Washington linebacker Jacob Lane gets to Wisconsin quarterback Carter Smith and sacks him for eight-yards on third down, leaving the Badgers fourth and 17 from their own 18, Nov. 8, 2025 in Madison, Wisc. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
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By
Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
The University of Washington football team’s defense undoubtedly took a step forward in 2025.
Under coordinator Ryan Walters, the Huskies tightened their run defense, didn’t surrender more than 26 points in a game and saw the emergence of key young players who look like cornerstones for years to come.
And unlike a year ago when Walters arrived, UW will return several key contributors in the 2026 season.
Here’s a way-too-early look at what UW’s defensive depth chart might look like when it runs out of the tunnel against Washington State to open the season.
Edge rusher
Jacob Lane, sr., 6 feet 5, 260 poundsDevin Hyde, so., 6-5, 255 OR
Derek Colman-Brusa, fr. 6-5, 267
***
Isaiah Ward, sr. 6-5, 235 OR
Russell Davis II, sr. 6-3, 225 OR
Logan George, jr. 6-4, 260
Analysis: The Huskies must replace half of their edge-rusher rotation. Zach Durfee and Deshawn Lynch exhausted their eligibility in 2025.
But UW will return two contributors: Lane and Ward. A Puyallup native and former Emerald Ridge High School standout, Lane thrived during his first season with significant snaps. His four sacks were tied with Durfee’s total, and his 8.5 tackles for a loss led the team. Ward battled a lower-body injury through 2025 but registered 3.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks in eight games. His 6.5 tackles for a loss during a fully healthy 2024 campaign led the team.
The rest of the rotation remains uncertain. Davis missed the 2025 season because of a patellar-tendon injury. He has played in just three games during two seasons at UW but has three sacks. Coach Jedd Fisch said Davis will be limited to individual workouts during spring practices but expects to be cleared by May.
UW added George, an Ohio State transfer who enjoyed a strong 2024 at FCS Idaho State, and has two potential contributors in sophomore Hyde and incoming freshman Colman-Brusa. Hyde played in 13 games, primarily on special teams, in 2025. Colman-Brusa, a former Kennedy Catholic High School standout, was the state’s top prospect during the 2026 recruiting cycle.
Defensive tackle
Elinneus Davis, jr. 6-3, 317Kai McClendon, so. 6-2, 315
***
Darin Conley, jr. 6-3, 285 OR
DeSean Watts, jr. 6-2, 318
Analysis: No position group saw as much turnover during the offseason as the defensive line. Nine players — Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, Anterio Thompson, Simote Pepa, Logan Sagapolu, Bryce Butler, Jayvon Parker, Armon Parker, Caleb Smith and Dominic Macon — departed.
Davis is the only returning contributor. The Moorehead, Minn., native started 10 games in 2025, making 29 tackles (including 0.5 sacks) and batting two passes.
UW will rely on a host of transfers to join Davis: Conley, a Ball State transfer who ranked third in the Mid-American Conference for pressures generated by defensive tackles in 2025; Watts, a Sacramento State transfer who Pro Football Focus graded as the best run defender among FCS defensive tackles in 2025; and McClendon, who missed the 2025 season because of an ACL injury at Mississippi State.
Expect all four to contribute significant snaps, along with the potential emergence of a younger defensive tackle such as sophomore Omar Khan or freshman Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais.
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Linebacker
Jacob Manu, sr. 5-11, 225Xe’ree Alexander, sr., 6-2, 242
***
Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, so., 6-3, 225
Taariq Al-Uqdah, sr., 6-0, 232 OR
Ramzak Fruean, fr. 6-4, 215
Analysis: UW’s linebacker rotation looks solidified for 2026.
Manu, unencumbered by redshirt restrictions, will play his final season at UW along with Alexander, the LA Bowl defensive MVP whose late-season emergence was crucial to the Huskies’ strong finish in 2025. They’ll be joined by Rainey-Sale, a Tacoma native and former Bethel High School star who thrived upon his return from an ACL injury.
Fisch said Al-Uqdah is “doing great” in his recovery from an ACL injury but will not participate until fall camp.
So there may be opportunities for another linebacker to step up during spring practices, especially after Deven Bryant and Jonathan Epperson Jr. transferred. Fisch has been notably high on incoming freshman Ramzak Fruean, another former Bethel standout.
Nickel
Rahshawn Clark, so. 6-0, 195Rahim Wright II, so. 5-11, 197
Analysis: UW’s secondary is settled. Clark will continue to start after enjoying a breakout 2025. The former Garfield High School star had 21 tackles (including two for a loss and a sack), a forced fumble, two pass breakups and two interceptions.
But Clark will miss spring practices while rehabbing a shoulder injury.
It might be the perfect opportunity for Wright. He followed Fisch and secondary coach John Richardson from Arizona but missed the 2025 season because of an upper-body injury. Wright spent time at nickel in 2024.
Cornerback
Emmanuel Karnley, jr. 6-3, 184Rahsjon Duncan, fr. 6-2, 186
***
Dylan Robinson, so., 6-3, 205
Elias Johnson, so. 6-2, 170 OR
Ramonz Adams Jr., rs fr. 6-1, 175
Analysis: The Huskies’ cornerback situation is similar to 2025, when they brought in Tacario Davis, a high-impact transfer who had experience with Fisch, Richardson and teammate Ephesians Prysock, an established contributor who already was on UW’s roster.
Robinson is this year’s established contributor. He started five games as a freshman because Davis battled injuries and made 16 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss and a sack. He also forced a fumble, recovered one and broke up a pass.
Across from Robinson, UW will rely upon Virginia transfer Karnley, who played for Richardson and Fisch at Arizona in 2023. Karnley made 26 tackles including two for a loss, broke up eight passes and had an interception during his lone season with the Cavaliers.
The rest of UW’s cornerbacks are untested. Johnson has played 12 snaps during two seasons. Adams and Clemons redshirted in 2025. And UW added several freshman cornerbacks: Duncan, Jeron Jones, Ksani Jiles and Elijah Durr. All except Duncan, the highest-rated prospect of the group, enrolled for winter quarter.
Safety
Rylon Dillard-Allen, so. 6-0, 180CJ Christian, sr. 6-1, 205
***
Alex McLaughlin, jr., 6-2, 190
Paul Mencke Jr., so. 6-2, 195 OR
Gavin Day, fr. 6-3, 190
Analysis: McLaughlin, a consensus All-Big Ten honorable-mention selection in 2025, will remain UW’s box safety. Dillard-Allen will step into the vacancy at post safety, replacing Makell Esteen.
McLaughlin’s 92 tackles paced UW in 2025. He added two interceptions, six pass breakups, three tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery. He also scored two touchdowns — a pick-six against Washington State and a recovered fumble during a failed UCLA fake field-goal attempt. Dillard-Allen made 40 tackles as a freshman.
Behind Dillard-Allen and McLaughlin, however, there are some question marks. Christian, a transfer from Florida International University, missed most of 2025 because of a turf toe injury. He may play the third safety role Dillard-Allen shined in if Walters continues to experiment with that personnel group, especially after Vincent Holmes transferred.
After McLaughlin, UW can turn to sophomore Mencke Jr., a recruit of former coach Kalen DeBoer who played in seven games in 2025, primarily on special teams. The Huskies also signed blue-chipper Day from Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, and a strong spring practice season could launch him up the depth chart.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.