Husky Defense Has Star Power, Veteran Lineup, Capable Corners

The UW made upgrading the stop unit an offseason priority.

The offseason objective for the University of Washington football team was to fix a depleted secondary. Kalen DeBoer's defensive coaches, however, took the year-two mission two steps further. 

Not only did the Huskies come up with a lockdown cornerback in Oklahoma State transfer Jabbar Muhammad, they also tinkered with the defensive line and linebacking corps, finding significant manpower from in-house. Three upgrades for the price of one.

All of this should manifest into a far stingier defense that was sturdy enough last season to help preserve a 37-34 victory over Oregon yet gave up 592 yards of total offense while doing it.

Foremost, the Huskies finally have their defensive leader, their playmaker, their heartbeat, back in the starting lineup in a healthy Edefuan Ulofoshio, who is so motivated to excel in his final season it's making everyone else dizzy.

"You know how sometimes the good lord throws you a lay-up?" co-defensive coordinator William Inge asked with a smile. "That was a lay-up to the program, having someone like Edefuan back in the program because he is the old soul of the program, where there isn't a person that prepares more than him when it comes to everything."

The 6-foot-1, 236-pound Ulofoshio is so sculpted and football fit these days he resembles an NFL linebacker, something he plans on doing before he goes to medical school and becomes a third-world physician. Talk about being motivated.

Ask him how much better the team will be on the defensive side of the ball this season and he quotes Husky history to make his point.

"It's a defensive school, man," Ulofoshio said. "Death Row Dawgs. That's the Lawyer Milloys. That's the Hau'oli Kikahas. That's all those guys. We strive to be on that level. Even when we don't hold up to it, like the standard is the standard and we're trying to be the best defense in the league. We're trying to go down as one of the best defenses in like Dawg history."

Whew.

With Boise State coming in and planning to run the ball down everyone's throats, here's what awaits the Mountain West team, position by position. Five new starters. It looks physical, confident, good on paper. 

HUSKY DEFENSE

Bralen Trice, ER — Team co-captain. Preseason AP All-America selection. Led the country with 70 quarterback hurries. Finished third in the Pac-12 with 9 sacks. Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week against Cal. Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP against Texas. 2022 first-team All-Pac-12 selection. Fifth-year junior. Considered a first-round NFL draft pick. "Bralen Trice is playing at an incredible level right now," co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said. "He was good last year, but I think he's a completely different player this year."

Ulumoo Ale, DL — Beat out returning starter Faatui Tuitele for the game-opening assignment. Sixth-year senior. Gives the Huskies another massive body up front on the order of the extra meaty Vita Vea and Danny Shelton. 10-game starter on offense, one game on defense. "He's become a problem and that's a great thing to say," Morrell said of Ale.

Tuli Letuligaseno, DL — The well-worn down lineman looks fresh again after appearing in 41 games, starting 24. Sixth-year senior. 2021 All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection. "I think he's in a good spot physically for him after the wear and tear for so many years," DeBoer said.

Zion Tupuola-Fetui, ER — Has the edge all to himself again after battling injuries and stiff competition. Has 12.5 career sacks, 7 coming in four 2020 games. 2020 first-team All-Pac-12 selection. 2022 All-Pac-12 honorable-mention choice. Sixth-year senior. "I think he's really stepped up as a leader," DeBoer said. "It's very cool to see his growth."

Alphonzo Tuputala, LB — Returning 13-game starter. Was second-leading UW tackler with 71. 2022 All-Pac-12 honorable-mention pick. Fifth-year junior. "Now we know what we've got with Zo," DeBoer said. "A year ago, I don't think we did." 

Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB — Team co-captain. Has 157 career tackles. Starter again after pair of injuries knocked him out of the opening lineup for 19 games. 2019 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week against Oregon State. 2020 All-Pac-12 second-team selection. 18-tackle game in 2020 against Stanford, 16-tackle outing in 2021 against Oregon State. Sixth-year senior. "Eddie brings a great sense of stability," Morrell said.

Jabbar Muhammad, CB — Oklahoma State transfer. 13-game starter for the Cowboys, including 2021 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. 2022 All-Big-12 honorable-mention choice. 1 career pass interception. Fourth-year junior. "He's been fantastic," Morrell said. "He's extremely veteran. Very high football IQ. Never out of position covering guys."

Elijah Jackson, CB — Least experienced defensive starter for the Huskies. Appeared in 10 career games, started two in 2022. Fourth-year sophomore. "I think he's taken the next step," cornerbacks coach Juice Brown said. "He's playing confident, understands the system and he's playing fast."

Asa Turner, S — Leader of the secondary. Starter in 22 of 36 career games. Has 6 career interceptions, at least one in each of his four seasons. 2022 All-Pac-12 honorable-mention choice. Fifth-year senior. "My trust in him is extremely high," Morrell said.

Dom Hampton, S — Played in team-high 42 games, starting 14. 2022 Husky (nickelback) starter for 11 games. Has played all UW secondary positions. 81 career tackles and 7 pass break-ups. Sixth-year senior. "He's bigger than some of the linebackers and one of the fastest guys on the football field," Inge said of the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hampton. "He's a prototypical player who'll have a chance to play at the next level just because of his body type."

Mishael Powell, H — Original walk-on. Converted to Husky role from cornerback. Has played in 21 games, starting 11, all at corner. 54 career tackles. Fifth-year junior. "He's an impact player," Brown said. "He's physical in the run game, but at the same time he can go out and cover."

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