GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Pac-12’s two stingiest rushing defenses are on opposite sides Friday, with Utah’s 2.96-yard per carry yield leading the conference and ranking No. 6 in the nation.
Washington’s offensive line set a tone early in the win at Utah, springing RB Myles Gaskin for a long touchdown run in the first quarter. Gaskin grinded out 4.8 yards per carry for 143 in total, and the Huskies produced 4.2 yards per carry as a team. Washington is a team that performs better on offense establishing the run to set up the pass, and needs to find similar effectiveness early against Utah’s outstanding run defense.
DRAFT SLANT
–RB Myles Gaskin concluded the 2017 season considered a viable 2018 NFL draft prospect but opted to return for his senior campaign. At a position with limited longevity, another year racking up carries in college could have hindered Gaskin’s draft scout for 2019. However, NFLDraftScout.com ranks him third among senior prospects at the position for this coming draft, and his improved production over the final three games show no wear despite four years of consistent usage in the Huskies offense.
ROSTER REPORT:
–OT Jared Hilbers sustained an ankle injury at Washington State and is questionable for the Pac-12 title game. Preseason All-American OT Trey Adams recently returned to the lineup from back surgery, which coach Chris Petersen said could be beneficial if Hilbers is sidelined.
–RB Kamari Pleasant is questionable with an unspecified injury.
–RB Myles Gaskin passed Ken Simonton and LaMichael James to become the Pac-12’s third all-time leading rusher with 5,131 yards. He will likely end his Washington career at No. 3, trailing Royce Freeman by 490 yards and Charles White by 1,114. Gaskin can move up in career rushing touchdowns, however, with 55; that’s four fewer than second-place Simonton and five fewer than Freeman.
