Can Washington Football QB Jake Browning win a national championship?
By Bret Stuter
2018 Perfect stage
The 2018 season is the opposite of last year in many ways. For starters, neither the team nor Browning are remotely lauded at the national level. In fact, many lists of nationally top rated quarterbacks omit the inclusion of Jake Browning. Curiously, Sports Illustrated Chris Johnson and Eric Single called out Jake Browning as having a potential upside for a better than expected season.
Browning enters the 2018 still projected as one of the top 100 players by Sports Illustrated. While at 92, that ranking is based on his experience and accuracy. It helps that he, along with Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Hebert, are two of the few returning quarterbacks in the Pac-12 conference. Even though he made the top 100, Sports Illustrated points to the Washington opener at Auburn as the defining game for Browning’s senior season. We agree 100 percent. He has a great deal of upside this season.
Early test
The season opens with a true test. At Auburn will truly prove beyond a shadow of a doubt whether the Washington Football team belongs in the discussion for a national championship after week one. For that first game, the Huskies roster should be both as healthy and prepared as ever. And in that game, you can bet the Washington offense will blend both running and passing plays at the formidable Auburn defense.
Browning is the perfect quarterback for that game. You see, he doesn’t make mistakes. The key to winning on the road against a good team is just that, don’t give them the win. Besides, this 2018 team will not rely solely on Browning. As we discussed in a previous article, Browning benefits from the healthy return of Adams, McClatcher, Hunter Bryant, Quinten Pounds and Drew Sample.
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Add rookies Marquis Spiker and Austin Osborne to the mix, topped with a rookie tight-end with great hands, Devon Culp. Plus Browning will feel the heat to perform as the team has two talented rookie quarterbacks on the roster this year. Is this the year Jake Browning leads Washington to a national title? I believe he has the tools, and the players around him, to do so. But if not him, the roster has plenty of talented quarterbacks who very well can.