(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
When Arizona State and Washington square off in Sun Devil Stadium, it will be a match up of two 4-5 teams. But the talent level on the field is at a height that surpasses those results.
In his second season at the helm, Washington head coach Chris Petersen is beginning to assemble a talented and disciplined team that ASU head coach Todd Graham had nothing but praise for throughout the week. While the Huskies sit below .500, they have wins over USC and a rout over Arizona, so the potential is abundant out of Seattle.
With that in mind, a pair of freshmen are hitting their stride for Washington, and Graham has surely taken note of these two during the week of film study.
Jake Browning, freshman quarterback, No. 3
Browning came into college as a polished and accomplished passer, graduating with records for most passing touchdowns in a season (91 in 2014) and in a career (229 in three seasons). Browning set several California state records as well, but transitioning to a successful Pac-12 quarterback is always a tall task regardless of a player’s high school pedigree.
The Sun Devils had success in their first bout with a freshman field general in UCLA’s Josh Rosen. Although Rosen did rack up 280 yards and two touchdowns through the air, the Sun Devils did well in mixing up pressures and packages to take Rosen out of a consistent rhythm en route to ASU’s upset win in the Rose Bowl.
Browning will have his hands full with ASU’s attacking defense, and while the Sun Devils haven’t forced a ton of turnovers, the tackles for loss and sacks are there, so the freshman will have to do well in protecting the ball when the pressure does inevitably come.
Myles Gaskin, freshman running back, No. 9
Gaskin is another player who has built his confidence week after week in his freshman campaign. Against USC, Gaskin gashed the Trojans for 134 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against a talented defense. He is currently averaging 5.8 yards per carry and is providing balance to the Huskies on offense.
The Sun Devils have taken solace in their run defense, slowing down the likes of UCLA’s Paul Perkins and Utah’s Devontae Booker (for three quarters). If the Sun Devils can slow downt he Washington ground attack, the pressure on Browning will come that much quicker thus providing more opportunities for takeaways for Todd Graham’s defense.
You can reach Zac Pacleb on Twitter @ZacPacleb or via email at zacpacleb@gmail.com
