At first glance, there seem to be some obvious answers. Lincoln Kennedy, Steve Emtman and Benji Olson all immediately came to mind to solidify the trenches. I was ready to go with those names, but our editor gave me a challenge: You can’t pick a player who has ever made an all-conference team. My easy picks went up in smoke.
Normally, for an article like this, I would list a few names and eventually pick a winner that I want on the roster for the fast-approaching season. I was determined to find one more player in the trenches, but nearly all of the extremely talented OL and DL players who have played at UW over the years have achieved All-Conference status. In this research, however, I was so shocked by one omission that I scrapped my plan entirely and felt the need to right an injustice that happened last season.
Given the topic of trenches, you might be thinking of Roger Rosengarten, who received honorable mention but was not selected as an all-conference player during his time at UW. Rosengarten is one of my favorite players of the last decade, but since he was a freshman All-American, I decided that would be enough to make him ineligible for this selection.
The player I’m taking is Ja’Lynn Polk. My brain must have intentionally blocked out the memory of him not being named All-Conference for fear of the long-term effects it would have on my body, but the shock of finding out the second time was hardly any better. I don’t mean to diminish Rome Odunze, Troy Franklin, Tetairoa McMillan or Brenden Rice. They all had outstanding seasons and deserved to be honored. What I do take issue with is that the Pac-12 didn’t even give Polk an honorable mention. In a league full of elite receivers, Polk was fifth in receiving yards, fifth in YPC and fifth in TDs. If you exclude the four players who were first- and second-team All-Conference selections, it seems ridiculous to say there are six receivers more deserving of honorable mention.
I know the team doesn’t necessarily need a receiver this year, but every Husky fan knows how special he is. Polk excels at running crisp routes, making contested catches, and playing in the open field. With Denzel Boston and Jeremiah Hunter, the Huskies would have another three-headed monster at receiver that could once again eat the defense alive.
