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5 reasons Washington makes the College Football Playoff

By Jeremy Morris

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 04: Washington's (8) Dante Pettis (WR) pumps up receivers and running backs before the game between the Washington Huskies and the Oregon Ducks on November 04, 2017 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 04: Washington's (8) Dante Pettis (WR) pumps up receivers and running backs before the game between the Washington Huskies and the Oregon Ducks on November 04, 2017 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven #25 of the Washington Huskies (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven #25 of the Washington Huskies (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

3. The front seven on defense

Washington has the fourth-ranked rushing defense nationwide in 2017. They gave up 11 rushing touchdowns all season and opponents averaged only 2.86 yards per rush. Much like the receiving corps, Washington’s defensive front lost an early round draft pick from the 2017 team, but return several key players. Unlike the receivers, the defensive line and linebacker groups aren’t relying as much on breakout players with several all-conference players at both levels returning.

Returning defensive linemen:

  • Greg Gaines, Sr (6-feet-2, 322 pounds) – As his size indicates, Gaines is an immovable object as a run-stopper in the middle of the line. He’s coming off of a second-team All-Pac-12 season and has totaled 93 tackles, 14 TFL’s and five sacks in three seasons.
  • Levi Onwuzurike, So (6-feet-3, 290 pounds) – 3.5 TFL and two sacks as a freshman in 2017
  • Jaylen Johnson, Sr (6-feet-3, 300 pounds) – four TFL and 3.5 sacks in 2017
  • Tuli Letuligasenoa, Fr (6-feet-1, 340 pounds) – one of the top defensive line recruits in 2018, expected to be the kind of freshman that coaches can’t keep off the field.

The defensive line doesn’t have a ton of depth but there are enough experienced and promising young players with the size to hold up against any offensive line they’ll face. The linebackers are deep, talented and even though they lose two starters, there are more than enough players with experience returning that this group is likely to improve from last year.

These are the four likely starters at linebacker:

  • Ben Burr-Kirven, Sr (6-feet, 220 pounds) – Vocal and emotional leader on defense as well as the team’s leading tackler from 2017. Also named second-team All-Pac-12 last season.
  • Tevis Bartlett, Sr (6-feet-2, 235 pounds) – Returning starter from who led the team with 12 TFL in 2017
  • D.J. Beavers, Jr (6-feet, 230 pounds) – One of the top tacklers in 2016, returns fully healthy after missing eight games in 2017
  • Ryan Bowman, So (6-feet, 260 pounds) – Played in 11 games as a freshman, compiled 5.5 sacks and 8.5 TFL

There are at least four other key reserve linebackers with meaningful experience ready to come in behind these four in case of injury.

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