The Washington Huskies are thin at defensive tackle following losing junior Jayvon Parker for the season with a torn Achilles in the loss to Rutgers. Sebastian Valdez also missed the majority of Washington’s win over Michigan with an injury, but coach Jedd Fisch said on Wednesday that he expects the Montana State transfer to play against Iowa.
In the likely event that Valdez will be on a limited snap count, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick will have to rely on a heavy rotation at the position for the second straight week. A critical piece of that rotation was redshirt freshman Elinneus Davis.
He tallied 2 tackles and a pass breakup against the Wolverines and has found a way to make an impact as both a pass rusher and run defender on a limited snap count. Against the Hawkeyes, who mainly run their offense through running back Kaleb Johnson, he’ll have to do much more of the latter.
Like a lot of other defenders, Davis has shown a tremendous amount of growth in Belichick’s new system, and on Tuesday, senior defensive tackle Jacob Bandes discussed how the position has grown in the new scheme.
“He gives us the freedom to make our own calls,” Bandes said. “That’s a big plus for me as a defensive tackle to feel like what kind of block I want more. Do I feel comfortable taking on a double team on this play, or do I feel comfortable taking this single block? I like the freedom that Coach Belichick gives us on the defensive line to make our own adjustments.”
When he takes the field on the road against the Big Ten’s best rushing offense, Davis has an opportunity to make a major statement: that he’s become an integral part of Washington’s rotation up front.