Washington Huskies Linebackers Confidence in Defense ‘Through the Roof’

At one point last fall, the linebacker situation for the Washington football team could have filled an orthopedic wing in a hospital.

Jacob Manu and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale wore heavy knee braces as they recovered from knee injuries at their prior schools. Starting inside linebacker Taariq Al-Uqdah suffered one of his own in the Apple Cup, leaving the position to be filled by the unknown quantities of Xe’ree Alexander and Deven Bryant.

Seven months later, most of the knee braces are gone, and inside linebacker is arguably the strongest unit on the team.