Fansided

College football 2018 preview: 15 freshmen poised to make instant impact

By Cody Williams

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - MAY 26: Trevor Lawrence of Clemson University poses for portraits at Steve Clarkson's 14th Annual Quarterback Retreat on May 26, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - MAY 26: Trevor Lawrence of Clemson University poses for portraits at Steve Clarkson's 14th Annual Quarterback Retreat on May 26, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 16
Next
October 8, 2016: A Washington Huskies helmet sits on an equipment box during a PAC-12 Conference NCAA football game between the University of Oregon Ducks and University of Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
October 8, 2016: A Washington Huskies helmet sits on an equipment box during a PAC-12 Conference NCAA football game between the University of Oregon Ducks and University of Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

6. Marquis Spiker, WR, Washington

Over the past few years, the Washington Huskies have established themselves as one of the premier programs in all of college football, even if they’ve done so a bit more quietly than some others have.

Head coach Chris Petersen has been able to bring in and develop great talent and produce high-level NFL players with consistency. With that said, he’s going to be faced with a test in regards to his offense in the 2018 season.

In fact, the test really started for Petersen going from the 2016 season into 2017. As the dynamic and speedy John Ross made his way to the NFL — and set Combine records in the 40-yard dash along the way — the Huskies looked for a way to try and replace the production that he gave to this offense. That put the onus on Dante Pettis last season. Now Pettis too is gone and Washington now needs a bit more to come to the rescue of the offense.

That’s where Marquis Spiker is going to come into play. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver is the 59th-best recruit in the country and the ninth-best receiver in the class.

He has the size and ability to compete right away in any situation, but Washington has a wide-open spot in terms of someone needing to step up and become quarterback Jake Browning’s top receiving option. He has the chance to claim that spot, and the talent as well. Either way, he’ll certainly be a big factor in the offense this year.