UCLA Football Preview: Washington Has One of the Best Defenses in the Country
The Huskies are ranked in the top 25 in multiple categories.
Based on the Washington depth chart, new defensive coordinator Ryan Walters appears to be running a 4-2-5 nickel defense as the Huskies’ base defense. As I mentioned earlier this week, Walters has the Huskies playing at a very high level defensively.
One stat which I didn’t mention in my coaching preview is that Washington is tied for 20th in the nation in scoring defense. They are allowing an average of 19.3 points per game. When you also consider that the Husky offense is ranked 24th with an average of 34.3 points per game, it’s easy to understand why Washington has won seven games this season and lost just three.
Looking at all ten games, the most points the Huskies have allowed in a game this season was 25 when they beat Illinois a month ago. At the same time, they have allowed 24 points four times this year. In those four games, Washington won two and lost two. So, in the five games where the Huskies gave up 24 points or more, they have won three and lost two. So, a team’s chances of beating Washington increase to about 40% if they can score at least 24 points.
In two of UCLA’s three wins, the Bruins have scored 38 points or more. The Maryland game was the only win in which UCLA scored fewer than 24 points. In five of UCLA’s seven losses, the Bruin offense was held to 14 points or less.
So, in order for UCLA to have the best chance of defeating Washington tomorrow, the Bruins will probably need to score at least 24 points, and considering that UCLA hasn’t scored at least 24 points since the Michigan State game, it just doesn’t seem especially likely to happen.
Let’s look at Washington’s defensive personnel.
Defensive Line
One of the starting defensive tackles will be senior transfer Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, who joined Washington this season after spending three seasons with Arizona. Uiagalelei has made 15 tackles this season with 3.5 TFLs and two sacks.
The other starting tackle is also a transfer. Senior Anterior Thompson joined Washington after playing last season for Western Michigan. He has also played at Iowa and Iowa Western Community College. Statistically, Thompson has made 23 tackles including 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He has also hurried opposing QBs twice and broken up one pass.
Junior Edge Jacob Lane has been the Husky most likely to terrorize opposing offenses. Lane has made 33 tackles including 7.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. He leads the team in both TFLs and sacks. Lane has hurried opposing QBs four times and broken up two passes.
The probably starting Edge on the other side is senior Zach Durfee. Durfee spent two seasons at Sioux Falls before transferring to Washington in 2023. He’s made 24 tackles including three TFLs and three sacks. He is tied with Lane and Isaiah Ward for the team lead in QB hurries with four. He has also broken up one pass and forced a fumble.
If Durfee does not start, expect to see Ward get the start at that position because the depth chart shows Durfee and Ward as an OR option. Ward has made 15 tackles this season including 3.5 TFLs and two sacks. He has also broken up one pass.
Linebackers
Junior transfer Xe’ree Alexander has started the last two games at linebacker for the Huskies. He is third on the team in tackles with 54 including four TFLs. He’s broken up one pass and hurried opposing quarterbacks twice.
Sophomore Deven Bryant will be the other starting linebacker. Bryant’s 56 tackles ranks him second on the team, and he has a TFL, a QB hurry and two pass breakups.
Secondary
Moving to the secondary, senior Ephesians Prysock is one of Jedd Fisch’s Washington Wildcats who followed the head coach to Seattle from Arizona. He will be one of the starting corners, and he is fifth on the team in tackles with 34 including a TFL. Prysock leads the Huskies with six pass breakups. He also has one interception.
Like Prysock, senior Tacario Davis is also a Washington Wildcat and he will be the other starting corner. Davis has made 19 tackles including a TFL. He has broken up three passes and intercepted two.
Junior safety Alex McLaughlin transferred to Washington this season after playing the last two at Northern Arizona, and he has made a significant impact on the Huskies’ defense. McLaughlin leads the team in tackles with 73 including 1.5 TFLs. He is tied with Davis and Makell Esteen, who is the Huskies’ other starting safety for the team lead in interceptions with two. McLaughlin has also broken up five passes. Meanwhile, Esteen is fourth on the team in tackles with 46 including 1.5 TFLs and half a sack.
Sophomore nickel back Leroy Bryant (no relation to Deven) is Washington’s final defensive starter. Bryant has made 11 tackles this season.
Analysis
After looking at how Washington’s defense has been performing, it’s difficult to see a path to a UCLA victory. The Bruins have struggled to score enough points over the last three games and I just don’t see the UCLA defense getting the stops they will need to prevent the Huskies from scoring a lot of points either.
So, tomorrow night looks to be another one of those long, late nights the Bruins have become so well known for over the last few decades. But there is a bright side.
If you’re like me, I encourage you to get out to the Rose Bowl as early as possible. A friend of mine is fond of saying that he’s been to a lot of bad football games, but he’s never been to a bad tailgate.
We don’t know yet, and won’t know for a while, if tomorrow’s game will end up being UCLA’s last one at the Rose Bowl, so be sure to make tomorrow’s tailgate a great one.
Go Bruins!!!
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