Following up the sort of remarkable career that was everything Chris Polk provided to the Washington Huskies is a difficult thing to do. I have a rule about being the guy that follows “the guy” and it’s a rule that means I try to not do that. A lot of it has to do with the expectations that people tend to have and place upon you.
I mean, it’s kinda like what Kalen DeBoer is dealing with in Tuscaloosa right now. But, well, he chose that. And he’s going to have to deal with it should he not live up to those expectations.
But Bishop Sankey didn’t really seem to struggle to accomplish great things and to meet the expectations that came with playing running back for the Washington Huskies after Polk was a dominant force from the UW backfield.
Sankey was really, really good. During his first season as the starter for the Washington Huskies, Sankey managed to run for 1,439 yards on 289 carries (that’s a lot of yards and a lot of carries) to go with the 16 touchdowns he scored.
That, my friends, is a lot of touchdowns. Just a ridiculous amount. He was so good at this.
Washington Husky football history: In 2012, Bishop Sankey picked up exactly where Chris Polk left off
Things kinda started a little slow as Sankey ran for 66 yards against San Diego State and then was held to 16 yards against the LSU Tigers. But things really picked up against Portland State (who he ran for 103 yards against) and then the Stanford Cardinal (who he ran for 144 yards against).
In the Huskies’ bowl game against Boise State (shoutout to the Las Vegas Bowl), Sankey managed to run for 205 yards. If that seems like a lot of yards to run for in just one game, that’s because it is. Sankey was incredible to watch.