No real surprises on the ol’ two-deep for the Huskies. Still, let’s go through some notes on the first depth chart of the season:
– Senior Brad Kanuch is listed as the starter at (Z) wide receiver. True freshman Dwayne Difton is listed as the backup.
That doesn’t mean Difton won’t play or even play a lot. And based on depth charts in previous years, it doesn’t even rule out Difton starting on a regular basis.
Anyway, here’s the coach’s take.
“I think Brad was consistent. Dwayne is a very good player,” Edsall said. “I think you’re going to see both of them in there.”
– The Huskies listed five wide receivers on the two-deep. Kanuch is on top at one wideout spot and sophomores Michael Smith and Kashif Moore are listed as “OR” starters at the other. Sophomore Isiah Moore is listed as the backup to Smith/Moore.
Edsall said Sunday that redshirt freshman Gerrard Sheppard and junior Alex Molina are also in the rotation at this point.
That leaves a few notable exceptions: Senior Marcus Easley, true freshman Mike Lang and true freshman Malik Generett.
Of course, we know that all could change in week 2.
– OK, it looked late in training camp like Jerome Junior had pulled ahead in the battle to become the starting strong safety. And, lo and behold, Junior was named the starter Sunday.
But where did Jonathan Jean-Louis’ name go?
The junior from Cambridge, Mass., wasn’t listed as Junior’s backup. That honor went to recently converted linebacker Kijuan Dabney
And Robert Vaughn’s backup at free safety? That was true freshman Marcus Aiken.
Jean-Louis, it seems, has been moved to the Husky (strong-side) linebacker position. He wasn’t listed as the No. 2, however. Jory Johnson had that slot.
As an aside, the Huskies have waaaaay too many players with the initials JJ. Perhaps the coaching staff could address that in recruiting over the next few years.
Anyway, back to the safeties. Don’t expect Aiken to see the field any time soon. He just moved over from wide receiver last week.
Also, Edsall said the suspended Aaron Bagsby (a sophomore free safety) would be “back in a few weeks.”
– Jesse Joseph won the battle at defensive end, beating out fellow true freshman Trevardo Williams.
“Jesse has very good skills and has just picked things up a little bit better,” Edsall said. “Maybe he’s a little bit better all-around.”
– Blidi Wreh-Wilson would seem to be in line to be the nickel back but Edsall wouldn’t confirm that Sunday.
“We’re still working on that. He’s in the mix for that,” Edsall said, mentioning Dwayne Gratz as well.
– Tight end Derek Chard, a junior who is the Huskies’ primary long-snapper, has been given a scholarship.
– True freshman Michael Box is No. 3 on the QB depth chart. Don’t expect him to play, of course, but that shows the coaching staff likes what it has seen from the rookie in August.
– Dave Teggart is the Huskies’ field goal kicker full-time. Don’t expect senior punter Desi Cullen (as has been rumored) to kick the long ones in Teggart’s place.
“He actually kicked a 56- or 57- yard field goal (in practice),” Edsall said of Teggart. “I have extreme confidence in him to be able to do that. He’ll be our field goal kicker: short, long, medium, windy, with the wind, rain, whatever.”
- Neill
