Who Needs to Step up for the Washington Huskies Offense

Spring football is fast approaching for the Washington Huskies. Practices start on March 31 and the spring game is scheduled for April 25.

For a team that has gone 0-12, there are many questions in quality that need to be answered throughout the program.

However, there are several players who need to step up and prove their worth in spring this year. If they do, they can become valuable members of the Husky setup.

Let's go through them one by one.

Brandon Johnson

If Johnson can get over some of the niggling injuries he's sustained over his career, he could have a very successful season under Steve Sarkisian. He showed up last season overweight and with a knee sprain.

He fits the mold of what Sarkisian is looking for in his pro-style set. Johnson is a big, strong, up-the-gut style runner, and has good vision between the tackles. 

He has a legitimate chance to make a statement if he comes in healthy and more toned. He was on uncertain terms with Tyrone Willingham's staff and only managed 226 yards on 76 carries.

The stable of running backs is big, and Sarkisian has shown his penchant for using a committee system, so there is a strong chance there will be a heavy rotation at the position. 

Demetrius Bronson and Brandon Yakaboski are both big backs who are waiting in the wings as well and could challenge for that big back spot. 

Chris Polk

For all the fanfare that surrounded Polk when he came to the school after switching from USC, his performance was, in a word, underwhelming.

He showed big play ability in spring last season but in the game, looked timid and nervous. He was injured in only the second game after only managing 19 yards on 14 carries.

He has supposedly gained almost 20 pounds of muscle after hurting his shoulder and spending last season on the sidelines.

He has explosive speed and will be a big help in both the rushing and passing game. He could line up as a slot receiver or in the backfield, and it will help that he is known to Sarkisian from his recruitment to USC.

He could become a huge X-factor for the Huskies if he can fulfill the promise he showed coming out of high school. He has oodles of potential that could lead him on to the next level in the NFL, again, if he can satisfy the hype surrounding him.

Kavario Middleton

A former Army All-American coming out of high school, he is one of the most talented people on the roster. In the first two games of the season, he caught eight passes for 65 yards, but only managed four more receptions the rest of the season for 17 yards.

Sarkisian is a fan of the tight end, after signing four during recruiting. If he can buckle down in practice, he can establish himself as a huge star for the team.

There were rumors that he was a bit lazy in practice, floating by on his reputation more than anything. He got in the doghouse to some extent with the previous staff. Sarkisian is high on JUCO transfer Dorson Boyce, who could come in to be a big wild card.

Again, Middleton can become a huge star if he gets his work ethic down; he certainly has the athletic ability to do it.

Anthony Boyles

After struggling to get academically-eligible, following signing in 2007, he was the prize of that class, being the number six rated athlete in that class.

Like Middleton, his work ethic was completely lackadaisical and based on what he felt were his superior abilities. He's a big, lanky receiver who could become a big part of the offense if he can get it all down.

Sarkisian has shown a preference for big receivers during his time at USC and with a dearth of size in the receiving corps, it would be a great help if Boyles could come in and be successful.

He supposedly found somewhat of a groove midway through last season, but the previous staff decided to hold him back. If this is true, than he could come in and become a big part of the team, if he has a successful spring.

Ronnie Fouch

Obviously Fouch is still going to be the backup behind Jake Locker, but needs to re-establish himself after a disastrous 2008 campaign. 

He showed some promise at first, throwing the ball, but suffered from a lack of protection as the year went on. He threw for 1,339 yards but with only four touchdowns and a 45 percent completion percentage.

He was shell-shocked as the year went on, and it will be a priority for Sarkisian and company to reestablish his confidence.

The Huskies suffer from a lack of depth at the quarterback position. It helps that Fouch has experience backing up Locker, but the staff have to be concerned in the eventuality that Locker could be injured.