UW Spring Preview: Huskies Think Big in Looking for Safeties
When looking at the safeties, the University of Washington defensive coaches have to ask this of themselves right off the bat.
Do we want to go big? Real big? All big?
If that's the case, they'll trot out a pair of customized starters for this coming football season in 6-foot-3, 201-pound senior Asa Turner and 6-foot-4, 186-pound freshman Tristan Dunn.
That's 151 inches of safety right there in guys with an extra long reach and more extended gait than usual while protecting the back row against stuff that showed up just a little too frequently last fall — the deep ball for an instant touchdown, with the Huskies giving up seven of them at 46 yards or more.
With spring football practice getting an early start on March 6, we're taking a hard look at each personnel group going into the 15 workouts stretched out over 47 days that end with a spring game, and the Husky safeties are on the clock here.
In Dunn and Turner, the UW present the young and the restless, besides their towering presence.
A one-time Arizona State flip, Dunn appeared in five games as a freshman and still maintained his redshirt status. The NCAA granted a one-time, bowl game freebie to players everywhere and thus enabled this Sumner, Washington, native to appear in the Alamo Bowl against Texas without eligibility penalty.
SAFETY FIRST
The coaching staff earlier felt comfortable inserting Dunn with games on the line against Arizona State, Arizona and Washington State, too.
With Dunn the newer face to the competition, Turner represents the grizzled old veteran. The longest-haired Husky became an immediate point of emphasis for Kalen DeBoer's new coaching staff, which wanted him more consistent and physical as a secondary presence.
Now a fifth-year senior and a 36-game starter, Turner opened five games as a freshman, beating out the departed Cam Williams at midseason before giving the job back to him. After he started all four pandemic season games in 2020, Turner slid back in the rotation once more to where he started just four of 10 games played the following season.
DeBoer's coaches wanted him to take hold of the safety position once and for all and establish himself. He did that last fall by starting nine times when he wasn't injured. He earned postseason honors for the first time in his Husky career, getting selected All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He picked up 2 interceptions, giving him a team-best 6 for his career.
While Turner is the veteran starting point at this position and Dunn is a promising job applicant, there are others who might have a say in how the rotation finally shakes out.
Sophomores Makell Esteen and Vince Nunley are viable candidates for playing time and to challenge for more. Esteen tied with Turner for the team lead in interceptions with two. Nunley appeared in just one game before he was lost for the season with an injury, but co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell praised his ability.
The Huskies also have a pair of incoming freshmen in Vincent Holmes from San Jacinto, California, and Diesel Gordon from Arlington, Texas, who come highly regarded, in particular Holmes who brings elite speed to the position. Holmes will be someone to keep an eye on as a freshman who could play right away.
If that's not enough candidates, consider that hybrid Husky starter Dominique Hampton and emergency cornerback fill-in Julius Irvin from last season could join the safety competition if deemed necessary. At 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds, Hampton fits this think-big approach. Irvin won the coaches over with his cornerback play before his season ended early with an injury.
Outside of Turner, the UW coaching staff could have a highly competitive situation in finding the other starter and setting a depth chart.
UW SAFETY CANDIDATES
Asa Turner, 6-3, 201, Sr., 36 games played, 18 starts, 2022 All-Pac-12 honorable mention
Tristan Dunn, 6-4, 186, R-Fr., 5 games played
Vince Nunley, 6-1, 188, So., 1 game played
Makell Esteen, 6-1, 177, So., 9 games played
Diesel Gordon, 5-11, 175, Fr., ready to debut
Vincent Holmes, 6-0, 185, Fr., ready to debut
Dominique Hampton, 6-3, 221, Sr., 42 games played, 14 starts (11 at Husky hybrid)
Julius Irvin, 6-1, 179, Sr., 30 games played, 6 starts (4 at cornerback)
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