We are getting closer – Washington doesn’t play until the 31st, but there is college football on next weekend. With 19 days to go before the Huskies kick off, we examine who will have the biggest impact as a non-starter.

Note: We do not yet officially know who will be in the starting lineup. Given the brand new coaching staff and the high turnover in the squad, this is just a prediction of who might not be in the starting lineup.

RB Cam Davis

Jonah Coleman will get the bulk of the action, but sixth-year senior Davis should be able to carve out a role as a backup and form a strong one-two punch in Washington’s backfield. In his last fully healthy season in 2022, he took over 100 carries for more than 500 yards and 13 TDs. He also has 38 receptions over the course of his Husky career. The only other running backs on the roster are other veterans — Daniyel Ngata and Sam Adams II — but they’re lower in the rankings, or true freshmen like Adam Mohammed and Jordan Washington.

The only other question is whether the offense will focus enough on the running game to give the number two enough opportunities to make an impact. With a brand new offensive line that will likely feature a lot of young players, OC Brennan Carroll could lean on the running game, which is typically easier to master than pass blocking. Davis has the productivity and opportunity to shine in the number two role in this offense.

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DL Voi Tunuufi

I’m using the same logic here as I did with Davis – a veteran player with some career production who is expected to get a lot of snaps but isn’t a starter. Tunuufi is a very versatile player that more than one coaching staff hasn’t quite figured out where he fits best. At 6’1″ and 280 pounds, he can be used at multiple positions on the defensive line. All we’ve heard is that DC Steve Belichick’s defense will be extremely versatile and have hyper-specific game plans for each opponent, which could give a player like Tunuufi plenty of opportunities to get on the field. His 9 sacks in three seasons are also the most in the FBS of any player on the roster, so he’s proven in the past that he can make a splash in a non-starter role too.

Linebacker Bryun Parham

Considering middle linebackers Carson Bruener and Alphonso Tuputala are among the few experienced players returning from last year’s UW defense, they’re likely firmly established as starters. Outside of them, the depth outside of Parham is mostly made up of young players like Khmouri House, Deven Bryant and Hayden Moore, giving Parham a good path to securing himself as a backup on this UW defense. Like the other players on this list, he’s been productive in his career: Parham led San Jose State with 106 tackles last season and was honorably named All-Mountain West. The B1G will feature many more tough running plays than the Pac-12 has ever had, so Washington will need plenty of inside linebackers to provide hits in the middle of the defense.

WRs Kevin Green Jr., Rashid Williams and Audric Harris

OK, it’s an excuse to pick three options here. However, outside of starters Denzel Boston, Jeremiah Hunter and Giles Jackson, Green, Williams and Harris are fighting to complete the starting lineup. Green has experience on offense and caught 8 passes for 97 yards last season in Arizona. Rashid Williams has the size and physicality, is entering his second year in the program and was a top recruit. True freshman Audric Harris is elusive and has strong running ability and was a spring enrollee. By all accounts, Harris seemed to be making the transition from high school to college with ease. Quarterback Will Rodgers has looked poised and decisive in distributing the ball since his arrival, and there is talent at the top of that wide receiver depth chart. There should be plenty of opportunities for the fourth and fifth options to make plays.

TE Decker DeGraaf

Quentin Moore appears to be the starter at the moment, with Keleki Latu also playing a role. Ryan Otton is still recovering from his injury. Tight end depth is thin, and DeGraaf looks like the type of player who is reliable and makes athletic catches. He took the field in fall camp, and it’s clear the coaches value his potential contribution as a pass catcher.