Michigan Football: Scouting Week 2 opponent Washington

Michigan football will host Washington in the second week of the season and here’s what you need to know about the Huskies. 

Michigan football‘s game with Washington has been a highly anticipated matchup for quite some time. The first leg of the home-and-home was canceled last season due to COVID-19. It has since been rescheduled to be played in Seattle in 2028.

This year’s game is the marquee nonconference on Michigan’s schedule. It is also scheduled to be a primetime kickoff on ABC on September 11th. Michigan leads the all-time series 7-5. Read on to find out how Michigan football matches up with the Huskies this year.

Team Profile: Washington

2020 record: 3-1

Key losses: CB Elijah Molden, CB Keith Taylor, and LB Zion Tupuola-Fetui (against Michigan)

Returning starters: 18 (10 on offense, 6 on defense, and 2 on special teams)

Offense 

Washington’s 2020 season was limited to four games and it was unable to play for the PAC-12 championship because of virus complications. However, the four games were enough to allow quarterback Dylan Morris to gain some experience.

Morris was a steady game manager last year as Washington’s identity was built around pounding the rock. He completed about 61% of his passes, threw for 897 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. The Huskies may put more on his plate this season as a returning starter.

Morris will be breaking in a pair of new starting wide receivers though. Puka Nacua and Ty Jones were the Huskies top two leading receivers last year and they have transferred to BYU and Fresno State, respectively.

Terrell Bynum will be asked to step into a bigger role this year and Ja’Lynn Polk transferred in from Texas Tech along with former Wolverine Giles Jackson. Second year freshmen Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze are former four-stars. As of now, it appears that Bynum, McMillian, and Odunze are the top three.

Morris will also have a great safety blanket in tight-end Cade Otton. Otton is one of the best tight ends in the country and last season he had 18 catches for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns last season.

Morris will also have an excellent offensive line in front of him. Washington returns all five starters from a unit that only allowed 1 sack and 10 tackles for loss last season. Left tackle Jaxon Kirkland is the star of the group and he is currently projected as a top 10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. They pave the way for a deep running back group.

Who gets the first carry of the game is not really important as the Huskies rotate four backs. Sean McGrew was the Huskies leading rusher last year with 227 and 4 touchdowns on 5.3 YPC. He is the scat back while Kamari Pleasant was the third down back.

Richard Newton and Cam Davis got the least amount of carries last year, but it sounds like they are the top two backs entering the season. Perhaps Washington will have a little more clarity at this position after their season opener against Montana. Michigan fans saw last year that a four running back rotation does not work well.