Huskies Need Bandes to Put All That Experience to Good Use
Jacob Bandes began the mad-dog chase at the bright-red USC midfield logo, legs churning furiously and arms pumping like pistons as he tried to chase down the always elusive Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams in the flat.
The hustle was there, just not the end result. Williams waited until the two of them reached the sideline before abruptly cutting back against the overly determined University of Washington defensive tackle and making him slip and miss.
For Bandes, that one play might best sum up his college career so far — while he's always been full of desire, it's time for him to catch the golden ring.
Answering to his fourth Husky football coach in Jedd Fisch, the 6-foot-3, 302-pounder from Pittsburg, California, has appeared in each of the past 45 consecutive UW games going all the way back to the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl, and 46 overall in his career, which is way more than anyone on the roster.
He's one of six sixth-year seniors, joined by running back Cam Davis, safety Kamren Fabiculanan, linebacker Drew Fowler, wide receiver Giles Jackson and linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala.
"Everyone's path is different," Bandes said. "What I need to work on is more maturity and more responsibility."
The Huskies, with their roster flipping over from veteran to exceedingly young almost overnight, could use a far more involved Bandes this coming season. He's started just three games in his career, opening against Michigan State last season, Arizona State in 2022 and Michigan three years ago. He has 47 tackles, just one sack against Colorado in 2022.
Always a little on the quirky and zany side, Bandes used to walk through Husky Stadium loudly singing to himself on his way to the East practice field. Once Kalen DeBoer became the UW coach, the defensive tackle was seen chest-bumping his new leader at practice one day. Former co-defensive coordinator William Inge used to refer to the lineman as "Bandeezel."
Coming out of Pittsburg High in the Bay Area, Bandes was considered one of the top players in the UW's 2019 recruiting class, a 4-star prospect who picked the Huskies over Clemson and others.
Jacob Bandes is a big body who needs to finish his UW career strong.
Dan Raley
Recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman of 247Sports projected him as a Power 5 impact player and a potential second-day NFL draft prospect.
Yet to make all of that stuff happen, Bandes will need a big finish as a Husky football player, something that's been on the top of his mind.
"If we just do our job, the plays come to us," he said late last season. "That's the great thing about the NFL is they just do the job consistently, the ordinary stuff they do it consistently and that's what makes them great, and that's what I'm trying to do out here."
Not only that, a pro football career would more than likely give Bandes another shot at bringing down Caleb Williams.
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