Washington football 2019 spring preview: All eyes on Jacob Eason

With a new look under center and new faces across the roster, can the Washington Huskies remain atop the Pac-12 in 2019?

A little consistency and late season push left the Washington Huskies atop the Pac-12 in 2018. A win over Washington State in the Apple Cup and a victory over Utah in the conference title game ensured the Huskies laid claim to the Pac-12 throne. The Huskies fought valiantly to come back in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State but fell 28-23. With the roster in transition to the next era of Huskies football, how can the program remain on top in 2019?

• 2018 Record: 10-4
• Spring Game Date: April 27

Biggest spring storyline?

The most obvious answer for biggest spring storyline is who replaces Jake Browning under center? Replacing a starting quarterback is always a difficult transition, but replacing a four-year starter that did a lot of big things for the program will prove even tougher. Browning won 39 games in 53 games started, which is a Pac-12 record. Add in the program records he holds and this is the biggest challenge for the Huskies in the spring. Fortunately for Washington, there is much optimism to be had with a guy by the name of Jacob Eason.

The biggest reason for optimism?

The aforementioned Eason is 100 percent the biggest source of optimism Huskies fans should have heading into 2019. The Washington native and five-star recruit chose Georgia out of high school but has transferred back home. He is a fourth-year junior this upcoming season and after getting plenty of time and experience with the Bulldogs, he should be set up for a big season. The 6’6″ quarterback who is hungry to live up his potential should make this a seamless transition. Behind him is sophomore Jacob Haener played four games last year and should be a suitable backup behind Eason.

Biggest question/concern?

While there’s plenty of reason to be concerned with replacing Browning and running back Myles Gaskin, the Huskies are going to have to overhaul the defense. The program is losing nine starters that have been mainstays in the Washington defense for some time now. Those starters helped create a culture that has led to the Huskies’ recent success. Players like Levi Onwuzurike and Joe Tryon will have to make an impact at getting after the quarterback. If there’s one thing Huskies fans can count on is Chris Petersen’s ability to develop defensive backs and there should be expected growth from newcomers in the secondary.

Biggest offseason addition/newcomer?

Instead of cheating and picking Eason, let’s go in a different direction. One of the staples of Chris Petersen’s tenure in Washington is having a big defensive tackle to clog the middle and stuff any and all running lanes. Four-star recruit Jacob Bandes could very quickly fill the shoes of the likes of Danny Shelton and Vita Vea. Bandes is 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds. His large frame and skill set made him one of the most sought after interior presences. People like to look at the Washington secondary when mentioning the defense, but their interior defensive line has been just as fun to watch.

Biggest game to look forward to?

The Apple Cup or a Pac-12 Championship Game rematch with Utah would certainly make sense, but for Pac-12 North Supremacy, nothing is going to matter more than the Huskies hosting Oregon on Oct. 19. Last season’s game was an instant classic and with Justin Herbert back in the fold at Oregon, this bout in Seattle could very well end up deciding the Pac-12 North when it’s all said and done.