Projecting Washington football’s spring defensive stars

 Defensive back- Julius Irvin

As an analyst, fan, and football geek, I’ve been anxiously awaiting Julius Irvin to step on the field for two years. After redshirting during the 2018 season, and sitting out the 2019 season with a shoulder injury, Irvin should be primed and ready to compete for one of the starting safety spots in 2020. Irvin has the versatility to play cornerback or safety, has great ball skills, physicality, and everything you could possibly want out of a Jimmy Lake defensive back. The son of former Los Angeles Rams’ All-Pro safety Leroy Irvin, Julius already has a knowledge of the position, and would make a dynamic duo (or trio) with rising sophomores Cam Williams and Asa Turner.

Sneaky bonus pick- Alphonzo Tuputala

A former standout at Federal Way High School, Alphonzo Tuputala clearly has a lot of fans on the coaching staff after playing in the four-game maximum during the 2019 season to preserve his redshirt. We previously discussed the youth at the position and Tuputala, who already has a Pac-12 ready body at 224 pounds, is an incredible tackler who plays with an exceptionally wide base, and don’t be surprised if he ends up as at least a back-up on the two-deep by the end of spring.