Joe Mathis DE/LB (CA) – Army All American Game
This hybrid defensive end/linebacker is very strong and his signature move is his straight up bull rush. He lost some weight over the summer to become quicker and stronger and it has led him to success so far. Think of a Josh Shirley type player except a little stronger and quicker. Mathis would be a big addition to the Huskies and this four-star prospect would perform well under the guidance of Tosh Lupoi and Peter Sirmon. His other finalists, besides the Huskies, are USC, UCLA and Alabama. He has only officially visited UW out of the four. My prediction is that he will announce for the Huskies.

John Ross WR (CA) – Semper Fidelis All American Bowl
This 5’10” wide receiver could be the deep threat that the Huskies need. Jaydon Mickens has proven to be valuable for the Huskies, but with the dropped passes, Ross could provide some help. He is a four star wide out who has big play ability and can get down the field with ease. With a commitment from Ross, the Huskies would be set for their 2013 class in receiving. Ross’ finalists are UCLA, UW, Oregon and Oregon State. I expect John Ross to announce for Oregon this Friday at the Semper Fi game.

Thomas Duarte TE (CA) – Semper Fidelis All American Bowl
Duarte has been a great receiver at the high school level for a couple of years now, but look to him to convert to a TE once he hits college. Most schools are recruiting him as a TE. He is a very good route runner and has great hands. The only weakness in his game is his blocking ability. Duarte’s skill set is similar to that of David Ajamu’s, who is already committed to UW. Because of the similar skill sets, I don’t really see Duarte picking UW out of his finalists of UW, UCLA, USC, Oregon and Notre Dame. I expect Duarte to pick UCLA as that is the only place he officially visited.

Commits or Players Considering UW Who Most Likely Won’t Announce This Weekend

Semper Fi Game: Commits: Darrell Daniels, Elijah Qualls (who apparently has been tearing it up in practice), Dane Crane, Daeshon Hall, Sean Harlow. Considering: Johnny Johnson, Aaron Cochran, Lowell Lotulelei, Braydon Kearsley, Austin Hooper, John Ross, Thomas Duarte.

Army Game: Commits: none. Considering: Joe Mathis, Eddie Vanderdoes, Jalen Ramsey, Nico Falah, Michael Hutchings, Myles Jack.

Under Armour Game: Commits: Demor’ea Stringfellow. Considering: Reuben Foster, Priest Willis.

Surprise Commit

According to some people that I have talked to and Ryan Turman’s Twitter account (a UW walk-on wide receiver commit), there could be a surprise commit this weekend. I am told it is on the defensive side of the ball and not one of the players that I mentioned above. I am not confirming this report at all; it’s just what I have heard. Make sure to be watching the All American Games to find out if there could be a surprise commitment. Just wanted to pass along some news I heard.

January and the beginning of February are exciting times for high school football recruiting. The Huskies have a very active staff who are searching everywhere for the best players that fir their system. Tosh Lupoi and Co. are very talented recruiters who can sway even some of the loyalist of people. Tosh has already shown that in swaying Eddie Vanderdoes. The Huskies are in on lots of highly rated recruits and look for them to end up with at least atop 20, probably a top 15 recruiting class. Keep an eye out for the latest commits and make sure to watch the all-star games this weekend.

Nov 13, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Albany Great Danes guard D.J. Evans (3) drives the lane against Washington Huskies guard Andrew Andrews (12) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

To start off with the most vivid point on my mind right now, I will start talking about this highly discouraging Albany loss. Even though this loss was one of the worst of the Romar era, I think it is a good thing this team lost to Albany. This team needs a reality check, and I think they were promptly handed one Tuesday night. With tough non-conference games against Seton Hall and possible Ohio State coming up, the Dawgs needed something to happen to whip them into shape. I think this loss will do just that. However, speaking of the loss, I think this can all be placed on Romar’s hands and rightfully so, after the game, he stated it was 100% his fault. Romar should have and could have kept Aziz in the final play of the game to be a shot blocker, but chose to go with the guard Hikeem Stewart so he could switch screens easier (even though he didn’t switch one screen). The Huskies need to learn to play hard and win without one of their best players and I think this game gave the Huskies some experience in to what that feels like as Scott Suggs came out early with a concussion. While CJ Wilcox was mediocre, I think Andrew Andrews shined and will turn out to be a star in the future. I think losing Aziz next year will hurt the team a bunch, but I strongly believe that Perris Blackwell will be able to step in and contribute from day 1. In the end, I believe this game will turn out to really be a blessing in disguise because this kind of game gets everyone’s attention and pushes players to work harder when they want to stop working. If the team doesn’t figure it out themselves, Lorenzo Romar will force them to figure it out. I mean there is a reason why he has been the coach of the Dawgs for what seems like forever.

These early non-conference games will tell us a lot about how the team will perform and look this year. With a new offense going in and many new players, the Dawgs will have to work out the kinks and make sure everything flows before actual conference play starts. Many people thought that the Europe trip would help with this, but it has clearly not helped so far. Again, time will only tell how well this offense works out. It is way to early to judge how much of an impact the new coaches and system have on the team. I think we will be able to judge these aspects of the team by the time conference play actually starts. Look for the Dawgs to have a solid year in the Pac-12, maybe not a tournament caliber year, but a year that is viewed by many as straight up solid. I don’t expect anything huge out the Huskies team this year, but perhaps that’s just me.

Nov 13, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar speaks with guard Abdul Gaddy (0) during the second half against the Albany Great Danes at Alaska Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Even though I think the Huskies might struggle a bit this year, I think the future looks very bright. With Darin Johnson signing his NLI Wednesday and Nigel Williams-Goss signing his Friday, Romar adds two highly skilled and talented guards to his arsenal of players. Each have qualities that will significantly improve the team and if CJ Wilcox leaves for the league, which I don’t think will happen, these two guards will come in very handy. Aaron Gordon is a huge remaining target for the 2013 class for Lorenzo Romar and I think that if Romar doesn’t secure the commitment of Aaron Gordon, he could be looking at a future on the hot seat. Kameron Rooks is a 7′ center out of California and is another prospect the Dawgs are looking at. He is more of a back to the basket type player, but can also step out to hit some mid-range jumpers. He is a priority for Lorenzo Romar and the staff, but not their main one as Aaron Gordon holds down that role. If the Huskies can come away with a class of NWG, Johnson, Rooks and Gordon, they will be sitting very pretty for the 2013-2014 season. If you add in the transfers and more experienced role players, there could possibly be an Elite 8 birth in the season, who knows. The far future hinges on the players Romar ends up bringing in with the 2013 recruiting class so it’s a good thing he already has a solid start to the class.

Overall, the Husky basketball program has a solid future ahead of them. This being said, the program could have an amazing future ahead of them if the chips fall in all the right places. I think the likeliness of this happening is pretty substantial and I think there soon could be some glory days for Washington basketball. It just may not be the days right around the corner. You can’t always have instant gratification, right?

Troy Williams (Narbonne HS/Calif.) – QB
Lavon Coleman (Lompoc HS/Calif.) – RB
Demore’ea Stringfellow (Rancho Verde HS/Calif.) – WR
Darrell Daniels (Freedom HS/Calif.) – WR
Sammie Long (Lakes HS/Wash.) – WR
Sean Harlow (San Clemente HS/Calif.) – OG
Andrew Kirkland (Jesuit HS/Oreg.) – OG
Dane Crane (Santa Margarita Catholic HS/Calif.) – C
Elijah Qualls (Casa Grande HS/Calif.) – DT
Andrew Basham (Lynnwood HS/Wash.) – DT
Jaimie Bryant (Tumwater HS/Wash.) – DT
Daeshon Hall (Lancaster HS/Texas) – DE
Marcus Farria (Centennial HS/Ariz.) – DE
Connor O’Brien (Santa Margarita Catholic HS/Calif.) – OLB
Caleb Tucker (Ouachita Parish HS/Louis.) – OLB
Sean Constantine (Bellevue HS/Wash.) – MLB
Kevin King (Bishop O’Dowd HS/Calif.) – CB
Cameron Van Winkle (Mt. Si HS/Wash.) – K

The class so far, made up of mostly three and four-star players, is a class that can come in and make an impact on the program right away. Whether it is on the field in games or improving the starters in practice, this class has lots of determination and heart. This class isn’t even near done either as Sarkisian and his staff of ace recruiters look to add some more top-tier talent. Here’s is a look at some of the remaining targets on the board and the kind of shot the Huskies have at landing each recruit.

Tahaan Goodman (Rancho Cucamonga HS/Calif.) – S
This long and hard-hitting safety has been considering the Huskies for a while now. He has family in the South and has been considering LSU, but recently has been focusing on four schools, those being UCLA, Oregon, USC and Washington. The Dawgs have a shot at landing this big-time recruit, but I think he ends up heading to L.A. to play for the Bruins.

Max Redfield (Mission Viejo HS/Calif.) – S
This kid is a player. One of the best safeties in California, if not the west coast, is a current USC- commit, but all those USC commits will be taking their visits as they never know when their scholarship offers could be lifted with the limited scholarships. Redfield was recently wowed by his trip to Notre Dame and has always consistently mentioned the Ducks, Irish, Huskies and Trojans in his top schools. The only way the Dawgs have a shot with him is if they impress him on his official visit up to Seattle for the Utah game. I still think he will end up at USC.

Myles Jack (Bellevue HS/Wash.) – LB
This pure athlete has always been on the Huskies radar. Ever since he moved up to Bellevue from the South, his recruitment and popularity has blown up. Even though he is currently committed to UCLA, the Huskies have always been in contact with him. He has been to every Huskies home game this season and seems to be wavering in his commitment a little bit. Even with this waver, I still think he ends up as a Bruin.

Danny Mattingly (Mead HS/Wash.) – TE/LB
A two way athlete, Danny Mattingly impressed many scouts during the course of this past summer. Colleges have given him the option to play either linebacker or tight end at the next level, but I see him as more of an effective linebacker for the Dawgs. Unfortunately, Mattingly is committed to Notre Dame, but the good news is that rumors have come out that he has silently decommitted from the Irish after he took an official visit to Washington for the USC game. However, Mattingly has always been enamored by what Oregon has to offer and if the Ducks accept his commitment, look for him to end up there.

Johnny Johnson (Central High East Campus/Calif.) – CB
When Johnson returned from his official visit to Seattle for the Stanford game, he exclaimed that he had a great time. This visit really put the Dawgs up there with his leaders, Stanford and UCLA, and the Dawgs have a good shot at landing this big-time corner prospect. If he gets into Stanford, he’s going there, but if he doesn’t, it will be a tight battle between the Bruins and the Dawgs. I think he’ll end up as a Huskie if this happens.

Joe Mathis (Upland HS/Calif.) – DE/OLB
This quick and strong elite pass-rusher is a former UW commit (that was a while ago though). He has all the makings and strength to contribute immediately at the college level and is looking to take an official visit up to Seattle after his high school season is over. The Huskies stiffest competition is UCLA, USC and Utah. I think Mathis will eventually end up as a Dawg again. His love is just too strong.

Other names to watch: Thomas Duarte, John Ross, Khalfani Muhammad, Riley Sorenson, Eddie Vanderdoes, Cameron Walker, Patrick Enewally, Austin Hooper, Aaron Cochran, Victor Egu, DeOnte Reynolds, Nic Purcell, Randy Gregory, Jermaine Kelly and Chris Hawkins.

In the end, I think the Huskies will come out of these last three months with prospects that have the potential to impact the program in a positive way. These prospects may not be all that highly rated, but in the end, the only thing that counts is their performance on the field. Many top-tier prospects have turned out to be busts and many under the radar recruits have turned out to be stars. You just never know. I think this Huskies staff has the eye and knack for impactful talent and I trust their experience to tell them who to recruit and who not to recruit. I mean their getting paid more money than all of us for a reason, right? I trust our smart and educated coaches.

Fans are fans and the reason why sports are so fun and entertaining to be around is because of all the true believers who think their team is number 1. Games and their results cause a great deal of commotion within the world of sports and there is a perfect example of this after the Huskies loss. Some Huskies fans started to call for Steve Sarkisian’s job following the loss, as well as the starting job of Keith Price, and I truly think that is absurd. Here are five reasons, just for that one guy on Twitter, that Sark will not be and should not be fired:

1. There is too big of a financial commitment towards him at the current time. Sark is a multi-million dollar per year coach and with a firing, the athletic department would be left with some serious need for money, especially after the stadium renovation. A new high-caliber coach would cost just as much or maybe even more as Sark and if you add up the money for the new coach and the guaranteed money for Sark, it just doesn’t work out financially.

2. Recruiting would take a serious hit. Sark has many ties within California as he has recruited that area for now over 7 or 8 years. He knows most of the powerhouse high schools coaches and to be honest, our team is basically made up of California kids right now. If we fire Sark, we lose most of these kids in recruiting and then end up with who knows what. Sark is too crucial for the Dawgs in recruiting.

Oct. 20, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback (17) Keith Price drops back to pass in the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

3. Sark is actually, believe it or not, a great football coach. Sure he can improve, but everyone can improve in their daily jobs. Sark has developed many quarterbacks over his tenures of coaching and this experience only attracts high school quarterbacks to the University of Washington. Every player listens when he speaks and even though he might not be the best at getting his teams prepared on game day, he has made the hires around him that will help out this problem in the future (yes Tosh I’m talking about you). Sark’s experience around college football is too valuable for the Huskies to lose.

4. Another coaching change just provides more instability and excuses, and sends the team into chaos. The Huskies just had an overhaul of coaches. They can’t have another coaching change, especially with the head coaching job, or the players won’t know what to expect when they come into the office day in and day out. I just experienced a coaching change and it was pretty tough for me. This was on a high school level. Imagine what it would be like on a college level! It would truly be detrimental to all the current players. The program needs continuous stability for a substantial amount of time.

5. Sark has shown VERY promising glimpses. Even though four years seems like a ton of time, in the whole scheme of things, it really isn’t. Sure Sark has had time to develop the program and get the kinds of players he wants, but his first full recruiting class is just becoming seniors next year. He has earned big wins over Stanford, Nebraska and USC in his tenure and this shows some big promise to me. You can’t dwell on these wins, but nonetheless, they show the program is heading in the right direction. Sark has learned more and more each year he has been with the Dawgs and I think that the comparison to Jim Harbaugh is a fair one. In both situations, both coaches have learned from their mistakes in the previous years and have acted on these mistakes, such as Sark making the moves to create a better defense. In my opinion it will all come to fruition for Sark next year. You can say it as many times as you want, but the fact is, the Huskies are still young. That’s not an excuse, it’s the truth. With Keith Price’s senior leadership next year, he should give everybody no doubt on who should be the coach in the future.

Oct. 20, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies tailback (25) Bishop Sankey leaps over a teammate as he runs the ball in the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Sure, right after the Arizona loss I thought that it was all because of the terrible coaching and play calling of Sark, but as I took a step back from it all and truthfully looked at the situation, I saw that the loss was not 100% of Sark’s fault. He is still adjusting without his adviser and OC Doug Nussmeier and I think this is the main reason why UW’s offense hasn’t been as explosive as last year. Nussmeier really helped with the plan of attack in games and I just don’t see the same wise plan in this year’s offense. Add in the injuries to the offensive line and an injured Jesse Callier and you have an offense struggling for points. This has been the case all season, but don’t look for it to continue into next year.

The one big thing that Sark can currently do, and needs to do, is to win at least four more games this season. With the exception of Oregon State, every one of the teams remaining on the schedule is very beatable. Sark just needs to get his players ready on game day. If Sark doesn’t win at least 4 of the next five games, I can see some of your guys’ calls for a new coach justifiable, but until then Sark should feel no pressure of his job being taken away.

I really think the Dawgs have a bright future and have thought for the past couple of years or so that 2013 could be a huge year in Seattle sports. The Seahawks should make a deep playoff run, the Sounders should make a deeper playoff run, the Mariners could be in contention with a few offseason signings and last but not least, the Dawgs could be looking at a Rose Bowl, at most, but definitely a solid bowl game in Keith Price’s senior year. The Dawgs are young. Just wait until the Dawgs become more mature and wise next year because when they do, you’ll be kicking yourself for ever questioning the ability of Steve Sarkisian and the rest of his coaching staff.

October 4, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) throws a touchdown pass during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Southern California defeated Utah 38-28. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

Offense

QB- Trojans- Matt Barkley is a surefire, top-ten, first round NFL draft pick this year. Probably even top five. He has all the tools you want in a QB and just gets the job done. Keith Price is a solid QB as well, but nobody matches up to the level of Matt Barkley in the conference, maybe even the nation (besides you, of course, Geno Smith). The Dawgs D will have a tough time, to say the least, with Barkley. Key Player: All-Around superstar Matt Barkley

RB- Huskies- This may come as a surprise to some people. You may ask how Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal aren’t more skilled than little old Bishop Sankey, but in my opinion, Sankey is the back of the future for the Dawgs. He has had three straight 100-yard rushing games and even though one of those games was against Portland State, Sankey has proved his worth to the Husky offense with other great performances against Oregon and Stanford. With Keith Price struggling, Sankey is a precious commodity. Key Player: Little, but tough, Bishop Sankey

WR- Trojans- I mean what more can be said about Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. I’ve stated in previous posts that the Huskies won’t face many teams with a better receiver than Kasen Williams, but the Trojans have two of those guys in Woods and Lee. Both, like Barkley, are surefire, first round NFL talent and when both are eligible (Woods after this year, Lee in two years) you can be sure they will have huge impacts on their NFL teams. There is only one Desmond Trufant on the Huskies, but two superstars on the Trojans. Trufant can only cover one. Good luck, Dez. Key Player: Track-star Marqise Lee

TE- Huskies- ASJ got dinged up last week against the Ducks and that’s the only reason why the Dawgs hold a slight advantage over the Trojans in this position battle, rather than a large advantage. The Trojans have two formidable tight ends in Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, but they don’t match the size and skill of ASJ. If he is healthy, look for ASJ to be a key factor in this game. He could mean the difference between a win and a loss. Key Player: Bully on the playground, Austin Seferian-Jenkins

OL- Trojans- With Khaled Holmes back and feeling 100%, the Trojans line will be led by an All-Conference caliber player in Holmes. Both lines, the Dawgs and the Trojans, have senior leaders at center, but more of the skill being on the Trojans side. The Huskies line has been getting better and better as more chemistry and experience have improved the entire line’s skill. However, I still think that the consistency and skill of the Trojan line out matches the young UW line. Key Player: DJ Khaled Holmes

October 4, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) and center Khaled Holmes (78) eye the Utah Utes defense during the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

Overall Offense- Trojans- The Huskies offense has been disappointing this year, to say the least. Not to say that the Trojans offense has been all that people thought it would be, but they still have one of the best attacks in the country, even if they only mustered up 14 points against Stanford. They will look to shred the Dawgs defense with Barkley, Woods and Lee and find their way back on the path to the national championship. Key Player: Trackstar Marqise Lee

Defense

DL-Trojans- The Trojans have got some big boys up front. Lead by the sudden emergence of Morgan Breslin, the Trojans defensive line has been solid all year. I think they may get a little over hyped and it will show in the fact that the Dawgs offensive line will finally be able to protect Keith Price. The Dawgs have Josh Shirley and Danny Shelton, but that doesn’t match the skill of the entire Trojan line. Key Player: Big man with the speed, Morgan Breslin

LB- Huskies- This year, Travis Feeney has been a huge surprise for the Dawgs, along with Thomas Tutogi. Both of these strong, quick young guys have been all over the field recently, after not even being considered as players who would have a big role in games this season. One of the reasons why the Huskies were able to stuff up the run against Stanford was because of this linebacking crew. USC’s backers aren’t as skilled as our Washington core. Key Player: The tarantula, Travis Feeney

Sept 27, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Josh Nunes rushes against Washington Huskies linebacker Thomas Tutogi (50) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (7) during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

DB- Huskies- With the surge of the stellar play of Desmond Trufant, not many secondaries will be as skilled as the Huskies. The trio of Trufant, Shaq Thompson, and Sean Parker have lots of skill between themselves and will attempt to contain Robert Woods and Marqise Lee Saturday. I think this will be a very tall task, but in the end, in my opinion, the secondary will be able to contain these superstar receivers. It could all depend on the play of Matt Barkley, but who knows, maybe Shaq will make a great INT just like last week and effect the game tremendously. Shaq will need to be on his game Saturday for the Dawgs to have a chance. Key Player: The five star, Shaq Thompson

Overall Defense- Huskies- I truly think that the Dawgs have the advantage on the defensive side of the ball. While the Dawgs have a solid pass rush which may not be as skilled as the Trojans, the Huskies have a better linebacking core and group of defensive backs than the Trojans and that is where the Dawgs will have the edge. However, if Washington wants any chance at a win, the secondary will have to be on their game. Key Player: The five star, Shaq Thompson

Prediction

I really have gone back and forth with this pick. I’ve constantly said to myself a couple of things: The Trojans just had a bye week, but the Dawgs beat Stanford and the Trojans didn’t! Hey maybe the Dawgs will pull it off! I mean the Dawgs do play amazing at home and are almost unbeatable, but the Trojans have one of the best offenses in the country… In the end, my prediction is that the Huskies will come through with a victory. Keith Price will find his groove and with a balanced rushing attack of Bishop Sankey, look for this offense to be clicking on all cylinders come Saturday. The defense will be motivated by the huge crowd and will support the offense in drastic ways. Dawgs win it, 30-24.

July 13, 2012;Alexandria, VA USA;USA West guard Nigel Williams-Goss (8) shoots a lay-up over USA Midwest forward Bobby Portis (14) during the Nike Global Challenge at Episcopal High School. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

Many believe the final two teams who are in it for Johnson are the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies. However, he has also taken official visits to San Diego State and Texas A&M. Johnson visited Seattle along with Nigel Williams-Goss and Aaron Gordon, which I think was a good move by Romar and his staff. He stated that he had an awesome time that weekend as the team went paint-balling and attended dinner several nights in a row at high end restaurants. As most recruits do, Johnson stated that the main reason for his interest in the Huskies was because of Lorenzo Romar. Everyone knows that he is a great guy and makes men out of kids. The players that come to UW usually state that the main reason they made the decision that they did, was because of the family type atmosphere and because of the head man, Lorenzo Romar. With many people slating Isaac Hamilton to fall to the San Diego State Aztecs, securing a commitment from Johnson is huge. A class of Nigel Williams-Goss, Aaron Gordon and Johnson would be outstanding. Of course, there’s always a chance that Hamilton does commit to UW and make the class a once in a lifetime class, but the Dawgs aren’t banking on that right now. They could find some JUCO transfers or under the radar players, like Andrew Andrews was, to round out the class if they don’t get Hamilton or Johnson.

My prediction for this recruiting battle is that the Dawgs will win out over the Ducks. Johnson has said in the past that the Huskies were the leaders for his services and the Ducks only joined in with the Huskies after he took his official visit to Eugene. Johnson fits the prototypical UW guard perfectly. He plays defense exceptionally well and has all the ability to score and shoot the ball. Look for Romar to get a key recruit this upcoming Sunday and bolster his 2013 recruiting class.

Offense

QB- Huskies- Keith Price has all the potential in the world. He just needs some time to pass the ball. Overall he has more experience and has better overall skills than the freshman Mariota. Key Player: KP17

RB- Ducks- This is what these stupid Ducks are known for. Their ground game. At times it seems unstoppable and that’s a fair assessment of the RB corps. DAT and Kenjon Barner are some speedy college kids. Key Player: Kenjon Barner

WR- Huskies- Again, as I have stated in the past, Kasen is most likely better than any of the opposing teams’ WRs. He is by far better than anybody that the Ducks have. The closest in skill to Kasen on the Ducks at the WR position is possibly, maybe, could be, Josh Huff. He’s always injured though. Key Player: Kasen Williams

Sept 27, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Kasen Williams (2) holds on to a reception while being tackled by Stanford Cardinal cornerback Usua Amanam (15) during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

TE- Huskies- ASJ is a first round NFL talent, and everybody knows that. The last time I checked, there wasn’t anything close to first round talent at the TE position for the Ducks. After all, how many players do they even have in the NFL? Key Player: Austin Seferian-Jenkins

OL- Ducks- The Huskies have been four lineman down for most of the season. That is a huge reason why our offense has been mediocre at best. The Ducks have a perfect offensive line to fit their scheme and that is why they win this position battle. Key Player: Nick Cody

Overall Offense- Ducks- Their just too quick and speedy. However, if the big three show up (KP17, ASJ and Kasen), look for the Huskies offense to be firing on all cylinders. Key Player: The X-factor, De’Anthony Thomas

Defense

DL- Ducks- This defensive line is scary. Probably the best in the PAC-12, with the exception of Star Lotulei at Utah, and it will be on full display for four quarters. Look for them to put up Seahawk-esque numbers in the sack department. The Dawgs’ line is solid, but can’t match the firepower of these big boys. Key Player: Dion Jordan

LB- Ducks- The Huskies LB core has been playing fantastically the past couple of games. With the emergence of Thomas Tutogi, the Dawgs look like they have a solid core for years to come. However, this group can’t beat the skill and experience of the Ducks. Seniors Kiko Alonso and Michael Clay (seems like he has been around forever) lead the talented crew in to battle. Key Player: Kiko Alonso

DB- Huskies- Even with the emergence of sophomore Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the Ducks’ secondary doesn’t have the skill and experience that the Huskies have. The loss of John Boyett was a huge one for the Ducks, let me repeat HUGE. He was a senior leader and likely would have made the defense one of the best in the nation. The Huskies have a future NFL-er in Desmond Trufant, as well as Shaq Thompson, and Justin Wilcox will use these two stars in as many ways as possible. Key Player: Desmond Trufant

September 22, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (14) runs for a touchdown following an interception in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-US PRESSWIRE

Overall Defense- Push- Both of these now stellar defenses have proved themselves this year, the Huskies more-so. The Ducks definitely have the edge up front and in the linebacking crew, but the Huskies aren’t far behind in skill in both of these positions. However, I think what makes this a push is the improved Huskies secondary under Keith Hayward and Justin Wilcox.

I’m always tempted to pick the Huskies over the Ducks and this can be credited to my passionate hate of Oregon. However, just like in sports, you can’t let your head and attitude get the best of you. The Ducks are still the superior team in this match-up. You just can’t deny the facts. Although I think the Huskies will win next year at home against the Ducks, the Dawgs will face a tough team in Autzen Stadium this year. My pick is the Ducks winning 41-24. I just don’t see the upset, but hey, these kinds of upsets have happened before. Just not that often.

First up, the good ol’ Stanford Cardinal roll into town. Fresh off their huge upset of USC, the Cardinal have a showdown scheduled with the Huskies, prime time on ESPN, Thursday the 27th. The atmosphere should be vibrant at CenturyLink, with the blackout theme in full effect, as the Huskies try to knock off a top-ten opponent at home. Remember, the first time they faced a top-ten opponent this year it wasn’t pretty, but that was against a proven title contending team. The Cardinal haven’t proved much outside of the USC game, as they narrowly pulled out the win against San Jose State in their opener, 20-17. This will be their first road test of the season and it will be a tough one to start out with. This time around, the Dawgs will be ready for a top tier opponent and coming off their bye week fresh and ready for the challenge, I think the Huskies will prove they are a top-25 caliber team. Who knows, if they win, it could prove to be the turning point in their season, but if they lose, everyone will be sourly disappointed. Husky Nation has marked this game on the schedule ever since last year, as a game where a statement could be made to not only the PAC-12, but to the nation and if the Dawgs fail to do so, expect many to view the season as a disappointment.

However, on this day, not just the game will be important. Another crucial aspect that the Huskies must ace on this Thursday, is from the recruiting side of the game. So far I know that Dane Crane and Conor O’Brien will be there, the two Santa Margarita (Calif.) standouts, and am suspecting that Budda Baker, Myles Jack and Sean Constantine will be joining them. It is a must for the Dawgs to impress these big time athletes and I think they will accomplish that. I see the Dawgs winning 31-27 in a thriller. I will be posting a photo blog of the game as well, as I will be in attendance in all black. However, this four day stretch is not only crucial for the football team, it is crucial for the basketball team as well.

July 13, 2012;Alexandria, VA USA;USA West guard Nigel Williams-Goss (8) shoots a lay-up over USA Midwest forward Bobby Portis (14) during the Nike Global Challenge at Episcopal High School. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

Starting on Friday the 28th, four crucial basketball commits will be arriving on campus at UW. Those four are Aaron Gordon, Kyle Washington, Darin Johnson and Nigel Williams-Goss. Many have viewed the 2013 class as a breakout class that could get the Dawgs to the final four. However with Jabari Bird already off the board, it is even more crucial that Romar pulls out at least one or two of these players on their official visits, besides Williams-Goss, who is already committed. Some consider Gordon as the top player in the nation and it is publicly known that he has favored UW at times, though he has recently stated all his final schools are even. He is Lorenzo Romar’s top priority and the key to the 2013 class. Also visiting on the weekend will be 6’9″ forward Kyle Washington out of Minnesota (attends school in New Hampshire). He’s down to three schools, NC State, Ohio State, and the Dawgs (not Baylor anymore as they have a plethora of forwards in the program now). Romar has not been able to recruit big men well lately, but I think Kyle Washington will change that. Washington and Gordon would match up very well together in the front court for the Dawgs.

The two guards visiting on the weekend are Darin Johnson as well as NWG. Darin is a solid defensive player, think Justin Holiday type, and NWG is a winner, point guard and an exceptional defender as well. These two guards will be the perfect complement to the offensive powerhouses of Gordon and Washington. Just think of these four playing on the same court at UW. WOW. It is crucial UW locks up at least one of these guys, if not all three. If Romar doesn’t get it done, the 2013 season might not be looking like a great one. However, with Isaac Hamilton and the Robinson brothers still out there, it is not a do or die situation for the Dawgs. Being said, it is still a very crucial weekend.

96 hours seems like a long period of time, but the four days will fly past. Over this time period, a season could be made and a team could create a bright future for themselves or the exact opposite can occur. The season could be lost and the future could look dull, not only for the football team, but for the basketball team as well. I have confidence that Romar and Sark can get it done, but it will be a tough challenge. Isn’t that what Huskies are made for though, tough challenges? I have faith in my Dawgs.