SEATTLE — Kodi Greene and Derek Colman-Brusa share more than a weight rack.
The winter lifting partners each claim local hometowns — Seattle for Colman-Brusa, Renton for Greene — even if Greene prepped the last two seasons at powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif. Each joined an older brother by signing with the Huskies; third-year sophomore Kayden Greene is a walk-on cornerback, and Lowen Colman-Brusa is a redshirt freshman guard taking second-team reps this spring. The duo committed 10 days apart last spring, Greene flipping from a prior commitment to Oregon, Colman-Brusa choosing the Huskies over serious interest from the Ducks and Ohio State.
More to the point, the star freshmen are inextricably linked as rare, Day 1 spring-practice starters at two of the most physically demanding positions in the sport, Greene at left tackle, Colman-Brusa on the interior defensive line.
They are effectively the program’s first-round draft picks, as coach Jedd Fisch might put it. Sitting was never part of the plan.
“The goal is to not even know they’re freshmen,” Fisch said after Saturday’s practice, which featured some 120 scrimmage snaps on a picturesque day at Husky Stadium. “It’s why high-school kids want to come to Washington. They know that we don’t get into, ‘are you old, are you young? Are you experienced, are you not?’ It’s, ‘are you the best player at your position?’ If you are, we’re going to play you. And the best way to get good at football is playing football, and those guys have done a tremendous job getting ready to go compete in this Big Ten conference.”
They took their first collegiate practice reps earlier this month, but the work began shortly after both enrolled in January, as the duo battled one another and defensive tackle Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais for the title of strongest 2026 signee.
“Derek’s got me on a few lifts,” Greene said, speaking to reporters for the first time. “I’ve got him on a few, too.”
Colman-Brusa confirmed with specifics: “I think my bench and squat is a little more than his. But I think his power clean and overhead press is stronger than mine.”
Also: “Kodi is my No. 1 guy. It’s always good-on-good. Unbelievable kid. Love his work ethic. He’s definitely one of my favorites to go up against.”