Husky Corners Look Healthy, Stealthy and Feisty

Fixing the University of Washington secondary, in particular the cornerbacks, has been an offseason priority, no question.

On Saturday, everyone got a progress report for this all-important Husky position group, even beyond the obvious upgrade that Oklahoma State transfer Jabbar Muhammad and a healthy returnee in Elijah Jackson bring as the early starters.

Midway through the practice, sophomore corner Davon Banks, who started against Stanford and California in 2022 but got victimized in coverage before suffering a season-ending injury, showed a different side to him during a seven-on-seven drill.

Banks had words with walk-on wide receiver Cam Sirmon, who comes from a pretty tough family. No one backed down in this exchange at all. Banks was so fired up he had to be restrained by his teammates, all the way to being led from one sideline to the other by them.

Fellow corner Jaivion Green wrapped him up. Cornerbacks coach Juice Brown wrapped him up. Safety Vince Nunley tried to calm him some. Finally, Banks and Brown had a long conversation on the sideline, and the veteran corner walked away smiling.

So much for Banks coming back from a tough season feeling the least bit timid or hesitant. His return should help the Huskies build some depth that was missing last season.

"We feel like right now we have enough guys and we're developing them," Brown said. "I hope we don't ever have to be in that position again."

People next got a first look at Oregon transfer Darren Barkins, an exceedingly long and lean corner who seemed to mix much more freely and exert himself with his new UW teammates on Saturday after being the stranger checking in.

Barkins, who wears No. 19, ran deep alongside wide receiver Denzel Boston and effortlessly deflected away a Dylan Morris pass, endearing himself to his fellow DBs on the sideline.

Later in the practice, the former Ducks defender went step for step with veteran wide receiver Rome Odunze, 60 yards in all, and deftly prevented him from catching a Morris heave. For this one, Barkins received nonstop high-fives from appreciative teammates.

Of the trio of new freshman cornerbacks, Leroy Bryant alertly intercepted a tipped Austin Mack pass and sprinted 50 yards for a pick six, drawing an amped-up response from his fellow DBs.

JC transfer Thaddeus Dixon matched him, stepping in front of a Morris delivery and not slowing down until he crossed the goal line covering roughly 50 yards, as well. He was surrounded by teammates in a raucous celebration.

The leader of this reconfigured cornerback pack, Muhammad, won more than his share of Saturday coverage battles, too. In one particular exchange, he knocked a Michael Penix Jr. pass away from Odunze and emerged confidently with his arm raised.

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