As always, the starting quarterback will be the apple of many fans’ eyes. Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers is widely assumed to be the week one starter, but true freshman Demond Williams is giving him all he can handle. Both players have had their ups and downs during spring practice, but Williams has definitely made his mark with the coaching staff, so much so that fellow freshman Dermaricus Davis decided to enter the transfer portal. It would be a longshot at this point for Williams to start week one, but he is certainly making a case to shorten Rogers’ leash.

The spring game will feature both quarterbacks in one way or another, but a strong performance by either player could go a long way toward swaying the quarterback competition. Williams is by far the more talented player, but Rogers has the veteran leadership and composure that the team needs at this point.

The offensive line is by far the most concerning position group for the Huskies at this point. Currently, only San Diego State transfer Drew Azzopardi is locked in as a starter after impressing at right tackle. At the other four positions, many combinations of linemen have struggled against a talented group of pass-rushers.

This is especially worrying considering the options at quarterback, evading and escaping pressure is not one of Rogers’ strengths, and while it is a selling point for Williams, putting a freshman quarterback under constant duress is not a recipe for success.

The coaching staff does have help on the way in the form of multiple transfers, including Old Dominion tackle Chris Adams and Portland State center D’Angalo Titialii, who could help ease some of the struggles. The spring game will be a chance for players like Soane Faasolo and Elishah Jackett to get one last look before the transfers arrive and the competition begins anew this fall.

Currently, the Huskies have only four tight ends on scholarship, with three participating in spring practice (freshman Charlie Crowell is not yet on campus). This has left the team with issues relating the preferred offensive scheme. 12 personnel, which includes two tight ends on the field, is difficult to execute at all times when Quentin Moore is the only experienced player at the position. That said, freshman Decker DeGraaf has played far beyond his years, impressing the coaching staff in the process.

The coaching staff will likely turn to the transfer portal for one or two more other options, but an impressive performance by DeGraaf and sophomore Ryan Otton could give the staff more confidence in the group going forward.

If DeGraaf has earned that second spot behind Moore, the coaching staff doesn’t have to go hunting for a big fish and may even feel that scholarship opportunities could be better utilized at a different position. A big day from both DeGraaf and Moore could be critical to the determination of the depth chart going forward.

With the departure of most of last season’s team, the Huskies desperately need veteran leadership. They found it on the offensive side with Rogers, but the defensive side has relied on homegrown talent that stayed loyal to Montlake.

Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener will be key pieces both on and off the field. The seniors have established themselves as vocal leaders who have helped many of the younger players adjust and create a fully cohesive group. It also helps that both players are stars in their own right and were integral at different points of the Huskies’ national championship run.

The spring game will also allow them to continue to adapt to the implementation of in-helmet communication. Bruener will be taking that responsibility going into the season and this will be an important opportunity for him to communicate with his fellow starters and the coaching staff while adjusting to the new system.

The defensive line may be one of Washington’s more underrated groups. Players like defensive tackle Jayvon Parker, and edge rushers Lance Holtzclaw, Russell Davis, and Isaiah Ward provide a tremendous combination of upside and impact that should allow the team to rush opposing quarterbacks with effectiveness this fall. Since they haven’t faced the stiffest of tests in practice against the young offensive line, the spring game will likely be yet another dominant showing.

The main issue with the defensive line is the sheer amount of talent the Huskies possess. Getting everyone involved with the reps they need to develop is difficult, so there should be a healthy rotation during the spring game of players looking to lock in their roles for 2024.