If the Huskies Have Secret Weapon Against OSU, It's at TE

CORVALLIS, Oregon — Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and his wide receivers seem to draw the biggest University of Washington football headlines. Running back Dillon Johnson got his fair share of attention after the win at USC. The offensive line continues to earn steady plaudits for getting those guys in the end zone.

On Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium, 10th-ranked Oregon State, to varying degrees, will match the No. 5 Huskies offensive position for position in what promises to be a highly competitive game. Productive quarterback, line, receivers and, most of all, running backs.

If the UW (10-0 overall, 7-0 Pac-12) has an edge over the Beavers (8-2, 5-2), it's on each end of that accomplished and veteran offensive line, it's those good-sized and overly athletic guys who drop into a stance next to the big boys on the interior, who often play two at a time.

Husky tight end, which currently might have the deepest collection of position talent on this unbeaten team, at least until Jalen McMillan rejoins the UW wide receivers on a full-time basis, once more could be the deciding factor.

One reason the Huskies beat USC was because Penix made an impossible throw to the end zone where his tight end Devin Culp came up with an even more improbable third-and-18 touchdown catch for all of the ESPN and FOX highlight reels to replay.

And when Culp isn't doing his magic, Oregon State better not lose sight of fellow senior tight end Jack Westover, who has as many clutch plays as anyone on this highly regarded offense, especially lately.

"A big part of the reason I came to the University of Washington was just because of the long line and history and tradition this tight-end room has," Culp said. "From the Cleelands to the Brueners to the Ottons and Disleys to Seferian-Jenkins. There's just this long line of tradition. It's something you want to be part of. You know it's special to be a University of Washington tight end."

Culp and Westover are joined on Saturdays by junior Quentin Moore and sophomore Josh Cuevas, who pull significant snaps for the Huskies and similarly have possible NFL futures ahead of them because of their athleticism, size and physicality.

Entering the Oregon State game, Westover stands as the UW's third-best receiver with 28 catches for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns. Culp has 14 receptions for 181 yards and 2 scores. Cuevas has 4 grabs for 164 yards, which comes out to 41 per catch, and a lone score. Moore, more of an accomplished blocker, counts one catch for 8 yards.

While Westover had his season highlight with 3 touchdown catches at Michigan State, Culp emerged with that unforgettable grab in the back of the end zone at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Culp's magical play in the second quarter was preceded two snaps earlier by a personal-foul call on senior offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, who had his helmet ripped off and continued to play on, or as the tight end explained it, "We got that crazy call with Troy running downfield without a helmet trying to kill people."

On the touchdown throw, Culp saw Penix get into trouble and began to scramble. For a moment, he was alone in the end zone and was waving his hand for the football. At the last second, the tight end was tightly covered when he saw the tight spiral sail over the heads of wide receivers Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk and he outwrestled USC linebacker Eric Gentry for possession of it.

"As I'm looking down, I see JP, Rome and me all [in a row] and I don't know if he's throwing to one of them," Culp said. "At the last second I see it go over Rome's head like whooosh and I sucked it in and held on for dear life. Eighteen was trying to get that thing out of there. It's definitely a play I'll never forget for the rest of my life."

Now he and the other Husky tight ends are in Corvallis on Saturday, looking to come up with another play or two that determines the outcome, that keeps the UW unbeaten and pointed toward great things, that proves unforgettable.

"To win this last Pac-12 title and beat every Pac-12 team you go against is the goal," Culp said. "Both teams are very talented and we're both obviously ranked. The atmosphere and stage is set for the game. It's going to be a big one."

And it's going to be another opportunity for a playmaking Husky tight end to step up and help decide things.

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