Huskies Prepare for Big Ten Preview Against Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Michigan — Kalen DeBoer didn't plan on playing up the Big Ten preview aspect of this Washington-Michigan State game, but his players can't help but feel it.

This represents the Huskies' future home territory, one that will call for them regularly traveling to this Eastern time zone, playing in front of much bigger crowds and selling themselves nationwide on a far greater college football stage.

The Big Ten influence on the Huskies is unmistakable and partially responsible for their current success. The conference welcomed DeBoer for one relationship-building and reputation-enhancing season at Indiana as an offensive coordinator before he moved to Fresno State and now Washington as the coach. It was in Bloomington, 300 miles from here, where he got to meet, polish and make a permanent connection with Heisman Trophy-chasing quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Together again, DeBoer and Penix have played lead roles in turning this once disheveled UW football program overnight into a top 10 team.

Husky defensive tackle Jayvon Parker likewise is enjoying himself as he returns to his home state and travels to Big Ten country, spending the weekend some 95 miles north of his Detroit-area home .

It seems Michigan State felt Parker and his twin brother Armon were not worthy of scholarships, making only preferred walk-on offers to them, which meant the Spartans didn't see high value in them like the Huskies do.

The Parkers were going to play in the Big Ten no matter what, they just didn't know it committed to the UW.

"I had no idea, so this is a perfect situation for me in going to the Big Ten," Jayvon Parker said of the realignment that put the Huskies in a new conference. "It's been a great experience so I can't wait for what the future holds for us."

A newly hired DeBoer raised eyebrows when he was able to coax recruiting coordinator Courtney Morgan away from Michigan, Morgan's alma mater, after just one year in that role.

It was while he was in Ann Arbor that Morgan became aware of the Parker brothers and persuaded them to come weset and become some of first Husky recruits. Jayvon Parker showed himself physically ready to play right away, appearing in eight games as a freshman and burning through his redshirt, while his brother Armon continues to work his way back from a knee injury suffered at home while playing basketball.

"It's going to be a preview," Jayvon said of Saturday's UW-Michigan State game. "I can't wait because we're going to the Big Ten."

BIG TEN TO UW

As the Huskies file into Spartan Stadium, their Big Ten connections are as follows:

HC Kalen DeBoer, Indiana offensive coordinator, 2019

co-DC William Inge, Indiana linebackers and special-teams coach, 2013-19, and Iowa linebacker, 1993-96

DL coach Inoke Breckterfield, Wisconsin defensive-line coach, 2015-2020

TE coach Nick Sheridan, Indiana offensive coordinator, tight-ends and quarterback coach, 2018-21, and Michigan quarterback, 2006-09

WR coach JaMarcus Shephard, Purdue co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach, 2017-2021

RC Courtney Morgan, Michigan recruiting coordinator, 2021, and Michigan offensive guard, 1999-2003

QB Michael Penix Jr., Indiana quarterback, 2018-21

RB Will Nixon, Nebraska wide receiver, 2020-21

WR Giles Jackson, Michigan receiver 2019-20

WR Germie Bernard, Michigan State receiver, 2022.

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