Washington Huskies Fall Camp: Five Players To Watch
Nov 17, 2012; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies cornerback Tre Watson (32) upends Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Kenneth Crawley (2) during a return in the first quarter of the game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
This should be titled “Five of the Players to Watch” because obviously just about everyone is worth keeping an eye on in fall camp. Just a handful of those individuals that I’m most interested in, whether it’s because they might win roles, grow into new ones, or just hold on to what they had last year. No particular order, by the way.
-Travell Dixon, CB: Generated a lot of excitement when he transferred from Alabama last year. Former four-star JUCO corner with a great frame at 6’1″ and 190 pounds. He sat out last season, so he had plenty of time to get familiar with Justin Wilcox and his defense. Now he just has to win the second corner spot from the crowd of competitors. That includes senior Greg Ducre, freshman Jermaine Kelly, and former walk-on Tre Watson. Already a redshirt junior eligibility-wise, this seems like his shot to impress and enter the lineup. I suppose he could try again next year, or fight for time mid-season, but he could very well find himself buried on the depth chart by then.
Considering that corner is one of the biggest questions on the defensive side of the ball, Dixon establishing himself early as a solid starter, or something even better, would be a really nice headache cure for the coaching staff. To me, if a guy like Ducre or Watson gets the job, it will likely signal that high-potential guys like Dixon or even Kelly disappointed, and that Ducre and Watson are being chosen as a safe, known quantity. There’s always the chance that Ducre or Watson could turn a corner and play at a high level, but I’ll be more excited about the secondary if it’s Dixon and Peters starting side by side.
-Brandon Beaver, S: I don’t know much about Beaver, other than that he has made the switch from corner to safety and that he’s full of potential. The free safety spot is up for grabs, with Will Shamburger the primary competitor. Don’t get me wrong, Shamburger has experience from splitting time with the departed Justin Glenn. The Huskies will not suffer for playing him, but if Beaver is comparable in camp, it make sense to get behind the younger guy with more potential to grow. Sean Parker is a senior, after all.
-John Ross, WR: It’s too obvious to put Damore’ea Stringfellow, a guy who I believe is likely to seize a starting spot. Ross is the under the radar third of the Stringfellow, Daniels, Ross trio of four-star Class of 2013 receivers. He also doesn’t wow with his physical dimensions like the 6’3″ Stringfellow and 6’4″ Daniels. But at 5’9″ he has a chance to fill a need in the slot that the other two can’t. Jaydon Mickens has a year of experience and is likely to stay further up on the chart, but if he isn’t ready to take a step forward in his production, it’s conceivable that Ross could find himself starting as a slot receiver at some point in the year. Impressing in camp would certainly increase his chances.
-Elijah Qualls, DT: If you haven’t noticed, it’s pretty much just Danny Shelton at defensive tackle. No one behind him on the depth chart seems destined to develop into an impact player. Enter Qualls, a disruptive 6’2″ 293-pound true freshman. Another case of “if he’s ready, he can play.” If he outshines his older comrades, it would not be shocking to see him starting. It’s just much more likely that he earns time in the rotation as a backup as the season goes on. Definitely someone to keep an eye on at a weak position.
-Mike Criste, C: Three out of the five are freshmen, and Dixon will be playing for the first time, but Criste is a different story. He is making the switch from guard to center to replace the now-graduated Drew Schaefer. Price and Sark have both complimented his play. If he continues to impress in camp, it’s likely that he will be dug in as the starter in what should be a much more consistent offensive line. If he struggles, turn your other eye (if you can do that?) to Dane Crane, the 6’3″ 304-pound freshman, one of the most highly rated center prospects in the Class of 2013.
Update 8/4/13 2:00pm: I was reminded on twitter that Tre Watson has actually moved to safety. So he no longer factors into the competition for the 2nd corner spot, instead he will likely compete at free safety with Shamburger and Beaver. Could end up being a backup at either safety spot. The way the coaching staff has freely converted corners to safeties and vice versa should help if injuries hit the secondary.