Washington Huskies Football: Coach Sarkisian Press Conference Notes

Not too much of value was actually said this afternoon, and if anything a few issues got a little cloudier, at Coach Sarkisian’s press conference to kick off game week preparations for the season opener against Boise State on August 31st.

-Apparently Austin Seferian-Jenkins has not been officially cleared to play yet, and Sark refused to say whether or not he would be cleared by this Saturday. ASJ himself has made it clear via social media that he could play now, and Keith Price has also expressed confidence that the star tight end is healthy enough. So this could be some gamesmanship on Sark’s part, or it could be exaggerated optimism from ASJ and Price. I still expect Seferian-Jenkins to start, but I’ll quit trying to pretend like anyone knows for sure.

-The official depth chart for the Boise State game was released, but it is identical in just about every way to the chart released last week. At slot receiver John Ross is no longer listed above Jaydon Mickens. The spot is a tossup, and the starter will be decided later on. Travis Feeney and Princeton Fuimaono are also still battling to decide a starter.

-There were questions about starting tackles Micah Hatchie and Ben Riva. On last week’s chart Hatchie was listed at left tackle with Riva at right tackle. That is where they started last season, but in camp they had been switched around. The listing was not a mistake: Hatchie at LT, Riva at RT.

-Sark was asked about true freshmen, and most of the names he gave of players expected to contribute were assumed based on the depth chart. John Ross, Damore’ea Stringfellow at wide receiver, Joe Mathis at defensive end, and Trevor Walker at safety. He also said that wideout Darrell Daniels is will likely play, which comes as a surprise given that Daniels has impressed the least in camp among the top three freshmen at wide receiver. Safety Kevin King is listed as an “or” with the aforementioned Walker behind Will Shamburger, so it seems logical that he could see the field as well.

-Sark also talked a ton about how great Washington’s depth is and his gradual move from a total Pro-Style offense to something that has been mixed with more Spread elements.