Dawgs After Dark: What to Watch During Huskies’ Spring Game

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="4055"]

Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) jogs during a drill after avoiding a yoga ball being rolled by running backs coach Scottie Graham on a University of Washington field during spring practice on April 22, 2025. Credit: Aaron Coe, Emerald City Spectrum [/caption]

SEATTLE, Wash. - The second annual Dawgs After Dark spring game will look a little different than the first attempt a year ago.

When the game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Husky Stadium (BIG Network, KJR FM Radio), the Huskies will have enough players to form two full teams. Last year, with seven healthy offensive linemen, players all wore the same color of jerseys and bounced back and forth between two “teams.” This year, head coach Jedd Fisch joyfully looked at his current depth chart and divided the first and second-team units into what he believes are two equal teams.

With 17 scholarship offensive linemen ready to play Friday evening, this year’s spring game will feel more like a true game, with two rosters playing four quarters. The Huskies will play with a running clock except for the final two minutes of each half. There will be various activities, including appearances by several of UW’s other athletic teams and the marching band. There will be a DJ, and a halftime corgi race that might be compelling enough to keep some fans out of the open concession stands.

The winning team will earn a surf and turf meal with side dishes and desserts, while the losing team will have to chew on a loss with a side of nothing but rice and beans.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we can perform Friday night,” Fisch said after UW’s 14th and final spring practice on Wednesday. “Can we have some pressure, some anxiety with the people watching? How does that look? And then let’s stay healthy, and then get into our offseason training.

Though a few players will sit out as they recover from injuries, most of UW’s rostered players are expected to suit up and get on the field at some point. With first- and second-teams being spread across both teams, it won’t be clear who’s considered at the top of Fisch’s depth chart as spring closes.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1936"]

The Washington roster will be split into two teams for Friday’s Dawgs After Dark spring game. Credit: Washington Football on X.com . [/caption]

Here are some things to keep an eye on while perusing the roster and watching the team play some football for the final time prior to fall camp.

QB Demond Williams Jr. in the Pocket

There’s no question that Williams has electric running ability and a strong arm. He displayed both at times last season as a true freshman while coming into Washington’s first 11 games intermittently in place of sixth-year senior Will Rogers. He started the final two games. Playing behind a rickety offensive line, Williams was sacked 10 times in a blowout loss to Oregon. Some of that was on the line, but Williams held the ball too long. Though the line is likely to be improved this season, Williams will need to get rid of the ball more quickly to avoid negative plays. Scrimmages are much different than game situations, but Williams seemed to still hold the ball at times during the spring. Of course, that’s easier to do when the quarterback can’t be touched during practice. It’s clear, though, that Williams has embraced the role of QB1.

“He’s certainly evolved as a leader,” Fisch said. “You could certainly feel and see him out there, the fact that it’s his team now and he’s not sitting back. He can understand that it’s truly up to him.

“I’m going to commit to seeing how good we can be as a quarterback-playcaller tandem, and on the same token, I know he’s going to commit to seeing how good of a player he can be.”

RT Drew Azzopardi’s development

One of the surprises this spring has been the entrenchment of the 6-5, 315-pound Azzopardi at right tackle. After transferring from San Diego State last season, Azzopardi struggled against Big Ten competition. When Carver Willis (sr., 6-5, 291) transferred from Kansas State — where he started two seasons on the right side — it seemed a possibility that he’d stay on the right side, leaving last year’s part-time starters Maximum McCree (sr., 6-6, 295) and Soane Faasolo (soph., 6-8, 325) to battle for the left tackle position. Instead, Willis has taken almost all the first-team tackle reps with Faasolo and McCree playing predominantly with the second unit. Azzopardi worked during the offseason to improve physically as he heads into his junior season, and the UW offensive line coach, Michael Switzer, seems to have noticed, as indicated by Azzopardi’s consistent first-team reps during the spring.

“I worked really hard this offseason to get bigger, get faster, get stronger, and I feel like it’s working out well right now,” said Azzopardi on April 19. “So, I’m excited for this year.”

OL John Mills’ mullet

The true freshman offensive lineman, who stands 6-6, 320 pounds, features an elite blond mullet, but the coaching staff has likely been more intrigued by his play this spring. Mills has climbed the depth chart enough to earn substantial first-team reps at both guard positions. Though it’s too early to tell if he’ll crack the starting lineup, he appears on track to get some time on the field this season. Mills and fellow massive true freshman Champ Taulealea (6-5, 330) look to push apparent starting guards Paki Finau (RS-fr., 6-5, 310) and Geirean Hatchett (sr., 6-3, 306) during fall camp.

Young receivers

Starting outside receivers Denzel Boston and Omari Evans have missed much of the spring scrimmages with injuries, which has allowed UW’s young receivers to get the majority of first-team reps. Audric Harris (soph., 6-0, 190) appears to be the front-runner for the slot role. At 6-4, 210 pounds, true freshman Justice Williams looks the part, but is working on refining route-running. Fellow true freshmen Raiden Vines-Bright (6-1, 200) and Chris Lawson (6-1, 185) will likely see significant time in the spring game, as will sophomore Rashid Williams (6-1, 190).

EDGE Jacob Lane

The junior from Puyallup has taken advantage of Zach Durfee and Russell Davis missing much of spring while recovering from injuries. Lane (6-5, 260) has been disruptive to the offense. Though quarterbacks can’t be touched, coaches blew the whistle multiple times as Lane closed in on Williams and backup quarterback Kai Horton. He batted down some passes and also created some havoc on running plays.

TE Decker DeGraaf

Pressed into duty as a true freshman last year when starting tight end Quentin Moore was sidelined, DeGraaf (6-3, 245) has shown strong route-running and hands during spring. While Moore is back, DeGraaf seems poised to receive significant targets in the fall.

CB Rahshawn Clark

While 6-4 corners Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis have locked down the outside positions, Clark (6-0, 195) seems to have taken the lead for the slot corner role.

“Rahshawn Clark has done a tremendous job,” Fisch said. “You can see with Tacario Davis and Prysock as islands as the two corners, Rahshawn Clark is going to be a fantastic nickel for us, and he’s making play after play right now.”