The Husky Haul
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Washington football’s running back situation

By Roman Tomashoff

Nov 29, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Richard Newton (28) flips the ball after scoring a touchdown against the Washington State Cougars during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Richard Newton (28) flips the ball after scoring a touchdown against the Washington State Cougars during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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There’s a lot of talent at running back for Washington football, but the question is, who’s going to carry the load?

When Washington football released their first official depth chart of the year on Monday, it was a shocker to most fans when they saw Kamari Pleasant listed as the starter. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll carry the load at the position, or even be out there for the first snap against Oregon State. With that being said, let’s take a look beyond the depth chart.

Whenever the offense takes the field for the first time, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Richard Newton is out there for the first snap of the game. The redshirt sophomore finished as the team’s leader with 11 total touchdowns in 2019, and the physical runner seems to be in line for a big workload no matter what the depth chart says.

New offensive coordinator John Donovan has preached a pro-style offense that seems to involve a lot of downhill running, and Newton is a perfect fit for that system. Pleasant will also see some touches, as “Steady Eddy” as Donovan calls him has been making plays in camp, which should translate into snaps.

Sean McGrew will most likely slot in as the pass-catching back, and Husky fans should expect to see him utilized in the same way the New England Patriots utilize James White. McGrew is the team’s best pass blocker, and will most likely be used accordingly in passing situations.

The biggest mystery is redshirt freshman Cam Davis. The coaching staff seems to rave about him every time his name is brought up, and right now, Davis is probably the best three-down back on the roster. He was a spark plug in very limited snaps during the 2019 season, and he could be what Newton was for the team in 2019, someone not listed on the original depth chart who makes a big impact.

Even in this year of free eligibility, don’t expect much, if anything from either true freshman on the roster. Both Jay’veon Sunday and Sam Adams II are exciting prospects, and will make big impacts over their careers at Washington, but they will most likely get a chance to prove themselves in 2021 after McGrew and Pleasant graduate.

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