UW's special teams showed improvement in 2025 under coach Chris Petrilli, with more touchbacks and fewer long returns. However, the unit faces significant changes for 2026, including the departure of reliable kicker Grady Gross.
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 15: Grady Gross #95 of the Washington Huskies kicks an extra point against the Purdue Boilermakers at Husky Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
UW’s Special Teams in Jedd Fisch’s first season as Head Coach were worse than bad. Fisch hired Chris Petrilli as a full time special teams coach in hopes of righting the ship. Things improved for the Dawgs in 2025, but it would have been hard to get worse. UW got more touchbacks on kickoffs, fewer long punt returns, and no yips for Grady Gross in ‘25. On the less bright side, Luke Dunne shanked way more punts than a P4 starter and the return game was fairly limited. There will be lots of turnover for the ‘26 unit, so let’s take a look at some of the changes.
Grady Gross had quite the career at UW. After hitting the game-winning field goal against Oregon in ‘23, Kalen DeBoer moved him from walk-on to scholarship. He was much less automatic in his junior year, where he had a bizarre four-game stretch with seven missed FGs. He bounced back in his senior season, albeit with fewer attempts as the offense managed to finish more drives. For his career, Gross made a very solid 75% of his FGs, including 14/18 from 40-49 yards, and never missed an extra point. His stability will be missed.
Kickoff-specialist Ethan Moczulski was another big help on special teams last year. The ‘24 squad struggled massively to cover kickoffs, so Moczulski’s ability to get kicks into the end zone made a real difference. His length meant the coverage team only needed to cover 19 returns after 37 a season before. Moczulski spent one season on Montlake before transferring back to Illinois, where he started his college career.
The return game is also going to see lots of new faces. Adam Mohammed and Jonah Coleman were the top kick-off returners. Denzel Boston was the top option to return punts. All three are gone, so the Huskies will have to find new options.
In 2025, UW's special teams achieved more touchbacks on kickoffs and reduced long punt returns, showing overall improvement.
Grady Gross was a key kicker for UW, known for his reliability, including a 75% field goal success rate and never missing an extra point, making his departure a significant loss.
The 2026 special teams unit will face challenges due to significant turnover, including the loss of key players like Grady Gross and inconsistent performances from others.
Chris Petrilli is the new special teams coach for UW, and he is expected to implement changes to improve the unit after a lackluster performance in previous seasons.
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Luke Dunne is still on the roster, but he was somehow less effective than Jack McAllister and the coaches recruited over him in the transfer portal. Long Snapper Ryan Kean is back for his third season. Dezmen Roebuck was the second-string punt returner, so he might be the first one to get an opportunity in that spot. DB Rayshawn Clark also appeared as a punt returner and figures to find his way into the mix again.
This is where things start to get interesting.
At kicker, the Huskies have two options to replace Gross. The most likely Week 1 starter is Tyler Robles, a transfer from Texas St who was second-team All-Sun Belt last year. He made 21-23 FGs and 53-54 PATs last season, so he should be a relatively plug-and-play solution. The Huskies are also bringing in freshman CJ Wallace from St. John Bosco in California. Wallace was the #11 kicking prospect in the country according to On3.
Although Dunne returns at punter, the Huskies added another transfer who likely has the inside track to playing time. Hunter Green showed a much bigger leg for San Diego St last year. The Kirkland native returns close to home after starting his collegiate career at Northern Colorado. The kick-off specialist role is still very much up in the air, but Robles, Wallace, and Green should all get a shot at it.
Admittedly, there’s a lot left to sort out in this department, and much to be determined as spring and fall practices play out.
I’m most confident that we will see Robles handle place kicking and Green handle punts. I would also put my money on Robles as the kickoff specialist. Dunne was the holder last year and had no issues, so perhaps he will still find his way onto the field in that capacity, even if Green supplants him as the punter.
The return game could see some changes. Clark and Roebuck will likely get the first chance to return punts. Kickoffs could see a variety of different players- Quaid Carr, Brian Bonner, and Jordan Washington all have the characteristics that could help in this area. Even Elijah Durr and Mason James could get a look in practice. That’s not a very definitive answer, but I will say one thing definitively: when I asked ChatGPT who would be the most likely punt returner, it guessed Xe’ree Alexander. I’m confident saying that it got that one wrong.