Washington Huskies Linebackers Confidence in Defense ‘Through the Roof’
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Huskies linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (23) attempts to evade coach Brian Odom during a spring ball drill as Xe’ree Alexander (10) and Jacob Manu (9) look on at the University of Washington on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Credit: Aaron Coe/Emerald City Spectrum [/caption]
SEATTLE, Wash. — At one point last fall, the linebackers 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.
“With this group in particular, I've got a [linebacker] room that's full of pro pro players, or pro possibility players,” said linebackers coach Brian Odom after UW’s final open spring practice Tuesday ahead of Friday’s spring game. “Got a lot of experience. It's well documented, and they’ve played like it this spring.”
The problem is, most of the time just one or two of them will be on the field during any given play. Manu, a fifth-year senior who suffered a midseason knee injury while playing for Arizona in 2024, played in four regular-season games last season to preserve his redshirt. Rainey-Sale, Washington’s top recruit from the 2025 freshman class, played eight games as a true freshman last year after recovering from a knee injury that occurred while playing his senior year at Bethel High School.
While the knees healed for many, a one-time lightly recruited linebacker from Auburn who graduated from Kenney Catholic in 2022 became a star. Alexander started his career at Idaho, played at Central Florida in 2024, and then became a somewhat unexpected second-leading tackler in UW’s 15th-ranked 2025 scoring defense.
“He just grew within his role, and his role expanded throughout the year,” Odom said. “And he played better and better and better. To that kid's credit, he's one of the few people I've been around that, he didn't complain about playing time, and he just literally worked and got better. And it showed on the field, and ended up playing very well throughout the remainder of the season.”
While Bryant moved on to USC in hopes of more consistent playing time, Alexander decided to return for his senior year at UW knowing he’s likely to be in a time-share. Walters came to UW with a base 5-1-5 defense that includes just one linebacker. It evolved into more consistent two-linebacker packages during the season, and he’s deployed a look of Manu and Alexander at linebacker and Rainey-Sale as a big nickel at times in the spring.
“I don't think I really care that much,” Alexander said. “We’re all really great players, and I feel like we all can get to the next level. I think it's just up to the coaches — it’s not up to me. I don't really care. We're all going to be on the field. I know that for sure.”
Redshirt freshman Donovan Robinson Jr. and true freshman Ezaya Tokio are ready to jump in if another M.A.S.H unit is needed this season.
Alexander believes the defense will take another step forward this fall as the group’s confidence has grown significantly in the second year of defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ system.
“Oh, it's through the roof,” Alexander said of the team’s confidence. “We honestly think we're a Top 10 defense in the nation for sure right now. The confidence is just amazing.”
After Al-Uqdah went down in the Apple Cup, Manu returned a little earlier than expected to help Alexander and Bryant a week later in a loss to Ohio State. Though he didn’t feel 100% last year, he edged Alexander as the unit’s top-rated linebacker according to Pro Football Focus.
“I feel like coming back, that was kind of just like me getting used to it again,” Manu said. “Still wasn't fully healed all the way, but this year I feel 100% good.”
Part of the transition to playing in the Big 10 for Alexander and Rainey-Sale was packing on some extra muscle. Alexander arrived at UW around 220 pounds, while Rainey-Sale played most of last season at around 220 as well. As a true freshman coming off a knee injury, Rainey-Sale made a point of bulking up during the offseason after a few “Welcome to college football” moments as a true freshman despite his strong overall play.
His first home game, a UW win over Illinois, one play stands out in his mind.
“Illinois' game, the tight end, like he threw me back like 15 yards into the end zone, damn near,” Rainely-Sale said. “So I was, like, ‘They strong.” And I feel like my biggest thing this offseason was getting with [UW strength coaches] and getting right in the weight room.”
Injury Updates
Sophomore safety Rylon Dillard-Allen has missed many of the team sessions during spring with a minor injury. He worked in a lot with the first team on Tuesday, which could mean he’ll be available to play a role in Friday’s spring game.
Rainey-Sale has been wearing a gold non-contact jersey during spring, but it seems he would be able to practice and play if a regular-season game were to be played this week.
“I'm doing good,” he said. “I'm just trying to take steps to get my body back to 100%, but I'm sure I'll be back on Friday.”
Jordan Clay and Christian Moss, both battling for the “X” receiver position, suited up on Tuesday, though I didn’t see them during 11-on-11 sessions.
Notable Plays from Tuesday
Rashid Williams continues to hold down the “Z” receiver position after missing most of the 2025 season with injuries. He caught a wide-open 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Demond Williams Jr. in a red zone drill. He caught another TD in a drill that fired up the entire offensive unit.
True freshman safety Gavin Day received a somewhat of a gift interception on an overthrow from backup quarterback Elijah Brown, but Day showed some soft hands to pull it in just before it hit the turf.
Quaid Carr flashed some speed on a 65-yard TD run. It was on the other side of the field, so it was hard to tell if a defender could have found a way to drive the apparent sophomore starting running back out of bounds if greenlighted to tackle in a game situation.
Carr was met in the backfield by freshman edge Ramzak Fruean at one point, and it would have been tough to escape a 5-yard loss in a live-tackling setting.
Rainey-Sale has not been surprised by Fruean’s ascension, which has included second-team and occasional first-unit reps this spring.
“Crazy — he’s going to get after the ball,” Rainey-Sale said. “Energy type of guy.”
“To be honest, I think ‘Zak could play all three levels. I think he can play safety, linebacker and edge if he wanted to. He’s one of those ones.”
Dawgs After Dark
Washington will hold its only closed practice of the season later this week prior to Friday’s “Dawgs After Dark” spring game. Entry for the game is free, but tickets are required. Information and ticket access can be found HERE.
