Inside The Huskies

Fisch Offers No Status Report on Injured Huskies, But Lists Options

The UW coach would definitively rule out Carver Willis or Zach Durfee.
Dan Raley|
Max McCree drew his third UW start at left tackle against Michigan.
Max McCree drew his third UW start at left tackle against Michigan. | Skylar Lin Visuals

Coach Jedd Fisch chose not to give any definitive status reports regarding the availability of two injured University Washington starters -- offensive tackle Carver Willis and edge rusher Zach Durfee -- who each left Saturday's Ohio State game in the opening half and were unable to return.

Instead on Monday, the UW leader said he was still waiting on test results, though it wouldn't have surprised anyone if he simply didn't want the next opponent, Maryland, to know what his manpower situation is.

However, Fisch willingly did address what the replacement options might be if one or both of these players is ruled out against the Terrapins (4-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) in their game on Saturday afternoon in College Park, Maryland.

Carver Willis (50) escorts Dezmen Roebuck (81) up field against UC Davis.
Carver Willis (50) escorts Dezmen Roebuck (81) up field against UC Davis. | Dave Sizer photo

The obvious move for the UW (3-1, 0-1) to replace Willis, the Kansas State transfer, at left tackle would be to turn to 6-foot-6, 302-pound senior Max McCree, who was a five-game starter for the UW last season at that position and was a Maryland player in 2022..

Yet the coach also dangled out an intriguing solution, which further validates what Fisch's staff thinks of a certain 6-foot-6, 325-pound freshman who has started the first four games at left guard.

"We have some flexibility," Fisch said. "John Mills played left tackle in high school."

The coach also said that starting right tackle Drew Azzopardi, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound junior, could move over to the left side if needed, and Soane Faasolo, a 6-foot-8, 330-pound sophomore with four starts in 2024 at left tackle, is also an possibility.

"I feel we're in a much different position than we were a year ago with our offensive line ," Fisch said. "We have much more flexibility in terms of personnel."

Paki Finau, Geirean and Landen Hatchett, John Mills, Drew Azzopardi, Soane Faasolo, Quentin Moore and Kade Eldridge celebrate
From left, the UW's Paki Finau, Geirean and Landen Hatchett, John Mills, Drew Azzopardi, Soane Faasolo, Quentin Moore and Kade Eldridge celebrate an Apple Cup win. | Dave Sizer photo

Willis went down with a knee injury shortly before the first half ended and walked off the field on his power. McCree played the second half in his absence.

"If Carver can't make it, then we'll go with Max to start most likely," Fisch said. "We'll see how the rest of the guys do in practice. I feel really good about where we are."

At edge rusher, Durfee likely would be replaced by Isaiah Ward or Deshawn Lynch, both previous UW starters.

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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