Washington football 2017: Projected Huskies depth chart
Offense
Notable Losses: The most obvious loss for Chris Petersen’s Huskies is John Ross in the wide receiver corps. Not only was he electric because of his speed, but he was far and away Washington’s leading pass-catcher a year ago. They’ll need to have someone step up to replace the 81 receptions, 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns he notched a season ago.
QB: Jake Browning, junior
One of the many quarterbacks expected to make the 2018 NFL Draft class one of the strongest in recent memory at the position, you can’t deny what Jake Browning’s done to this point. As a sophomore last season, he threw for 3,430 yards with a 62.1 percent completion rate. More impressively, he tossed 43 touchdown passes while only throwing nine interceptions. If he can improve his composure under pressure, he can be a monster as the leader of the offense.
RB: Myles Gaskin, junior
Because of Browning and Ross last year, Myles Gaskin largely slipped under the radar for Washington. However, he’s a real weapon for the Huskies and will look to improve on his 237 carries, 1,373 yards and 10 touchdowns from the 2016 season.
WR: Dante Pettis, senior
WR: Aaron Fuller, sophomore
Slot: Chico McClatcher, junior
Even with the loss of Ross, this unit is still set up nicely. Dante Pettis caught 53 balls last season, but had an incredible 15 scores. With more targets, he could be a game-changer. Chico McClatcher is a game-breaker himself, with crazy quickness and speed, he’ll be a weapon out of the slot. As for the No. 2 receiver on the outside, it could be a battle between a number of guys. However, Aaron Fuller has the edge for me as he played the biggest role in the offense a year ago. Look out for 6-foot-4 freshman Ty Jones, however.
TE: Drew Sample, junior
Drew Samples split time with Darrell Daniels a year ago and will likely take over the larger role in 2017. He’s far from an elite player, but he’s solid for an offense that doesn’t heavily feature the tight end.
RT: Kaleb McGary, junior
RG: Jesse Sosebee, junior (RS)
C: Coleman Shelton, senior
LG: Andrew Kirkland, senior
LT: Trey Adams, junior
The big men up front figure to be a strength for the Huskies in 2017 with a ton of experience on the offensive line. Trey Adams and Kaleb McGary are monsters on the edge, both measuring in at over 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds. Andrew Kirkland and Coleman Shelton are also veterans who are solid. Right guard is the only question mark, but Jesse Sosebee has the size that intrigues me more than anyone else they’d have.
AP: Lavon Coleman, senior
Complementing Gaskin, Lavon Coleman is a bruiser at 5-foot-11 and 223 pounds. He registered an impressive 7.5 yards per carry a season ago, going for 852 yards and seven scores. He’ll be a weapon to add a power element out of the spread.