To continue with my seasonal blues triggered by the Transfer Portal, allow me to explain my thought process.
I fully understand the philosophy that Coach Fisch is using to build the roster. Pay the guys that are on your team. You have to take care of your own or somebody else will. If you want to be a front runner, you have to build from within the program, recruiting the high school athlete and developing them for two years, especially the offensive line, to be front line contributors. However, in order to win at the highest level, you still have to have playmakers.
One of the most nonsensical comments I hear is, “We may not have a . . . so, we are going to have to do it by committee.” I have no ideas what that means. Having two mediocre running backs cannot make up for a great back that can cut on a dime, make people miss, explode for the next 20 yards. Let me make it clear, having one Walter Peyton is better than two committee members that you will never remember. You either have it or you don’t. No two average receivers will ever form a “committee” that is able to go up and take balls away from Oregon defenders 30 yards downfield like Rome Ozunze or Jalen McMillan. You either have the skills or you don’t.
Which leads to my post-portal depression.
I have no doubt that the UW has a plethora of potentially good receivers or tight ends. However, I don’t believe they have one Denzel Boston, Jalen McMillan, or Rome Odunze. And, that’s ok if you want to finish 9-4. If you want to compete for it all,you have to get playmakers.
Did anybody pay attention to how many defenders played for the National Championship Indiana defense. Fourteen. They didn’t rotate hockey style. They didn’t have the depth to rotate top line players. But, they had really good frontline players at each position.
Think back to ’23. Quick, can you tell me who the backup Offensive tackle(s) were? Were they difference makers? Jags? I can tell you who their starters were. Easy, two of the best young tackles in the NFL today, Roger Rosengarten (Ravens) and Troy “quadzilla” Fautanu (Steelers).
If Washington is going to compete for Championships, and not spend as much as the Texas and Oregons of world, then filling out an entire roster with “good” players is not going to work. Show me the playmakers!
In the process of putting a “difference maker” in each room, it may cost you. You may have to pay your roster JAGS (Just another Guy) a little less to afford to go out and get that one difference maker. But, it has to be done if you are going to win Championships.
If your Jags leave because they feel slighted, then so be it. There are many more in the portal to bring up for depth.
Which, leads me to todays room. . .
TIGHT ENDS:
Graduates: Quentin Moore, Ryan Otton (retired before the season)
Major loses: Quentin Moore
Returning Starters: Decker DeGraaf (HB)
Portal Additions: None
Top Returners: Kade Eldgridge, Baron Naone
Top Freshman: Kekua Aumua
I am trying to be positive, but maybe, you can help me. Can you see a difference maker?
Washinton loses one of my favorite players from the past five years. Quentin Moore came home after spending time in the Junior College ranks. After spending time behind Devin Culp (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Jack Westover (New England Patriots), he had an opportunity to breakout on his own with the biggest catch of his career, catching what became the winning touchdown against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. ’24 was going to be his year, then in the first game of the season, in one of the strangest injury scenarios I have ever seen, Moore was blindsided at knee level by a player coming off the opponent’s bench, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Moore came back in ’25 after the knee recovered, became the best online blocking Tight End on the team but was not ever able to become a major player in the passing game. He finished the season with one of the best illegal spikes, a Gronk style spike, in the bowl game against Boise State – putting an exclamation on a fine career at Washington.
Moore should have been the transition between the ’23 year and the future. He was here to give the new staff the opportunity to build up the next round of great Husky Tight Ends. So, now I ask, has that been done? Who are the next ‘difference makers’?
After the ’25 season it looks as if the UW has only one regular ready to go. Junior Decker DeGraaf. A tweener in size, he has shown to rather consistent in his pass catching abilities.
A couple drops during is sophomore year, but very solid. However, DeGraaf, at 240 lbs. has not shown to be that consistent end of line Tight End that can block the corner. He will need to put on 10 lbs. in the off-season and show the strength development in the spring.
Junior Kade Eldridge is a ’25 transfer that came home after spending way too much time at USC. He quickly established himself as one of coach Paopao’s top three tight ends, serving primarily in the Fullback look. However, Eldridge came away with a serious Lisfranc injury to his foot during the Michigan game. He never played again and will be forced to sit out of spring ball while recovering.
Eldridge’s injury forced true freshman Baron Naone (6’3.5, 250) to step in and play. Thankfully, he was able to do a solid job as the big endline TE. He is not the typical 6’5 260 lb. guy you want for Big 10 play, but again, was a true freshman. It is our hope that he will be the man to step up and take Moore’s place.
The curious one is Charlie Crowell. Crowell came to Washington as that prototypical “big Tight End.” Six foot five and frame to match. However, since matriculating to the Dub, he severed an ACL in the first weeks on the practice field in ’24, then while getting ready for the ’25 season, reports have him suffering a disk injury to his back while working out in the summer weight room. Crowell, while physically gifted, will have to overcome a lot to see the field.
It is true freshmen, Kekua Aumua, a former commit to the Florida Gators, that may have to become one of the top three in rotation this season. Aumua is a big 6’5” 250+ kid that, while enrolling early, will have the opportunity to get bigger, stronger, during the winter workouts and make a showing in the spring.
Other players that could contribute are Austin Simmons (RsFr. 6’3 245) and Sam Vyhlidal (Fr. 6’4 225).
