’re going to compete every day.”
He added, “Everybody has versatility in the back end. You will probably see a lot of people play. So there will be multiple hats out there.”
While Richardson’s words might sound like coach-speak, the competition between Jackson and Dixon appears genuinely unresolved. During practice, UW has rotated these players in various first-team drills, pairing one with Prysock or even benching Prysock to let Jackson and Dixon take the field together.
“We all make each other better, I feel like,” Dixon said. “It’s no bad blood between us. We’re out there just grinding, competing with each other every day. We see something else that somebody do, snatch their move, put it in our bag. We’re just progressing as a room together.”
Dixon, who had six pass breakups and an interception last season, is eager to secure a starting spot. Yet, he acknowledges the team-first mentality: “We’re all playing a role on the team. So whatever role we have on the team, we’re going to do that to the best of our ability.”
Dixon’s charismatic personality shone through as he discussed his verbal sparring with receivers during practice. “If y’all was here a couple practices ago, y’all know I started talking a little bit. But offense always responds good, especially when there’s real competitors on the defense. They always respond good, so, shoot. I start talking a little bit, offense hits one, we hit one, we just go back and forth.”
The cornerbacks even donned boxing gloves during certain drills on Wednesday, a move Richardson explained was designed to prevent penalties. “No penalties,” Richardson emphasized. “Just trying to make sure we play with our feet. Your hands are a byproduct of using your feet at DB. We just try to overemphasize that, and hopefully, it makes us better on game day.”
On the offensive side, there’s been experimentation with different O-line combinations. The first group remained mostly unchanged during scrimmage periods, while the second group saw some adjustments. Notably, Maximus McCree, Paki Finau, Landen Hatchett, Zach Henning, and Kahlee Tafai rotated through different positions as the offense worked on down-and-distance scenarios.
It seems that starting jobs for Drew Azzopardi, Gaard Memmelaar, and Enokk Vimahi are mostly secure, but the left tackle and center positions remain up for grabs. Some of this uncertainty hinges on Hatchett’s health and availability; he’s only been at full strength for a few practices.
Quarterback Will Rogers connected with Jeremiah Hunter and Quentin Moore for a couple of highlight-reel catches, including a one-handed grab by Hunter and a 19-yard touchdown by Moore.
Thursday’s practice was a mixed bag for two of Washington’s top true freshmen, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and receiver Audric Harris. Williams showcased his deep-ball prowess, connecting with Harris on a 45-yard pass and hitting Luke Luchini for a 55-yard gain. But he also struggled, throwing two interceptions during the final team period.
Harris, despite dropping a potential 55-yard touchdown pass, had a strong day overall, making several significant catches, including a 22-yard reception from Williams. Their performances were emblematic of young players experiencing the highs and lows of their first training camp.
Meanwhile, the right side of the O-line excelled, creating a massive hole for Jonah Coleman, who burst through for a 30-yard gain. Adam Mohammed also impressed, breaking a tackle to gain about 50 yards up the right sideline and showing toughness on other runs.
Kicker Grady Gross had an uneven day, nailing a 50-yard field goal but missing two subsequent kicks from about 41 yards—his first misses of camp.
The Huskies will hold a shorter practice on Friday before the B1G Husky Kickoff, featuring an intrasquad game, postgame fan engagement, and more. Expect the competition to continue heating up as Game 1 approaches, with no spot guaranteed and everything still up for grabs.
