10 things to know about Washington’s re-made secondary
10 things to know about Washington’s re-made secondary
From Jabbar Muhammad's best traits to Makell Esteen's encouraging offseason.
SEATTLE — Asa Turner is wearing a small, black cast around his left thumb. It’s no big deal: Washington’s senior safety hurt it in the spring, he said, and now he’s just protecting it during practices until the season starts.
“It’s almost healed up,” he said after Friday’s practice as the sun heated the Husky Stadium turf.
Turner is familiar with hurting and healing. A knee injury kept him out of three games last season, and when he returned, for UW’s loss at Arizona State, a targeting call forced him out in the first half. He said he’s also dealt with shoulder and rib injuries in college.
“There were a couple things holding me back last year,” he said, “but I did what I could to help the team.”
He is effectively the quarterback of UW’s re-made secondary, and the only returning starter actually playing the same position he did last year. Injuries ravaged the Huskies’ depth last season at defensive back, a position most knew wouldn’t be among the team’s strengths to begin with.
The coaching staff spent the offseason shuffling current personnel and adding reinforcements. Eight practices into preseason camp — and three weeks and a day until the season opener — here are 10 thoughts on where things stand with UW’s secondary depth.