First Look: Boise State Will Send OL Newcomers Up Against Huskies

Saturday’s opener between Washington and Boise State brings a number of familiar faces together to kick off the football season.

Former UW offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan makes his return to Husky Stadium for the first time since the 2019 Apple Cup, coming in as the Broncos offensive coordinator. Hamdan spent four seasons in two stints under former UW coach Chris Petersen.

Facing the Huskies is a much harder task.

“These two defensive ends will be the two best players we’ve probably seen in a long time here,” Hamdan said Monday, referring to junior Bralen Trice and sixth-year senior Zion Tupuola-Fetui.

One of the two will line up against Boise State sophomore left tackle Kage Casey, who's making his first-career start on Saturday with just five games played in his career.

Redshirt freshman right guard Roger Carreon also will make his first start after playing only one game last season against UTEP.

The remaining starting offensive line for the Broncos is veteran heavy with a pair of sixth-year seniors — right tackle Cade Beresford and center Garrett Curran — along with a redshirt senior in left guard Ben Dooley.

The five will try to protect redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylen Green, one of many running quarterbacks the Huskies will face in 2023. Green, of course, will have a raucous crowd in his ear.

“That’s the big overarching message I think offensively for these guys: handle the mental side of this game,” Hamdan said.

Washington has released its depth chart ahead of the home opener against Boise State

• Redshirt freshman Parker Brailsford listed as the starting right guard
• Dillon Johnson starting at running back pic.twitter.com/AjyPRvczab
— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) August 28, 2023

For UW, that starts with containing Green and Boise State’s two-headed rushing attack of redshirt senior George Holani and sophomore Ashton Jeanty.

“It’s one of those things Morrell has talked to us literally since the beginning of January this year, just the consistency of being able to stop running teams," UW senior linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, referring to co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell.

Boise State was the only Mountain West program to have a pair of running backs finish in the top 10 in the conference in rushing yards last season with Holani (1,157 yards) and Jeanty (821 yards) ranking third and 10th, respectively.

The UW players and coaching staff know Boise State isn’t to be taken lightly.

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