LINDY'S TOP 25

Lindy’s Top 25 Countdown: No. 17 Washington

Lindyssports.com Staff

August 22, 2019 at 12:10 pm.

LOCATION: Seattle, Wash.

COACH: Chris Petersen — At Washington: 47-21, 5 years; overall: 139-33, 13 years

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bush Hamdan

DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS: Jimmy Lake, Pete Kwiatkowski

LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2018

LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2009

RETURNING STARTERS: 11; 7 offense, 2 defense, kicker, punter

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Jacob Eason, RB Salvon Ahmed, TE Hunter Bryant, OT Trey Adams, DT Levi Onwuzurike, LB Brandon Wellington, DB Myles Bryant, DB Elijah Molden

PRIMARY STRENGTHS: Washington should again tout one of the premier defenses in the Pac-12, with a deep and talented secondary and an improved pass rush. The Huskies return nearly their entire offensive line and receiving corps. Eason has the biggest arm in the conference and Ahmed can be used in a variety of ways.

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: While experienced, Washington’s wide receivers lack proven playmakers and downfield threats. Eason has to consistently produce. The Huskies are talented yet unproven defensively, particularly in the front seven. Beyond senior Brandon Wellington, Washington touts little game experience among its inside linebackers.

OVERVIEW

The names have changed, but the expectations haven’t. Despite losing eight players to the NFL Draft, Washington should be in contention for another Pac-12 title this fall. Quarterback Jacob Eason and tailback Salvon Ahmed are the new faces of the offense, while coordinator Jimmy Lake’s defense will look to leadthe conference in scoring defense for the fifth consecutive season. Overall, the Huskies’ ceiling may depend on the efficiency of Eason’s renowned right arm.

TOP NEWCOMER

QB Jacob Eason: A home state product from Lake Stevens, Wash., Eason will be the face of the Washington offense this fall — for better or worse. He completed 55.1 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,430 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions, as a true freshman at Georgia in 2016. His task will be to lift an offense that underperformed at times in 2018.

SCHEDULE

Aug. 31 EASTERN WASHINGTON

Sept. 7 CALIFORNIA

Sept. 14 HAWAII

Sept. 21 at BYU

Sept. 28 USC

Oct. 5 at Stanford

Oct. 12 at Arizona

Oct. 19 OREGON

Nov. 2 UTAH

Nov. 8 at Oregon State

Nov. 23 at Colorado

Nov. 29 WASHINGTON STATE

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