Huskies Appear Ready to Use Carr Service to Run the Ball

The second-year back has been the No. 1 rusher since early in spring ball.

Quaid Carr breaks the tackle of linebacker Donovan Robinson. | Dave Sizer photo

Not everyone had found a seat at Husky Stadium for Saturday night's mock game when, on the third snap, Quaid Carr took a handoff, charged through the left side of the line and sprinted 56 yards to score.

For the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Carr, this likely was an exclamation mark on his steady bid to become the University of Washington's No. 1 running back for the season opener against Washington State in one of the team's more crucial position battles.

While no official pronouncement was made about this particular spot, coach Jedd Fisch intimated that most lineup battles have been settled with two weeks to go before the Apple Cup kickoff.

"I think a lot of guys know where they are on the depth chart," Fisch said. "We're [14] practices in and we know where we are, with a couple of jobs up from grabs. We have a rotation."

A second-year player from Riverside, California, Carr certainly looked productive enough as he rushed three times for an unofficial 74 yards and caught 5 passes for 32 yards.

Not to besmirch his talents in any manner, but he's literally the last man standing at running back since spring football began because of injuries to others and freshman initiation.

Quaid Carr (21) is shown with Beck Walker (25) and Ryken Moon (32) in spring ball. | Dave Sizer photo

In the third spring practice in April, Carr assumed the starting role once original first-teamer Jordan Washington was left with a season-ending neck injury while trying to get in the way of cornerback Manny Karnley on an interception return.

Meantime, running back transfers Jayden Limar from Oregon and Trey Cooley from Troy have diligently tried to work themselves into shape following ankle and knee surgeries, respectively, to provide the Huskies with veteran depth.

Cooley was an active participant in the weekend mock game, while Limar was not. Lately, it's been the other way around for those two in engaging in 11-on-11 team competition.

Quaid Carr had a rush and a reception against Purdue. | Dave Sizer photo

Likewise, freshman running back Ansu Sanoe has spent much of fall camp working his way into shape after reporting at 240 pounds for spring ball.

Among the serious candidates for playing time, Carr heads up the effort, followed by, in no particular order, freshman back Brian Bonner Jr., Limar, Cooley and Sanoe. As a freshman, Carr appeared only in games against Purdue and Boise State and ran 4 times for 15 yards and caught a pass for 5 yards.

Bonner, who's gained 15 pounds since spring ball to remake his body, finished with an unofficial four carries for 9 yards in the mock game, but his total included a 6-yard TD run where he went untouched around the right end.

As Carr found out on his 56-yarder, whoever runs the football, especially over the left side, should find plenty of opportunity to excel, if not excited for the opportunity.

Preseason All-American offensive guard John Mills and 5-star offensive tackle recruit Kodi Greene are the starters and highly capable escorts at left guard and left tackle, respectively, and big holes should be the norm.