More reps for Peyton Waters, snaps for Zach Durfee and other observations from Washington camp

Day 8 saw both Durfee and Landen Hatchett get into some team periods.

Kim Fabiculanan chats with reporters after Friday’s practice. (Photo by Ty Gilstrap for On Montlake)

From Christian: I’m out this weekend, but am fortunate to have Ty Gilstrap, a student journalist at UW, filling in for me. Read on for his thoughts and observations from Washington’s Friday practice.

SEATTLE — Eight days into Washington’s camp and 22 days from the season opener against Weber State, a tangible separation is forming between the first and second team.  

At least, for most of Washington’s position groups.

For a safeties room loaded with positional depth, position coach Vinnie Sunseri has made a concerted effort to award opportunities across the board, frequently displaying imaginative groupings featuring the likes of Kam Fabiculanan, Cameron Broussard, Makell Esteen, Justin Harrington, Peyton Waters, Vincent Holmes and Tristan Dunn.

“That’s the beautiful thing about camp, is you get guys working with different groups,” Sunseri said, asked about balancing the depth of the position. “You get guys working with different people, but the same communication, the same understanding, the same calls need to be made no matter who you’re in the game with. So it teaches them that they have to communicate with everybody on the football field. It doesn’t matter who they’re with in any situation, communication should happen on every play.”

Waters, a 2024 prospect out of Van Nuys (Calif.) Birmingham, is one of the players who most benefits from the open competition. Sunseri applauds him for “not making a lot of repeat errors.” His frequent playing time this camp has so far lent itself to two interceptions, and even a few first-team looks in Friday’s practice. 

The true freshman has impressed his sixth-year senior teammate; Fabiculanan lauded Waters for “knowing how to control his body. He’s really athletic, really strong.”