5 Things to Watch Unfold During UW Spring Football Practice

When University of Washington spring football practice opens on Wednesday at the rather late and chilly hour of 5 p.m., Zach Durfee will return to the scene of the crime.

It was a year ago that he reported to Husky spring ball all full of energy and enthusiasm to show that he belonged, only to have the NCAA rule the edge rusher from the University of Sioux Falls as a double transfer who couldn't play in any games in the fall. He briefly had attended North Dakota State as a student only during the COVID pandemic. Multiple appeals were filed and denied.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Durfee, widely endorsed by Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff, was left to fade to the practice background rather than push for playing time for the Huskies' College Football Playoff-bound team. People could only envision what this guy was all about, especially when someone such as former edge-rushers coach Eric Schmidt sized up his skill set.

"Genetically, he's maybe the best in the room just by who can run the fastest, who can jump the highest, who's the strongest, you know what I mean," said Schmidt, now the San Diego State defensive coordinator. "I think he might be pound for pound that guy."

Durfee, who finally became eligible once he attended class for three quarters to satisfy a rule that no longer exists, wound up pulling four snaps against Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

Entering spring ball, he no longer carries any football restrictions as he enters a position competition that should be one of the most watched over the next month. This is a guy who finished with 11 sacks in 11 NCAA Division II games in 2022. He's someone with a reputation for being almost a mythical player even before he takes part in a second UW defensive series. And he welcomes the attention.

"It's cool," Durfee said three months ago in New Orleans. "I appreciate all the support. It just gives me another reason to go prove it."

Durfee is one of five player scenarios to watch as the Huskies audition for new coach Jedd Fisch and his staff.

2) Vincent Holmes. In the most interesting position switch since Fisch took over, Holmes moved from safety to wide receiver. It wasn't like he couldn't play defense. DeBoer's staff used him as a redshirt freshman last season against Michigan State, Stanford, USC and Oregon State, largely as a special-teamer on kickoffs.

The new coaches, however, apparently recruited him as a wide receiver when they were at Arizona and like him better there. As a high school senior in Southern California, Holmes caught 59 passes for 1,169 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Huskies need all new starters at both wide receiver and safety.

3) Inside linebacker. For the second year in a row, the Huskies have three veteran and proven linebackers competing for two starting spots in seniors Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala, plus San Jose State transfer and fellow senior Bryun Parham.

In 2023, the 6-foot-2, 226-pound Bruener had to check his ego at the door and come off the bench in 14 of 15 games. That didn't stop him from finishing third on the team in tackles with 86, producing consecutive games of 14 tackles and earning All-Pac-12 honorable-mention honors. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Tuputala returns after finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 69, starting 27 of the past 28 UW games and receiving All-Pac-12 honorable-mention honors in 2022. Add to them the 5-foot-11, 212-pound Parham, who led San Jose State with 106 tackles last season, was named All-Mountain West honorable mention and will wear the departed All-Pac-12 linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio's No. 5 jersey this season. Let the head-banging begin.

4) Back-up QB. With a totally revamped Husky offensive line, Mississippi State transfer quarterback Will Rogers forever will be one play from having to gather himself on the sidelines from a crunching hit, something his predecessor Michael Penix Jr. largely avoided last season with veteran blocking in front of him. So it will be imperative for Fisch to get one of two freshmen QBs ready to play at all times.

The options appear promising: 6-foot-5, 187-pound Dermaricus Davis and 5-foot-11, 185-pound Demond Williams Jr. As a high school senior, Davis completed 191 of 275 passes for 2,618 yards and 25 touchdowns. Last season, the dual-threat Williams hit on 209 of 272 passing attempts for 3,250 yards and 34 TDs, and rushed for 1,136 yards and 20 scores. If anyone has an edge, it might be Davis in his boldness -- he'll wear Penix's No. 9 jersey.

5) Center. If Landen Hatchett hadn't torn up a knee in preparation for the Sugar Bowl, this position would be settled. However, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound sophomore will be held out of spring contact drills while still in recovery. Redshirt freshman Zach Henning, who goes 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, will move over from guard and hold down the position in his absence, if not claim it for himself should he make a strong connection as a snapper with Rogers.

Either way, Hatchett and Henning will be interchangeable at center and guard and each should play a lot this coming season. A third option, of course, is to find a veteran center in the transfer portal once it opens again on April 15.

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