Living On the Edge: Huskies Hoping to Turn Up Heat On Quarterbacks

SEATTLE, Wash. — They’ve talked about him for years, though he’s seldom been seen on Montlake.

The two biggest legends in the Pacific Northwest the last couple of years may as well be Sasquatch, with reports of an edge rusher believed to be a creature who can wreak havoc upon opposing quarterbacks. Husky fans are hoping for some Zach Durfee sightings playing the edge position for Washington this fall.

In some footage, believed to be real, Durfee is seen feasting on Eastern Michigan for 2.5 sacks in the second game of the 2024 season. He’s seldom been seen since. Between an NCAA decision that seems laughable in the current transfer climate and some bad injury luck, Durfee has played, at most, four games at full health in two seasons. Still recovering from offseason surgery, Durfee did not participate in spring ball.

One of those was a few snaps in the 2023 Sugar Bowl win over Texas in the College Football Semifinal, after he was finally cleared to play when the NCAA finally granted his eligibility waiver nearly a full year after his transfer from Sioux Falls. Last season, he played in the first three games before missing most of the remainder of the season with turf toe and hip injuries.

A healthy senior season from Durfee — as well as Junior Russell Davis II — could help answer one of UW’s most important questions for 2025: Can they get to the quarterback?

It was a major issue for Washington last season. The Huskies gave up almost twice as many sacks (39) on offense as they recorded on defense (20). A deeper dive reveals that it was even more troubling than the paltry average of 1.5 sacks per game — only 25 of 134 FBS teams got to the quarterback less often.

• 2.5 came from Durfee in one game
• Davis, who also missed most of the 2024 season, notched three against UCLA, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Inside linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala, a sixth-year senior last year, led the team with 3.5 sacks.
• That left 16.5 sacks from the defensive front, and only a handful from those who lined up at edge most of the season.

Will it get better in 2025?

While it may be unreasonable to expect anyone on the roster to post a double-digit sack season, a new defensive coordinator, scheme — and perhaps a little health luck — should help the Dawgs put some more heat on passers. Ryan Walters brings his 5-1-5 (five-man front, one linebacker, five defensive backs) base defense that will feature rotations of different body types and skill sets along the front. It will be interesting to see how much the secondary gets involved with the pass rush, as the Huskies did not get a single sack from a defensive back during Steve Belichick’s lone season as DC.

Here’s a look at who will try to bring some heat this season. We’ll sort these into Field (wide side of the field) and Boundary (short side nearest the sideline), though some may play both sides. We’re including some players listed as defensive linemen who are expected to play mostly on the outside.

Field Edge

Jacob Lane (6-5, 260, Jr.)

One of the stars of spring ball, the Puyallup native took advantage of first-team reps while others recovered from injuries. Lane played sparingly in 2024 but was in the backfield a lot during the spring. He’s going to see the field a lot this season.

Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei (6-4, 280, Sr.)

Uiagalelei played at Arizona the past three years, including two under current UW coach Jedd Fisch. He started 12 games for the Wildcats last year, finishing with eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. While he’s unlikely to plant quarterbacks on a regular basis, he’ll cause some problems in the running game and put some occasional pressure on passers while also spending some time at defensive tackle.

Zach Durfee (6-5, 256, Sr.)

If fully healthy, Durfee has the potential to be one of the Huskies’ best against the run and pass. Against Eastern Michigan, Durfee was arguably the best player on the field. After that, he played through pain in some games while missing others.

Deshawn Lynch (6-5, 300, Sr.)

Like Uiagalelei, Lynch may flip between tackle and edge. He possesses quick feet for a big guy, which allows him to disrupt against the pass and run at times.

Boundary

Isaiah Ward (6-5, 235, Jr.)

Ward spent most of spring on the first team and seems poised to improve on this total of three sacks last season, which tied him for the lead among the defensive front along with Davis. Ward has the speed and motor to get to the quarterback, and would seem the most likely to approach 10 sacks. Listed at 227 last season, Ward struggled to hold up against the run. With a few extra pounds (and perhaps a few more by fall), Ward should take abig step forward in 2025.

Russell Davis II (6-3, 217, Jr.)

After transferring from Arizona last season, Davis played in just three games because of injuries. He dominated against UCLA, recording three sacks and a forced fumble. Like Ward, he could use a few more pounds to become a more well-rounded player, but is a dangerous pass rusher when fully healthy.

Milton Hopkins (6-4, 240, Sr.)

The lone walk-on in the edge room for Washington has a chance to get on the field due to his work ethic and relentlessness.

Caleb Smith (6-5, 265, Fr.)

The true freshman spent most of spring on the third team, but appears to have the raw skill set to be a factor in a year or two for the Huskies.