Washington Huskies

SEATTLE -- After everything Marcus Peters accomplished as a redshirt freshman -- 44 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery -- it would be easy for the cornerback to set lofty goals for the 2013 season.

With Desmond Trufant moving on to a career in the NFL, it would make sense for Peters to take the next step and evolve into the “all-conference performer” coach Steve Sarkisian thinks he is capable of becoming.

However, instead of making bold claims, the only thing Peters talks about is competing with his “brothers.”

“Once we get in that defensive backfield and you come to the University of Washington, you lock yourself into a brotherhood,” Peters said.

While Peters won’t brag about his potential, Sarkisian expects the corner’s consistency to improve next season.

“He’s flashed it several times for us and now to be able to put that thing together and do if for an 80-play sequence on game day, I think, would be amazing,” Sarkisian said.

Peters started his redshirt freshman season as a backup, but he returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown in the Huskies’ third game against Portland State.

He ended up starting eight games. In his first start, against USC, he piled up nine tackles and picked off a pass. Washington lost the game, but Peters showed the potential that has caused the coaching staff to elevate expectations.

When asked what he learned last year that will help him achieve the consistency Sarkisian is looking for, Peters said, “I’ve just got to limit my mistakes and play to what the call allows me to do, not so much try to make plays for myself. Make plays for the team, so the team can be successful.

“At times last year, I made bonehead plays and it cost the team. Since we came back from the loss in Las Vegas, I’ve just been focusing on being a lot more dialed in to details.”

While he works on the details, he is allowing seniors Tre Watson, Greg Ducre and safety Sean Parker to be the vocal leaders. Peters plans to set an example through his hard work.

“I’m just trying my best to just keep things going in the right hands from last year,” Peters said.

Based on his performance in 2012, Peters seems poised for a breakout season, but his goal is to help the Huskies take the next step as a program.

“I think the team is going to do something special,” Peters said. “We just need to keep our heads focused on the right things, that’s it.”

Editor's note: Throughout the week, HuskyNation will look back at the top 5 moments of the 2012 season. Here is No. 1:

SEATTLE -- Washington needed a big play. Stanford’s Trent Murphy had just returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown to put the Huskies in a 10-point hole late in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Washington faced a fourth-and-1 from its 39-yard line. If the Huskies were going to upset the eighth-ranked Cardinal, they were running out of time.

Running back Bishop Sankey sparked the rally. The sophomore took the fourth-down handoff, found a hole and sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown.

The run ended the third quarter with the Huskies trailing by a field goal. It was the first of three memorable second-half moments that helped produce the program’s signature win.

Receiver Kasen Williams provided the second moment. He capped a 65-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown reception along the sideline. It was a short throw, and he broke a tackle just past the line of scrimmage after catching it.

Then he bobbled the ball but corralled it just before breaking a second tackle on his way to the end zone.

That play provided the go-ahead score. But it wasn’t quite enough to seal the victory.

The Cardinal got the ball back one last time and marched down the field. It wasn’t until senior cornerback Desmond Trufant picked off a pass and stepped out of bounds at the Huskies’ 8-yard-line that the celebration began.

It started slowly at first. Washington still had to run out the clock. But when time expired and the fans stormed the field, those three plays became three of the biggest moments of the season.

It was the Huskies’ first signature win -- the first of two victories over top 10 opponents in 2012.

ESPN analyst Brock Huard takes a look at programs that will rise and fall in 2013 and places Washington among the risers.

Click here to get his breakdown on the Huskies' chances next year and to read the rest of the list.

SEATTLE -- Washington quarterback Keith Price put together one of his best performances of the season, helping the Huskies’ offense get untracked Saturday during a 34-15 victory over Utah at CenturyLink Field.


It was over when: Utah tried to convert a fourth-and-1 from its 43 on the Utes’ first drive of the third quarter. Danny Shelton and John Timu stuffed running back John White. The Huskies quickly scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Price to DiAndre Campbell to take a 21-8 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Game ball goes to: Price. There has been talk all year about the quarterback’s struggles in his junior season, but he put all of that behind him this week, completing 24 of 33 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t turn the ball over and scored a rushing touchdown from 4 yards out in the second quarter.

Stat of the game: If there is one number that has followed Washington all season it has been the Huskies’ inability to score more than 21 points against an FBS opponent. The program peaked above that plateau for the first time this season, as the Huskies’ found their footing on offense.

What this means for Washington: The Huskies improved to 5-1 at CenturyLink Field -- their temporary home -- and won their sixth game of the season to become bowl eligible for the third year in a row. Washington has won its last three games and has winnable games at Colorado and at Washington State remaining on its schedule.

What this means for Utah: Heading into Saturday’s matchup, the Utes were 11-0 when White gained at least 100 yards. That streak ended against Washington, with White finishing with 142 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Utah now needs to win its last two games against Arizona and Colorado to become bowl eligible.

Two-way player: In addition to his duties as Washington’s sophomore tight end, Austin Seferian-Jenkins spent some time lined up at defensive end due to injuries along Washington’s defensive front. The double duty didn’t slow down Seferian-Jenkins on offense. He caught seven passes for 99 yards.

No returns for Dunn: After Reggie Dunn returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in two games, the Huskies avoided kicking the ball to the senior, who didn’t get an opportunity for another big return.

SEATTLE -- As players are pulled aside for interviews after Washington practices, Thomas Vincent often slips past unnoticed.

The blonde backup quarterback walks off the field with his teammates as an unfamiliar face to members of the media. The redshirt freshman walk-on blends into the background.

So, when the Huskies’ media relations staff pulled him aside Wednesday, Vincent flashed a wide, if not somewhat confused, smile. As he explained what life is like as a walk-on, his teammates taunted him playfully as they worked their way toward the locker room.

“I’m just here to earn a spot on the field, make everybody around me better and just win ballgames,” said Vincent, who stepped out of the shadows to talk about his role with Washington.

If the coaching staff needs a receiver, a running back or a defensive back on the scout team, they turn to Vincent, who is athletic enough to fill in wherever he is needed.

“That’s what you’re hopeful you get, a guy that is somewhat of a jack of all trades, but really is willing to do anything,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. “He’s a great teammate. He’s a guy that can play quarterback, running back, DB when we need him to. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Vincent earns opportunities in practice, because he refuses to say no.

(Read full post)

SEATTLE -- When Deontae Cooper took the field for Washington’s first practice Monday afternoon, he looked around at his teammates. The 6-foot, 201-pound running back took a long look at framework of Husky Stadium being built in the background. He couldn’t help but look at all of the purple and white jersey, the gold helmets.

After back-to-back knee injuries ended his first two college football seasons before he could play a game, Cooper was back on the field as the Huskies opened fall camp. He took the time to enjoy the moment.

“I’m just ready to strap ’em on and go, ready to grind till the doctor tells me I can’t play,” Cooper said. “If I tear my ACL five more times, I’m going to keep going.”

As a highly touted freshman out of Perris (Calif.) Citrus Hill in 2010, Cooper’s first injury happened during a practice early in camp. As he worked to prepare himself for the 2011 season, he pushed himself too hard and suffered a second injury before the season started.

“We’re kind of in uncharted waters with Deontae at this point,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. “He’s going to get in. We’re going to monitor him closely, but I think it’s important, not only physically, but from a mental standpoint, from a psyche standpoint, he gets into the flow of it.”

Cooper said he feels fine physically, but he now needs to regain his feel for the game after missing two full seasons. While he works his way back, teammates Jesse Callier and Bishop Sankey will compete to fill the void left by Chris Polk, who rushed for 4,049 yards at Washington, finishing No. 2 on the school’s career rushing list behind Napoleon Kaufman.

“I’m just going out there each day, trying to get better at what I do, perfecting my craft,” said Sankey, who rushed for 187 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. “I’m just trying to be the best all-around player I can be to help the team out and get done what we need to get done this season.”

Sankey said Polk took the time to teach him about patience and technique in 2011, which helped prepare him for the larger role he stepped into during spring practices.

While it remains unclear who will get the bulk of the carries as Polk’s replacement, Cooper is confident the competition will make Washington's running backs better.

“You want to compete against the best,” he said. “Chris set a standard here. We’re going to try to build off that. It’s going to be a great competition. I’m looking forward to it.”

On day one, Cooper was just happy to be healthy. Now he plans to figure out where he fits among the running backs on Washington’s roster.

“He’s running around,” Huskies quarterback Keith Price said. “He’s looking good. I can’t wait. I can’t wait until we get in pads and he can really show what he’s got.”