A Dirty Dozen Washington Huskies To Watch Out For This Season

These guys aren't exactly dirty, but they are survivors.

These are 12 kids that I will highlight today that you seldom see written about that are on track to be a solid contributors in 2008.

Each of them have been around at least four years, and though some may not start, this collection of late bloomers and walk on's are going to be counted on to provide an impact this season.

Each one of these guys bring some special skills to this team that will be used in a key situations.

FB Luke Kravitz

This is Kravitz's fifth year in the program and the legacy recruit from Olympia has seen a lot of time on the field at the FB position and special teams.

Kravitz plays behind Paul Homer but the coaches have equal respect for the abilities of both players. Kravitz has had nagging injuries each year he has played and this will be the first time he has left training camp unscathed.

The coaches like the way Luke catches the ball out of the backfield and maybe this year the coaches will call his number more often.

WR Chancellor Young

Young originally committed to Duke and stayed one year there before transferring to Washington. He had to sit out a year and had a breakout spring game.

He was never heard from again after dealing with academic issues. Young is back for his last season as a walk-on and he had a good fall camp. That camp will get him a shot catching the ball and playing on special teams in 2008.

Young is very good athlete and will get every chance to play this season. Pencil him in immediately for special teams. Don't count out time at receiver because he could be the big and physical guy we lack.

WR Charles Hawkins

Hawkins from Chicago transferred from a small program in Iowa. He has worked his way high up enough on the depth chart to get extensive time last spring. He dropped a couple of passes in the spring game that probably hurt him, but it wasn't like anyone else other than Goodwin was lighting it up either.

Hawkins will get some opportunities to play in 2008.

TE Walt Winter

Winter came to Washington as an Army All-American LB.  He was moved from LB to DE and asked to beef up early in his career and the move didn't really fit him even though he gained some playing time.

This is his second year at TE and he is starting to blossom at that position and will open the season as the No. 2 behind Mike Gottleib who has been slowed down by a hamstring injury.

Winter should have been at TE all along.

OL Morgan Rosboroug

Morgan has been a work in progress ever since he joined the team.

Morgan is a giant man that the training staff has spent three-and-a-half years sculpting. The junior always had light feet but he needed to lose weight and gain strength. He saw his first action at OG last season and will get his reps in again this season at the crowded and deep position.

Morgan is the fourth guard behind Tolar, Bulyca, and White-Frisbee.

Next year he will compete for the starting job alongside Tolar when the other two graduate.

LB Josh Gage 

Every guy dreams about walking on to a Division I program and earning a starting job. Gage did that this year when EJ Savannah went into exile.

Gage isn't your usual walk on. He has impressed the coaches with his ability since he joined the team.

Obviously a healthy Savannah would be the starter, but it is nice to see Gage get his shot.

LB Fred Wiggs

You hear Wiggs' name called quite a bit during games. He tends to be around the ball a lot on special teams. He has played a lot since he walked-on from O'Dea becoming one of the leaders on special teams.

Fred is a big hitter so keep an eye on him.

S Tripper Johnson

A 26-year-old walk on safety from Newport HS in Bellevue, Johnson signed to play baseball out of high school and bounced around the minors for eight years. He walked on this spring and will be a valuable reserve in 2008 and a boost to the special teams.

Johnson is going to play plenty over the next two years.

S Darin Harris

Harris has started a lot of games for the Huskies in between sitting out with a broken back. He teamed with Forrester for most of last season after Wells went down. The young talent at safety and the return of Jason Wells still hasn't knocked him out of the rotation.

Harris is your likely starter for the opener beside Williams.

LB Chris Stevens

The coaches need to find a way to utilize Stevens more in 2008. The absence of Savannah should give him more time out there.

Stevens can be a big-play type of player in the right situations. In the past he has lined up as a pass rushing DE and has caused some serious havoc.

Ed Donatell needs to maximize this kid this season.

LB Trenton Tuiasosopo

Tuiasosopo has started a lot of games since recovering from a near fatal bicycle accident. He will be listed as starter first base at MLB this year.

Tuiasosopo is very solid against the run so I believe we will see him used on a situational basis this year when Donald Butler is on the field.

I could see Butler and Tuiasosopo playing besides each other during obvious running situations.

DE Jovan O' Connor

I don't know if O' Connor has played a down since he hit campus five years ago. He was listed as the No. 1 DT at the start of Spring than quickly moved down the depth charts. He lost 40 lbs since school ended and is now listed as a DE.

I don't know if that translates into playing time but Willingham must like this kid to keep him around this long.