Washington's top freshmen make big plays at spring practice No. 6

With some rain in the forecast, the Washington Huskies moved their sixth spring practice of the 2026 season inside on Saturday as Jedd Fisch's team held its most competitive practice yet.

Early in spring, the headliners of the 2026 class, freshmen left tackle Kodi Greene and defensive lineman Derek Colman-Brusa, have been some of the biggest standouts--both literally, thanks to their impressive stature, and in terms of their play--but several other young players made their mark on Saturday's workout.

Throughout spring, just like Greene and Colman-Brusa, wide receiver Jordan Clay has been taking the majority of his reps with the first team offense, and as the Huskies held their first extended scrimmage of the spring, the former four-star recruit from San Antonio, Texas, made his mark. While working against sophomore cornerback Dylan Robinson in a red zone drill, the 6-foot-3 Clay elevated over the equally-sized defender on a well-executed fade route to pull in a 1-yard touchdown from Demond Williams Jr.

Clay has shown off his impressive athleticism and strong hands throughout the very early period of his college career, and that play got quite a rise out of his offensive teammates, who all came to mob him in the corner of the end zone. Yet another example that Fisch and his coaching staff have brought in a crop of freshmen that is ready to make an impact early.

Also among that group is outside linebacker Ramzak Fruean, who, at 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds, displayed his high-end traits at several points during Saturday's practice. During a 9-on-9 drill, where two offensive and defensive linemen take a knee, Fruean perfectly executed a stunt and weaved by an interior offensive lineman for a "sack," before later tracking down tight end Sam Vyhlidal from behind on a breakaway after his classmate bounced off a would-be tackler and accelerated into the open field.

With several upperclassmen on the sidelines with injuries, Washington's next wave has gotten a lot of opportunities to assert themselves early on in their careers, and as the Huskies look for an in-line blocking tight end, freshman Kekua Aumua has made an impression on tight ends coach Jordan Paopao.

"Rhino is incredible," Paopao said of the 6-foot-5, 255-pound. "He is exactly what you want them to look like, just in terms of a true in-line Y."

"I think those guys continue to work. And, you know, it's kind of nice to see them make plays during live scrimmages. That's the biggest thing I've seen from Rhino; he's got an incredible catching radius, and he's not a small individual."

The 2026 class has clearly helped the Huskies get bigger and stronger, and there was plenty of competition to boot during Saturday's practice.

Spring practice notebook

• No matter who is throwing the ball, freshman receiver Trez Davis is pulling it down. While working with multiple quarterbacks on Saturday, the former four-star recruit from Louisiana was making chunk plays left and right, including most notably a 20-yard completion on a go route while working against sophomore cornerback Elias Johnson, who has also had himself a strong spring.
• Johnson tallied another pass breakup on Saturday as he continues to show off his heavier, more physical frame, which has helped him deal with opposing receivers much better near the line of scrimmage and at the catch point.
• With his brother LeJuan in attendance for an official visit, where he was flanked by head basketball coach Danny Sprinkle and assistant Quincy Pondexter, DeSean Watts continued to stand out. Listed at 6-feet and 313 pounds, the Sacramento State transfer is extremely explosive for his size, and made his way into the backfield for a sack.
• Among other prospects spotted on unofficial visits were three-star 2027 offensive tackle Ben Lowther from Centennial High School in Arizona, and four-star 2028 in-state quarterback AJ Tuivaiave from Graham Kapowsin.
• After running a perfectly executed corner route, sophomore wide receiver Justice Williams hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Elijah Brown.
• Over the last few practices, although he's yet to take any live reps, Sam Houston State transfer Kolt Dieterich, who arrived as a tackle, has been working on snapping, taking reps with the centers before practice.
• Four-star safety Gavin Day had a "welcome to college football" moment during one of the team periods. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound safety, who has shown off some bone-crushing hits on his high school tape, was on the receiving end of a truck stick from his classmate, 6-foot-2, 241-pound Ansu Sanoe, which sent him tumbling to the turf.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies freshmen make big plays at spring practice No. 6