Here's What Fisch Has Inherited From Diminished Husky Football Roster
Kalen DeBoer arrived in Montlake as the new University of Washington football coach two years ago and saw a reload. People rolled their eyes some at that observation, with the Huskies coming off a disastrous 4-8 season, but he was right.
Newly hired Jedd Fisch, no matter what he says at his introductory news conference on Tuesday morning, is facing a rebuild.
To no fault of his own, he has walked into a perfect storm created by a relentless program overhaul, caused by DeBoer leaving for Alabama combined with the subpar recruiting job coach Jimmy Lake did during his two seasons in charge.
By stepping up as the fourth Husky football coach in six revolving-door seasons, Fisch will pay a price for the continuous leadership turnover and prior personnel mistakes made that DeBoer was able to sidestep.
In six weeks time, the Huskies have had nearly four dozen players graduate, enter the portal, ask for scholarship releases or de-commit. While two were future recruits, that still pencils out to a near 40 percent roster rollover, which is going to inflict some pain no matter what's done.
You simply can't find quality replacements for all of these guys at once, especially this late in a recruiting cycle.
DeBoer was left with great players from the Petersen regime to plan around, among them eight sixth-year seniors from the Class of 2018 plus the coach brought in yet another six-year man in Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr.
At one point, the Huskies had a chance to benefit from a similar number of sixth-year seniors this coming fall, but defensive back Mishael Powell, offensive guard Nate Kalepo, defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele and safety Asa Turner each left the roster for the portal or retirement.
As he introduces himself around, watches 2023 game video and figures out where to order his lunch, Fisch has 64 players on scholarship, which means he's 21 under the NCAA limit.
Maybe he should charter a bus in Tucson, let it idle outside the University Arizona football locker room and see who climbs on board.
Fisch has exactly three returning Husky starters from last week's College Football Playoff championship game against Michigan in offensive tackle Julius Buelow, linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala and cornerback Elijah Jackson, providing none of these guys bolts from the program.
One of his better young UW players, rising sophomore center Landen Hatchett, is on crutches, recovering from a pre-CFP knee injury and resulting surgery. His return likely won't be for spring football.
While the transfer portal enables teams to restock with proven talent in a hurry, the number of recent player departures is astronomical and the Huskies can't help but suffer for it. Maybe that's why veteran players keep leaving, envisioning an immediate falloff.
Consider that the 2021 Lake class brought in 17 players and just four remain on the roster. None of the 17 have become full-time UW starters, with just three of them finding their way into the lineup for two spot starts each in their careers. That's a real low return for your scholarship money.
A year later, DeBoer took over and tried to salvage recruiting as best as he could during the coaching change. He signed 17 players from the high school ranks and transfer portal while rescinding scholarship offers to a handful of prospects. Just six of those guys became starters and all of them are gone as rent-a-players or transfers again.
With a pair of subpar recruiting classes — and no starters to show for it now — someone will have to pay for it. That will be Fisch initially. Of his 64 inherited players, just 14 have even started a UW game.
No Husky position area currently is well stocked, especially quarterback, where in the past week starter Michael Penix Jr. used up his eligibility, back-up Dylan Morris transferred to James Madison, reclassified freshman Austin Mack entered the transfer portal, Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers re-entered the portal, San Diego State transfer Will Haskell re-entered the portal and 2025 Southern California recruit Jackson Kollock de-committed.
Fisch better get his rest, make sure his phone numbers are up to date and buckle up.
64 SCHOLARSHIP HUSKIES
(Career Starts in Parentheses)
Returning Starters — OG Julius Buelow (12), LB Alphonzo Tuputala (27), CB Elijah Jackson (17).
Returning Back-Ups — S Kamren Fabiculanan (10), WR Denzel Boston (1), CB Davon Banks (2), RB Will Nixon, CB Thaddeus Dixon (1), RB Cam Davis (3), S Makell Esteen (1), S Vincent Holmes, LB Carson Bruener (6), ER Voi Tunuufi (2), DT Jacob Bandes (3), OG Geirean Hatchett (5), OG Zach Henning, OG Gaard Memmelaar, OT Samuel Peacock, C Landen Hatchett, TE Josh Cuevas, TE Quentin Moore (2), OT Jalen Klemm.
Returnees, With Game Time — ER Zach Durfee, NB Tristan Dunn, CB Leroy Bryant, LB Deven Bryant, CB Darren Barkins, RB Tybo Rogers, RB Daniyel Ngata, RB Sam Adams II, ER Lance Holtzclaw, ER Maurice Heims, ER Jacob Lane, TE Ryan Otton, WR Keith Reynolds, DT Jayvon Parker.
Specialists, With Game Time — PK Grady Gross, LS Jaden Green.
Returnees, No Game Time — DT Armon Parker
Redshirt Freshmen, No Game Time — CB Caleb Presley; WR Rashid Williams, CB Curley Reed, S Diesel Gordon, LB Jordan Whitney, DL Anthony James, OT Soane Faasolo, OG Kahlee Tafai, OT Elishah Jackett, DT Elinneus Davis,
Newly Signed Transfers — OT Drew Azzopardi, DT Sebastian Valdez,
Newly Signed Freshmen — OL Davit Boyajyan, DT Ratumana Bulabalavu, QB Demericus Davis, TE Decker DeGraaf, OL Paki Finau, LB Khmori House, CB Elias Johnson, DT Omar Khan, S Joshua Lair, S Paul Mencke Jr, WR Jason Robinson Jr., S Peyton Waters, WR Justin Williams.
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