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On day one of most spring practices, it can be a little difficult to pick out the biggest differences in a team. That was not the case on Washington's east field on Tuesday as the Huskies began the first practice of year three of the Jedd Fisch era.
For several months, Fisch and his coaching staff have raved about the emphasis on the size and physical difference of the incoming 2026 freshman class and how it would bring the Huskies a lot closer to where they want to be in the Big Ten. One look at left tackle Kodi Greene and defensive lineman Derek Colman-Brusa is all you really need to confirm those statements.
Both players took the majority of their reps during the limited team periods with the first team, as the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Colman-Brusa slotted in next to Elinneus Davis at defensive tackle in yet another vote of confidence for the former four-star recruit from local Kennedy Catholic High School after Fisch said on Monday he could wind up as a day one starter this fall.
"He can play all four spots on the defensive line," Fisch said of Colman-Brusa. "We just felt like that was a good place to start him."
On days like Tuesday, when the Huskies just don jerseys and shorts with no pads, athletic traits and movement skills during positional drills are at the forefront of evaluations, and several other members of the 2026 class didn't just pass the eye test in that department, they took snaps with the top two units too.
Wide receiver Jordan Clay worked with the first team offense during a 7-on-7 period, while defensive tackle TI Umu-Cais, edge rusher Ramzak Fruean, and cornerbacks Jeron Jones and Elijah Durr all got run with the second team defense. When asked about why the 6-foot-4, 230-plus-pound Fruean earned his snaps so early, Fisch's answer was a great embodiment of how the Huskies view a lot of the incoming class.
"I would say, physical skill set," Fisch said. "There are certain guys that, just based upon their physical skill set, we're giving some opportunities to, and then we'll rotate through that and make sure that, as the spring goes, different guys will get different opportunities. But you could see at 232 pounds at the size he's at height-wise, how he ran (during sprints to end practice) at the end, watching him and (sophomore edge rusher) Devin Hyde attack the drills and how they were running at the end that, uh, he deserves the right to have a chance to get out there and play."
With the Huskies set to return to the field on Thursday before they put pads on for the first time on Saturday, it's clear that the physical traits have taken a big step in the right direction to compete with the top of the Big Ten.
Now, it's about getting the promising youth and talent up to speed quickly.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Freshmen stand out physically in Washington's first spring practice
Continue reading...
For several months, Fisch and his coaching staff have raved about the emphasis on the size and physical difference of the incoming 2026 freshman class and how it would bring the Huskies a lot closer to where they want to be in the Big Ten. One look at left tackle Kodi Greene and defensive lineman Derek Colman-Brusa is all you really need to confirm those statements.
Both players took the majority of their reps during the limited team periods with the first team, as the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Colman-Brusa slotted in next to Elinneus Davis at defensive tackle in yet another vote of confidence for the former four-star recruit from local Kennedy Catholic High School after Fisch said on Monday he could wind up as a day one starter this fall.
"He can play all four spots on the defensive line," Fisch said of Colman-Brusa. "We just felt like that was a good place to start him."
On days like Tuesday, when the Huskies just don jerseys and shorts with no pads, athletic traits and movement skills during positional drills are at the forefront of evaluations, and several other members of the 2026 class didn't just pass the eye test in that department, they took snaps with the top two units too.
Wide receiver Jordan Clay worked with the first team offense during a 7-on-7 period, while defensive tackle TI Umu-Cais, edge rusher Ramzak Fruean, and cornerbacks Jeron Jones and Elijah Durr all got run with the second team defense. When asked about why the 6-foot-4, 230-plus-pound Fruean earned his snaps so early, Fisch's answer was a great embodiment of how the Huskies view a lot of the incoming class.
"I would say, physical skill set," Fisch said. "There are certain guys that, just based upon their physical skill set, we're giving some opportunities to, and then we'll rotate through that and make sure that, as the spring goes, different guys will get different opportunities. But you could see at 232 pounds at the size he's at height-wise, how he ran (during sprints to end practice) at the end, watching him and (sophomore edge rusher) Devin Hyde attack the drills and how they were running at the end that, uh, he deserves the right to have a chance to get out there and play."
With the Huskies set to return to the field on Thursday before they put pads on for the first time on Saturday, it's clear that the physical traits have taken a big step in the right direction to compete with the top of the Big Ten.
Now, it's about getting the promising youth and talent up to speed quickly.
Spring practice notebook
- A few other players who passed the eye test with flying colors: defensive tackle DeSean Watts looks like a stout force in the middle of the defensive line, while DT Darin Conley is an impressive mover, and offensive tackle Dominic Harris is every bit of the 6-foot-7 and 356 pounds he's listed at.
- Freshman defensive back Ksani Jiles hauled in an interception during a 7-on-7 period, where he displayed impressive concentration to haul in the pick on a tipped pass.
- During team periods, Colman-Brusa and Davis were flanked by Jacob Lane and Isaiah Ward on the edge. The second team consisted of, from left to right: Hyde, Conley, Umu-Cais, edge rusher Logan George, and Fruean.
- Along the offensive line, the first team featured no surprises, with Greene, John Mills, Geirean Hatchett, Champ Taulealea, and Drew Azzopardi making up the unit from left to right. The second team was a little more experimental, with Soane Faasolo, Jack Shaffer, Jake Flores, Lowen Colman-Brusa, and Justin Hylkema making up the group.
- Five wide receivers took first team reps on day one: Clay, Chris Lawson, Dezmen Roebuck, Rashid Williams, and Christian Moss.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Freshmen stand out physically in Washington's first spring practice
Continue reading...
