Parker Brailsford Is Ready for His Deep Dive Into Husky Starter
His hair is wild and untamed, going off in all different directions beneath a large, black headband, but everything else about Parker Brailsford is totally under control.
Thee redshirt freshman's surprising ascension to starting right offensive guard for Saturday's opener against Boise State at Husky Stadium has been the top story line for the University of Washington football team with the season about to begin.
On Tuesday, Brailsford met with media members to offer his reaction to what's happened to him. He recounted how offensive-line coach Scott Huff called everyone together on Saturday morning and informed them of the coaching staff's decision to give him the No. 1 job at right guard. He immediately called his parents in Arizona to share the news and they've made arrangements to attend the game.
"I was for sure excited — it took a lot of work to even be here," Brailsford said, while maintaining a certain humbleness. "I really haven't proven anything yet. So I don't feel I've accomplished anything in any type of way. It just feels good."
While a little undersized, Brailsford won the job by doing everything right, mostly by taking advantage of his elite strength and by demonstrating the ability to hold blocks longer than the others.
The 6-foot-2 lineman from Mesa, Arizona, shared that he weighed in at 276 pounds prior to practice on Tuesday on his way hopefully to 285 before the season is done.
After redshirting in 2022, Brailsford hasn't even appeared in a Husky game yet and he will have the unique perspective of taking his first career snap as a starter. Not many do it this way.
"I know a lot of people don't get this opportunity," he said, "and I'm going to do the most with what I've got."
Coaches and others have repeatedly compared Brailsford to Nick Harris, a former UW offensive lineman who similarly played and started early in his college career and now is a member of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. They spoke briefly during his recruitment, with Huff putting the All-Pac-12 center on the phone while talking to the then Saguaro High School prospect.
He committed to former UW coach Jimmy Lake and signed with Lake's successor in Kalen DeBoer, memorably playing the then new coach in ping pong on their first meeting.
For a veteran Husky team ranked 10th in the nation by the Associated Press and holding lofty ambitions, Brailsford becomes the only young guy to make a starting-lineup breakthrough. He can only close his eyes and anticipate what awaits him this weekend and how he'll respond when stepping onto the field for the first time in front of a loud stadium full of excited UW fans.
"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't going to be nervous," Brailsford said. "Obviously, I'm going to be a little bit nervous, but I think once that first snap hits, I'll be perfectly fine. I'll just do what I've been doing. I feel I'm ready."
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