Washington Football: 5 ridiculous predictions for 2017
3. Top 10 defense — again
Washington finished 2016 tied for eighth nationally in terms of scoring defense. The team allowed just 17.2 points per game. The Huskies also ranked 10th by just allowing 316 yards per game.
The Huskies lost All-Pac-12 first team selection Elijah Qualls, first team All-American safety Budda Baker, third team All-American cornerback Sidney Jones and starting cornerback Kevin King. It’s a significant loss of talent, but by the same token, the Huskies return 13 starters from last season.
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The secondary remains a question mark — and more on that unit in the next slide — but the Huskies defense should be just as strong in 2017. The program returns four of its top five tacklers from 2016.
On the defensive line, massive defensive tackles Vita Vea and Greg Gaines return to shut down opposing running backs. Vea was tied for second on the team with five sacks, too. At linebacker, Azeem Victor and Keishawn Bierria return, having recorded 67 and 70 tackles, respectively. DJ Beavers replaces 2016 starter Psalm Wooching.