As DeBoer Staff Settles on Husky Lineups, Here's What to Expect

The schedule said the University of Washington football team was off on Sunday and Monday as final preparations continued throughout the week for the Sept. 2 season opener against Boise State.

Yet that was a misnomer because the players likely spent most of that "down" time in the weight room while Kalen DeBoer and his coaching staff met and graded film and made sure they're about to put the most deserving players in the starting lineup and rotations when it's game time.

The easy part for DeBoer is he returns 14 of 22 starters from 2022 and all or all but one of them will retain their game-opening assignments.

The most solidified position, of course, is quarterback, where the Huskies have Michael Penix Jr. leading the offense again and likely making the UW's most serious bid for a Heisman Trophy.

"Most of the other positions here, you do the assessment of the scrimmage, have a couple of days away from ball and it allows us to kind of hone in on those final starting positions," DeBoer said. "You'd like to hit the ground running this coming week with most of those spots solidified."

While he and his coaches debate everyone's progress and dependability, the following is another stab at what the 22 starting positions players will look like. It's a veteran crew, with 17 of them holding up double-figure starts on their resumes and everyone starting at least one game on this FBS level.

Considering what else happened yesterday, we'll leave the starter for the UW athletic directorship blank.

PROJECTED UW OFFENSIVE STARTERS

(Returning starters in bold type)

WR Rome Ondunze (16 career starts) — Coming off a 75-catch, 1,145-yard, 7-touchdown season, this junior is an All-America candidate, a star in the making for 2023.

WR Jalen McMillan (17) — The Huskies' leading returning receiver will try to top his 79 catches, 1,098 yards and 9 TDs and attract more NFL scouts.

WR Ja'Lynn Polk (17, 7 at Texas Tech) — The one-time Big 12 transfer could see a spike in his 2022 stats of 41 catches for 644 yards and 6 scores should defenses concentrate on the other two.

LT Troy Fautanu (16) — The second-team All-Pac-12 selection looks to build on his draft standing as a second-year starter.

LG Julius Buelow (5) — After a 20-game layoff as a starter, the junior reclaims a game-opening assignment.

C Matteo Mele (1) — The sixth-year senior stands to make his first start in 33 games since he was a redshirt freshman.

RG Nate Kalepo (3) — For the second consecutive season, the junior is a starter to open the season. He should finish up that way this time.

RT Roger Rosengarten (13) — The sophomore looks to build on a highly successful 2022 season, his first as a starter.

TE Devin Culp (17) — Culp is back for a second season as the starter, though splitting a lot of reps with Jack Westover.

QB Michael Penix Jr. (30, 17 at Indiana) — The most important player on this football team is looking to greatly add to his career passing stats of 8,838 yards and 60 TDs, maybe win a Heisman Trophy and make a grand exit.

RB Dillon Johnson (14 at Mississippi State) — With Cam Davis' season-ending injury, the SEC transfer now will get a majority of the carries this season.

PROJECTED UW DEFENSIVE STARTERS

ER Bralen Trice (15) — The biggest playmaker on the defense and All-America candidate will push to become a high NFL first-round draft pick.

DT Tuli Letuligasenoa (24) — The well-worn, sixth-year senior hopes to squeeze out another season, his third as a starter.

DT Ulumoo Ale (11, 10 on offense) — He either unseats returnee Faatui Tuitele, an 18-game career starter, or spells him.

ER Zion Tupuola-Fetui (9) — It's ZTF's last chance to return to his 2020 former self, when he piled up 7 sacks in the first three games and was named a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.

LB Edefuan Ulofoshio (12) — The heartbeat of the defense, he's ready to go again after recovering from a pair of injuries and going 19 UW games without starting.

LB Alphonzo Tuputala (13) — He was good as a first-year starter and should be much better while playing alongside Ulofoshio.

CB Jabbar Muhammad (13 at Oklahoma State) — This guy is battle-tested from the Big 12, confident and a major upgrade.

CB Elijah Jackson (2) — The last of the Jimmy Lake cornerback imports, he's got all the skills if he can stay healthy.

S Asa Turner (22) — He's started games in each of the past four seasons, bringing a lot of experience.

S Dom Hampton (14) — He started as the Husky nickel last season and returns to safety, where he started some in 2021.

H Mishael Powell (11) — Powell was a starting cornerback last season and moves over to the nickel spot.

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