Ahead of Saturday’s first game of the season, the Huskies’ HC Jedd Fisch delivered his Monday pre-game presser. Fisch said that at this stage of practice, it is certainly that time that you want to be able to compete against somebody other than the guys you have been competing against all summer. Adding that he is looking forward to seeing the fans show up Saturday at 8 o’clock for the game. After discussing his enthusiasm for the start of a new season, he took questions from the media. Here are three takeaways from Fisch’s Monday presser.
Fisch says freshman WR Raiden Vines-Bright will start Saturday
During Monday’s press conference, Fisch was asked if WR Raiden Vines-Bright would start on Saturday. On whether or not Raiden would start on Saturday, here is what Fisch had to say:
“I think Raiden will start, I think Raiden will start for us, right now going into Saturday. He deserves it based on how he practiced, how he prepared, the plays that he made when the opportunity presented itself. We all saw the plays he made during the Spring Game when the opportunity presented itself. We saw the plays he made during the scrimmage when the opportunity presented itself. As practice has continued, he has continued to show up.”
Raiden Vines-Bright has made several big catches both in the Spring Game and the Mock Game scrimmage. During the Spring Game, Raiden Vines-Bright hauled in an amazing touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone. Demonstrating his impressive body control, he dragged his toe in bounds to complete the catch. That momentum from spring has carried over into fall camp, as Vines-Bright has now earned the start at WR for the first game.
Also, Fisch added that freshman receiver Dezmen Roebuck has impressed the coaching staff as well. He expects both Roebuck and Vines-Bright to play on Saturday. Those two freshmen will play along with Denzel Boston, Omari Evans, Audric Harris, and Rashid Williams. Boston is the leader of this group and finished the 2024 season with 63 catches for 834 yards and 9 TDs. Omari Evans 21 catches for 415 yards and 5 TDs. Last season, Audric Harris had two catches for 17 yards, and Rashid Williams had 11 catches for 138 yards and a TD.
RB Jonah Coleman, a leader in the Huskies’ RB Room
When speaking about RB Jonah Coleman, Fisch raved about the player and the leader he has become. Coleman was recently named a team captain this past Saturday, and here is what Fisch had to say about his senior RB:
“I do think that Jonah is really comfortable this year. Really comfortable with every part of being a captain, every part of being a lead dog running back. Understanding exactly what it means and what it looks like. When he got here, he wasn’t the lead dog our last year at Arizona. We had two guys that went on to play in the NFL right now. So, Jonah was third guy mixing in with the two and the one. Now, this past year he has now done that for a year, and now his confidence is even higher.”
Fisch has seen Jonah Coleman grow over the last four years of coaching him. From a freshman learning how to play the position, to now being the leader of his running back room. Coleman has now been recognized as such by being named a captain. He has been a leader for the young running backs Adam Mohammed, Jordan Washington, and Quaid Carr to look up to.
Looking at Coleman’s performance on the field, last season he rushed for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns. He can also make plays in the passing game, having caught 23 passes for 177 yards in 2024. Off the field, he has developed a close relationship with Adam Mohammed as the two have pushed each other in the weight room. Fisch says he expects Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed to be workhorses this year.
Fisch talks about the position battle between Leroy Bryant and Rashawn Clark at nickelback
Throughout fall and spring, DBs Leroy Bryant and Rashawn Clark have been battling for the nickelback position. Here is what Jedd Fisch had to say about the position battle and who will play Saturday:
“They have just been battling. The competition has been really, really good and it’s just been fun to watch. One guy come in, make a play, one guy come in, make a tackle, one guy come in, make a pick, and then lose a rep, and that competition is constant. I think Leroy continued to make plays on the ball, which was a big thing, and was in the right position at the right time, and competed really hard every chance he had. He and Rahshawn will rotate whether it be by series or by personnel groups, but will see both those guys.”
Each of these two DBs has battled hard throughout spring and fall camp. Fisch expects both Rahshawn Clark and Leroy Bryant to rotate at the position depending on the series and personnel. Leroy Bryant has played in 13 games over the last two seasons and has five career tackles. Bryant has played two seasons at UW, while Rahshawn Clark appeared in one game in his freshman year during the 2024 season. Leroy Bryant is expected to play the majority of the time, given his experience and play in practice.
Besides the nickel position, the Huskies also have new faces at other positions. WSU transfer LB Tariq “Buddah” Al-Uqudah will lead the Husky linebackers. Al-Uqudah had 76 tackles (including 5 TFLs) and 3 INTs in 2024. Safety Alex McLaughlin, who transferred to UW from NAU, had 96 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 6 PBUs, and 2 FF in 2024. These two transfers will have an immediate impact on a defense that already includes safety Makell Esteen and edge rusher Zach Durfee, who are both captains. Makell Esteen had 44 tackles in 2024 (2 TFLs), and Zach Durfee had 16 tackles (4 TFLs), with 2.5 sacks.
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