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College football rankings: Post-spring Top 25 – Clemson, Alabama vie for top spot

By Cody Williams

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 21: Washington quarterback Jacob Eason (10) warms up his arm at the University of Washington Spring Game at Husky Stadium on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 21: Washington quarterback Jacob Eason (10) warms up his arm at the University of Washington Spring Game at Husky Stadium on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Jake Browning, Myles Gaskin, Taylor Rapp, Byron Murphy, Kaleb McGary, Ben Burr-Kirven, JoJo McIntosh, Drew Sample, Tevis Bartlett, Greg Gaines
  • Notable Returners: Jacob Eason, Myles Bryant, Aaron Fuller, Salvon Ahmed
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 16th

The Washington Huskies are perhaps the hardest team to place in the 2019 college football rankings given what we know about this team. The issues start with the fact that they will have to replace key contributors on both sides of the ball in a big way. While losing quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin is big for the offense, the losses will be most felt on the defensive side of the ball.

Washington will return just two starters from their 2018 defense and will see players such as Byron Murphy, Taylor Rapp, Ben Burr-Kirven and Greg Gaines playing on Sundays from here on out. The good news for the Huskies is in regards to their recruiting class, a top-20-ranked group that features incoming help on the defensive front. Moreover, there are potential candidates to step up under Chris Petersen, who has proven adept at reloading on defense in recent years.

Back to the offense, the big question for the Huskies is who will step in to replace Browning as the starting quarterback. With the majority of the offensive line and top pass-catchers returning, Washington’s offense will go as far as whoever starts at quarterback takes them. Perhaps Georgia transfer Jacob Eason will step in and take the reins after sitting on the sidelines last year. If he lives up to the potential he showed as a recruit, he could be the key to pushing Washington to the next level in 2019.

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