Welcome back to the next installment of our preview of the position groups for the Huskies. This time we will be focusing on the defensive secondary, which features a few experienced returning pieces, but mostly some young promising talent!
It was an admittedly shaky start in 2025 under first year DC Ryan Walters, but the pass defense seemed to get better week by week, finishing 53rd in FBS with 2747 total passing yards allowed. In terms of interceptions, the Huskies finished with 14, with an average of 14.4 yards per return. Individually, the secondary was led by Alex McLaughlin, the transfer from Northern Arizona, who finished with 94 total tackles, 62 solo, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown (when UCLA attempted a disastrous fake field goal) 6 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions (one of them returned 74 yards for a touchdown) to go with. Senior Tacario Davis tied him with 2 picks, 20 tackles and 16 solo tackles, with 4 deflections. Behind him, Makell Esteen had a solid year, with 51 tackles, 35 solo, a half sack, and 2 interceptions to go along with a pass deflection. Leroy Bryant had 19 tackles, 15 solo, with 2 picks. Safety Rahshawn Clark had 14 solo tackles, a sack, 2 pass deflections and 2 picks. Ephesians Prysock had 48 tackles, 29 solo, and 1 pick to go with 7 pass deflections. Rylon Dillard-Allen had 34 solo tackles and Dylan Robinson had 12 solo tackles to go along with a sack and a pass deflection.
The only addition in the secondary from the portal comes from the ACC in the form of Virginia’s Emmanuel Karnley. Karnley is an Arizona transfer as well, playing for the Wildcats in 2024, when he recorded 16 tackles and 5 pass deflections. For the Cavaliers, Karnley had 26 tackles and 8 pass deflections, with an interception and 2 TFLs in 14 games. He is familiar with this staff and will hopefully be a good fit in this scheme.
Ephesians Prysock was part of the initial crop of Arizona transfers that came to Montlake with Coach Fisch. Prysock finished his career with the Huskies tallying 93 tackles, 13 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception in 2 years. Though he wasn’t the fastest guy, his length and height made him a nightmare in man coverage. I hope he succeeds individually in San Francisco, though I don’t wish the same for the team.
Davis wrapped up his college career with the Huskies after 3 years at Arizona. I wish him good luck in Cleveland as he was a very good corner for the Dawgs, despite the occasional penalty issues.
Bryant saw action sparingly in his first 2 years on Montlake, playing in 7 games in 2023, recording 5 total tackles. In Jedd Fisch’s first year at the helm of the Dawgs, Bryant saw action in 6 games, starting the Sun Bowl, while recording only an assisted tackle. This past season Bryant’s usage saw an uptick, seeing action in every game. Though that could’ve been a precursor to even more playing time this year, he decided to transfer to Palo Alto. I wish him well.
Holmes was mostly a special teamer in 2023, though he played in 25 games across Jedd Fisch’s first 2 seasons at UW. Altogether, Holmes recorded 11 total tackles in his time as a Husky. I wish him well at Oklahoma State.
Dyson McCutcheon spent 4 years with the Huskies, seeing his most extensive action in 2024. He sat out 2025 with a hip injury and decided to play at Middle Tennessee State. Overall, McCutcheon recorded 19 total tackles, and 3 pass deflections in his time at UW. I wish him well as a Blue Raider.
I was initially excited, then skeptical of Ryan Walters’ scheme. After the first 2 or 3 weeks, the defense looked pretty shaky, and I dreaded higher level competition. But Walters made adjustments throughout the year, and now I am excited about the Husky defense again! I maintain that it wasn’t the defense that lost the Oregon game, and it was a stellar effort in the LA Bowl. Now, with key pieces coming back (Alex McLaughlin) and key young guys poised to step up (RDA and Dylan Robinson), the secondary can perhaps ascend to greater heights! I’m especially excited about watching McLaughlin again. His ability to swarm to the ball and fly around with his speed made him a vital asset for this secondary. You don’t get 94 total tackles by accident after all! If everything breaks right, the Death Row Dawgs might be ready to be unleashed once again!
The man they nicknamed Batman, Rylon Dillard-Allen, returns for another season at the safety spot, and with CJ Christian out for the year with an Achilles injury, he may see significant time. We saw flashes of his greatness last year with his 40 tackles, but one has to wonder what he can do in his sophomore season. Another young DB with plenty of potential is Dylan Robinson, who may slide over to nickel on occasion. Of course, one can’t forget true Freshman Gavin Day, who has impressed in the spring thus far, and given Fisch’s propensity for playing impact freshmen early, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the field, I’m sure. The bevy of young talent besides those that I have mentioned, both the impact Freshmen and the young underclassmen that made plays last year is another reason why I’m excited about this defensive secondary!
Are we headed for another era of being known as DBU? Production seems to suggest so. Prysock and Davis were wonderful in terms of production, and as a result, were rightly drafted to places where they can make a difference. But, in the Petersen era, it felt as though defensive backs were getting drafted constantly. For that to come back, the Huskies need a big year out of Alex McLaughlin, and for Fisch’s recruiting wins to continue. It’ll be a tough act for McLaughlin to follow, but I have confidence that he can at least match his production from 2025. Outside of McLaughlin, Karnley can hopefully earn some pro buzz as well. All this is to say, this should be a very exciting year for the secondary, not only for the older guys like McLaughlin and Karnley, but for all the young guys who are excited to get their shots at playing early!