Projecting Washington football’s spring defensive stars

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Elijah Molden #3 and head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies celebrate after defeating the Boise State Broncos 38-7 in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Elijah Molden #3 and head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies celebrate after defeating the Boise State Broncos 38-7 in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
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Linebacker- Daniel Heimuli

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Washington’s top inside linebacker recruit in 2019, who redshirted while getting his body in shape,  Daniel Heimuli should have a shot at cracking the two-deep with a strong spring. I originally was going to put Josh Calvert in this spot, but before his knee injury derailed his freshman year there was a strong chance that he was going to start. If he’s on track with his rehab, he might end up stealing a starting spot. Heimuli’s main focus since getting to campus has been putting on weight while maintaining his functionality and short-area quickness, and it looks like he’s progressing well in those departments. The Huskies are really young at inside linebacker, with no true juniors or seniors on the roster, the “senior” players at the position are the redshirt sophomores, Edefuan Ulofoshio, MJ Tafisi, and Jackson Sirmon, so the Huskies are going to be very inexperienced in the middle of the defense, and the spring and summer is going to be huge for everyone at the position, Heimuli in particular.