Analysis: 9 Huskies Whose Health Holds Key to Huskies’ Big Ten Success
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Washington Huskies edge Zach Durfee celebrates after making a tackle against the Michigan Wolverines in a regular season game last season. Credit: Zach Durfee/Instagram [/caption]
Regardless of level, relying on players with a history of injuries is perilous in the sport of football.
Some athletes don’t stop getting hurt — unless they happen to be Michael Penix Jr. in a Washington Huskies football jersey. Penix suffered four season-ending injuries at Indiana prior to UW’s 2023 national championship game appearance and a Heisman runner-up finish. Those storybook recoveries are rare.
The Washington football team is expected to begin fall camp in good health, but the Huskies could use some Penix-level injury luck this season. A handful of players expected to play meaningful roles are returning from varying degrees of injury history. Much of Washington’s depth is young, which means a freshman is often the next man up if an upperclassman goes down.
Every football team suffers injuries. The lucky teams avoid them at key positions or sustain them in areas of strong depth.
When practice begins on July 30, we’ll have a few — most likely vague — injury updates from the UW staff, including how players recovered during the offseason, along with anything new that may have popped up over the summer.
In the meantime, here are eight players with some injury history who could make a difference for the Huskies this season.
Zach Durfee, Edge
After transferring from Sioux Falls prior to the 2023 season, the legend of Zach Durfee continues to grow. Now a senior, Durfee missed almost all of the run to the national championship game because he was not cleared to play by the NCAA after it determined that he had technically transferred for the second time. Fans got a taste of Durfee’s abilities early in 2024. The 6-5, 256-pound pass rusher looked like the best player on the field when he registered 2.5 sacks against Eastern Michigan. However, he was limited by multiple injuries the rest of the way.
Durfee’s health will be crucial to Washington’s performance on defense. He seems to be the one player slated to play on the five-man front capable of dominance.
Armon Parker, Defensive Line
A healthy Amon Parker could be another difference maker on a defensive line that includes a lot of solid rotational guys, but lacks major playmakers. Can Parker become that guy? Head coach Jedd Fisch singled out the 6-3, 315-pound defensive tackle toward the end of spring ball as a player who stood out.
What has stood out for Parker prior to spring was the junior’s string of injuries that kept him out of games since his senior year at Fordon High School in Detroit back in 2021. He could use a little injury luck this season, and so could the Huskies’ front.
Jayvon Parker, Defensive Line
It’s always tempting to lump the Parker twins together, and they each could use some good, individual health in 2024. Jayvon Parker showed flashes in 2024, but tore an Achilles tendon against Rutgers in the fourth game of the season.
Fisch indicated that the 6-3, 320-pound junior should be ready to participate in practices this fall. He played in eight games as a true freshman and 13 of 15 games as a sophomore. Washington’s defensive line should be improved this season, and both Parkers would help to lengthen the rotation.
Landen Hatchett, Center
The 6-2, 315-pound junior worked his way back into the starting lineup last fall after tearing an ACL in December of his freshman season. Hatchett could end up being UW’s best offensive lineman this season. A full participant in spring ball, Hatchett’s leadership is important for an improved offensive line that will be breaking in several new starters.
Geirean Hatchett, Guard
That’s two sets of brothers on this list. The elder Hatchett was part of Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2023, but spent most of 2024 on Oklahoma’s sideline after transferring and suffering a biceps injury. Hatchett’s return to Montlake gives the line a senior presence, and his backup may well be a true freshman (John Mills or Champ Taulealea).
Jacob Manu, Linebacker
Though Washington State linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah seems ready to hold down the middle linebacker position, the recovery of Manu would be a nice boost to the Huskies’ defense. Playing for Fisch at Arizona, Manu led the Pac-12 with 116 tackles in 2023 and was a first-team all-conference selection. The 5-11, 225-pound linebacker suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2024 and said during spring ball that he expects to return in the middle of fall camp. The Washington staff will likely be cautious with the senior linebacker during camp and in the early part of the season.
Quentin Moore, Tight End
Moore played sparingly for his first three seasons, which included one of the biggest moments in recent UW football history — a decisive two-yard TD catch in the 2023 Pac-12 title game against Oregon. Expected to be the starter at one of Washington’s thinnest positions in 2024, Moore was injured after his first catch of the season when a Weber State player left the sideline after play began to make the tackle. While sophomore Decker DeGraaf will have a year of playing time under his belt, Moore’s experience and strength at 6-4, 260 pounds will be a necessary element in both the passing and running game in 2025.
Russell Davis II, Defensive Line
Similar to Durfee, Davis offered one game last season that showed a glimpse of what might be. The 6-3 defensive lineman/edge earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording three sacks against UCLA on November 15. The junior played in just three games due to injuries and is a much-needed threat to get into opponents’ backfields despite being on the light side at 220 pounds.
Denzel Boston, Receiver
Boston seems to be fully healthy, and it could be argued that his injury history is not worthy of being included on this list. However, his health is crucial for a receiver room that has promise but lacks experience. Boston, who some believe has the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, caught 63 passes for 834 yards and eight touchdowns last season. The 6-4, 209-pound downfield threat suffered an injury in the Sun Bowl and missed the majority of team sessions during spring ball after what Fisch described as a “cleanup” surgical procedure.
Penn State transfer Omari Evans, who also sat out most of spring, caught 21 passes last season. Rashid Williams (11 receptions) and Audric Harris (2) are the only other receivers to catch passes in college last season.
Honorable Mention
Ryan Otton, who was UW’s top-ranked recruit in 2022, missed the entire 2024 season and all of spring ball due to injury. Washington coaches have not said much about his status for the fall, other than he’s working his way back. Two receivers with some injury history could factor in UW’s offense. Kevin Green Jr. sat out in 2024 after transferring from Arizona due to an ankle injury. Raiden Vines-Bright, the star of the spring game, is a true freshman who missed much of spring ball and part of his senior year of high school with injuries. Both receivers will be fighting for playing time this season. Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, the Huskies top recruit from the Class of 2025, could contribute this season at linebacker with a strong recovery from an ACL tear suffered last year at Bethel High School.
