Murao's Exit Marks 30 Percent Portal Turnover Rate for Huskies

With the NFL draft winding down on Saturday, Myles Murao's University of Washington football career ground to a halt as the offensive guard entered the transfer portal. He and the pros couldn't have been farther apart.

He exited following three seasons filled with knee injuries that reduced him from a can't-miss player to no better than a third-team offensive guard when spring practice ended.

Murao appeared in just four Husky games, all mop-up outings. He wore heavy knee braces. He played at 335 pounds at the heaviest and was 299 when he quit. Nothing worked for him in Montlake. At this level, it happens.

What's symbolic about Murao's departure is he represents the 29th scholarship player to leave the program in 17 months since Kalen DeBoer took over — which means one-third of the Husky roster has turned its attention to the portal since the coaching change took place.

It's not a Colorado or a USC housecleaning, but it means the Huskies have had one in every three paid-for players move on.

Two of the departures involved players that the new coaching staff brought in.

"Selfishly, you want everyone to experience, and our goal is for everyone to have the greatest experience of their life, and that's play college football," DeBoer said. "You hope that happens in your program."

For the most part, DeBoer has upgraded the roster, but the UW lost a couple of high-level players in situations that proved unavoidable.

Here's the latest update on those who moved on:

29 AND OUT

Myles Murao, OG — As a player once pursued by Alabama, LSU, Michigan, USC and others, he'll need to prove to his new team that his knee injuries were responsible for his lack of UW progress and that he wasn't a bust.

Taj Davis, WR — Stuck behind three high-quality receivers, Davis will seek a landing spot where he can be a starter and more of a target than the Huskies presented him.

Demario King, LB — This one is a head-scratcher. A DeBoer signee from the JC ranks, he tried to make the switch to linebacker from safety, got hurt and his UW stay was over. Maybe it was an experiment that didn't work.

Sav'ell Smalls, ER — The one-time 5-star recruit wasn't a bust, he just wasn't elite for whatever reason. Was he overrated or under-motivated? He'll have a chance to redeem himself at his next stop. Colorado reportedly has invited him for a visit.

Owen Prentice, C — Never rising above a third-unit player, Prentice decided he didn't want to play football again. This was somewhat surprising since he was a 4-star player who had drawn offers from LSU, Michigan and others.

Jay'Veon Sunday, RB — A physical runner from Texas, he was never going to play for DeBoer's team because he didn't bring the other necessary attributes (receiving and blocking). He has not resurfaced with a team yet.

Sam Huard, QB — Unwilling to sit for a third season behind Michael Penix Jr. and Dylan Morris, the one-time 5-star recruit turned up at Cal Poly in the Big Sky. It seemed like a significant fall from grace, but maybe it's the right spot for him.

Victor Curne, OT — A two-year starter and four-year Husky, Curne didn't seem to buy into the rigid fitness regimen introduced by DeBoer's staff. So now he's at Mississippi trying resurrect his career.

Daniel Heimuli, LB — An off-field incident brought him a suspension and led to his program departure. Before that, he was underachiever at the UW, starting just a pair of games as an injury fill-in. He's at Arizona now.

Caden Jumper, TE — Promoted by Jimmy Lake as the next Will Dissly, he wasn't considered athletic enough fit in the DeBoer/Grubb offense. He recently joined FCS Murray State.

Lonyatta Alexander JR, WR — Alexander was the first DeBoer addition, a transfer from Arizona State, who headed back to the portal. He's now in the Big Sky at Montana State.

Zakhari Spears, CB — The Huskies were badly in need of cornerbacks and Spears was available, but the new staff chose not to use him. He's now at Connecticut.

Kuoa Peihopa, DT — This guy was kind of a free spirit and headed for considerable playing time, but he had a run-in with a coach, was suspended and ultimately had to leave. He transferred to his home state Hawaii.

Cam Williams, S — He didn't click with the new coaching staff and asked to redshirt after four games to preserve his eligibility. He followed DB coach Will Harris to Georgia Southern, but Harris has since taken a job in the NFL.

Jordan Lolohea, ER — He was an older player who went on a mission before reporting to the UW and playing a season. He left after DeBoer's first spring practice and hasn't resurfaced with a new team.

Draco Bynum, DT — A noted strongman, he wasn't athletic enough to play for the new staff and departed after spring practice a year ago. He's out of football.

Emeka Megwa, RB — This Texas running back suffered a debilitating knee injury as a high school senior, had two surgeries and never got on the practice field for the Huskies, for either Lake or DeBoer. He's at Oklahoma as a walk-on and actually some carries during spring football.

Caleb Berry, RB — Another Texas back, Berry was injured as a high school senior and to Seattle to recuperate and restore his football career. He left after 2022 spring football and now plays for FCS Incarnate World.

Noa Ngalu, DT — He was a little-used player who left the Huskies following DeBoer's first spring practice and joined a California JC team, San Mateo.

Jacobe Covington, CB — A year ago, Covington went from pledging himself to Husky football to not finishing spring practice to transferring to USC, where he's been a starter.

Tristan Brown, P — A JC transfer, he spent two seasons with the Huskies, but never appeared in a game. He wasn't encouraged to stay after the coaching change. He hasn't resurfaced with a new team.

Mason West, TE — He was injured for much of his two seasons at the UW, didn't get on the field on game day and appears to be out of football.

Taki Taimani, DT — He went from two-year starter for Lake's coaching staff to a reserve player for the Ducks to still waiting on his first sack after four college seasons.

Jackson Sirmon, LB — His team wasn't successful, but Simon reunited with his father, Peter, California's defensive coordinator, and he became a first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker.

Terrell Bynum, WR — Bynum was prominently featured as a receiver at the UW, but went home to finish up at USC and played sparingly. He's used up his eligibility.

Laiatu Latu, ER — Similar to Sirmon, Latu became a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as an edge rusher for UCLA after playing one season for the Huskies, suffering a neck injury and being forced to medically retire. The question still persists: why did the UW prevent him from playing and the Bruins was him onto the field?

Sawyer Racanelli, WR — Shortly after the coaching change, Racanelli entered the port and joined Montana only to suffer an offseason knee injury. He should make his Big Sky debut this fall.

Mark Redman, TE — Misinformed about the use of the tight end in the DeBoer/Grubb offense, he fled to San Diego State, where he became a starter. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Cooper McDonald, LB — After the coaching change, McDonald decided he wanted to play alongside his brother at San Diego State and became a starter. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

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