Washington’s Spring Game featured a unique format under the lights inside Husky Stadium. The four-quarter game featured 12-minute quarters between the “Purple” team and the “Gold” team, with rosters evenly split. It was not a first team vs. first team format. The defense shined under the lights with several players entering the stats column. On offense, one true freshman wide receiver had a performance that put him over the century mark.
Washington Spring Game Reaction
MVP Spring for Clark
Throughout April, cornerback Rahshawn Clark was one of the most impactful players on the Huskies’ defense. He unofficially logged seven interceptions during team periods and scrimmages this Spring. “Rahshawn had one of the best Spring’s on the team.” Jedd Fisch said after the Spring Game. “He might have been in the conversation of the MVP of the Spring, top five.” He kept that performance going on Friday night in Washington’s Spring Game.
On a short pass to the tight end, Clark crashed down on the ball carrier, punched the football out, and jumped on the loose ball. The Gold team took over and capitalized with a short touchdown drive to extend their lead. The redshirt freshman has had the opportunity to play a few different positions this Spring with some of the minor injuries in the cornerback room. “Rahshawn has taken a lot of reps at nickel and at corner. He’s continuing to improve and get better.” Fisch added. “He’s a good football player, really good football player. We’re going to see a lot of him this year.”
Raiden Vines-Bright
On the other side of the ball, true freshman wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright had a great evening on the football field. He unofficially hauled in eight catches for about 140 yards and a touchdown. Fisch said that the freshman receiver missed six practices this Spring with a hamstring. He was only fully cleared last Monday, and he stepped up inside Husky Stadium on Friday Night.
Vines-Bright’s touchdown reception was a 16-yard catch from another freshman in Kini McMillan at quarterback. The pass was a very well-placed back shoulder to the far side of the west end zone. Vines-Bright adjusted to the pass, making a great hands catch while having spatial awareness to get his left toe down inside the end zone for the score. “We saw that talent when we recruited him,” Fisch said after the Spring game. “It was great to watch him come into his own tonight.”
Transfer Safeties’ Big Plays
The Husky defense pulled down four interceptions during the Spring Game on Friday night. Washington’s transfer safeties CJ Christian and Alex McLaughlin caught two of them. “Those guys have been steadily progressing,” Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said of the two after the game. Christian’s interception was the team’s second of the game, and he caught it at his team’s own four-yard line and returned it 65 yards into field goal range with seconds remaining in the half.
McLaughlin also nearly took his interception back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Northern Arizona transfer intercepted the ball at the goal line before returning it 80 yards. McLaughlin was tracked down by the speedy Jordan Washington at the opposite 20-yard line. The two transfer safeties showed great displays of athleticism and quickness, making the catches and weaving down the field to put the offense in plus territory.
“Glad we’ve got those guys in the locker room,” Walters said of the two. The coordinator added that he’s focused on getting their bodies, and the rest of the safeties’ bodies in Big Ten shape prior to this Fall. But he added, “Happy with where they’re at and definitely happy with where they’re headed.”
Young Players Create Turnovers
True freshman Rylon Dillard-Allen also had an interception that he took back for a touchdown. Quarterback Dash Beierly was pressured by Bryce Butler on the play. The near-sack allowed Dillard-Allen to step in front of the pass and take it to the end zone.
Redshirt freshman Elias Johnson had the team’s other interception on Friday night. It was the first pick of the evening, and it came off a 45-yard pass from Kai Horton. It sailed down the far sideline where Johnson maintained inside leverage on the receiver. The pass was slightly inside, and Johnson recorded the pick. In addition to the interception, Johnson also recorded a pass breakup early in the game also off of Horton at quarterback.
Main Image: Nick Lemkau
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