Kamren Fabiculanan is keeping Washington’s “Death Row Defense” tradition alive

Washington’s “Death Row Defense” is very important to safety Kamren Fabiculanan.

(This story was updated to add new information)

At the Washington Huskies’ preseason media day, senior safety Kamren Fabiculanan made a point to discuss the history of UW’s “Death Row Defense,” a title that was coined by linebackers Azeem Victor and Keishawn Bierria, among others, during the team’s run to the College Football Playoff in 2016.

“We’ve always been Death Row,” Fabiculanan said in the preseason, referencing some of the players that came before him on the back end of the defense, like Elijah Molden, Trent McDuffie, and Myles Bryant. “We’ve got some plans to bring that back this year.”

While the mentality of Death Row may have always been there, the production wasn’t. The Husky defense struggled in 2022 and 2023 but has found new life in 2024.

Behind Fabiculanan’s leadership and the installment of a new scheme from defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the Huskies have done just that. And not just in the secondary, where Washington ranks No. 2 in the nation in yards, but all over the field.

The Huskies made their fifth goal line stand of the season in their 26-21 victory over the USC Trojans when freshman linebacker Khmori House stood up running back Woody Marks to preserve Washington’s slim lead in the fourth quarter. After the win, Fabiculanan, who made his second interception of the season in the victory, one of three picks the Huskies forced on the night, highlighted Washington’s toughness on the goal line as one of the most important parts of preserving the legacy of Death Row.

“It just shows who Death Row is and we’re just trying to carry that tradition and pride of Death Row Defense,” he said.

Coach Jedd Fisch made a stellar hire in Belichick to ensure that the tradition of Death Row is alive and well on Montlake. Outside of the secondary, the Huskies rank No. 10 in the nation in total defense and No. 21 in scoring defense. With a group that clearly still has some work to do defending the run, Washington’s defense has shown major growth in 2024 and developed into one of the Big Ten’s best.

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