Three true freshmen anchor Washington’s defense in 24-10 Apple Cup victory

Washington leaned on an unlikely group in Saturday’s 24-10 win over Washington State: three true freshmen started on defense, a development that raised eyebrows when the depth chart surfaced earlier in the week. By game’s end, the trio had justified the coaching staff’s confidence.

Defensive tackle Derek Colman-Brusa, the No. 158 overall recruit in the 2026 class and the Huskies’ third-highest-rated defensive signee, played 28 snaps. He finished with 3 tackles, a second-quarter tackle for loss, and the play of the game — a looping edge rush that deflected quarterback Caden Pinnick’s pass into the arms of fellow freshman Jeron Jones.

Jones, who at No. 438 was the lowest-rated four-star in the class, returned the interception 9 yards to the Washington State 21-yard line. Five plays later, Demond Williams Jr. punched in a 5-yard touchdown run, Washington’s first of the season. Jones logged 25 snaps with 2 tackles in addition to the pick.

Edge rusher Ramzak Fruean, the No. 293 overall recruit who flipped from a UCLA pledge in December, overcame an early offside penalty by pressuring Pinnick’s arm into an incompletion later in that same sequence. He played 22 snaps and posted 3 tackles. Colman-Brusa and Fruean each tied for the team lead with 2 pressures, per unofficial Pro Football Focus figures, and Colman-Brusa added 3 run-play tackles.

Coach Jedd Fisch praised Jones’s composure after the game, noting the cornerback’s “goldfish memory” and short-term mindset. He extended his praise to the freshman class as a whole, including offensive tackle Kodi Greene, who also started, saying the group played within themselves on a big opening-day stage.

Fruean’s late hit out of bounds in the third quarter contributed to Washington’s 130 penalty yards, though Fisch indicated he expects the young edge rusher to learn from the moment.

The game aired on NBC and Peacock, platforms owned by Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), whose shares closed at $26.49, down 0.64% from the prior close of $26.66, with a market capitalization of roughly $94.4 billion. Comcast’s Media segment continues to carry marquee college football windows as part of its sports programming strategy.

What to watch

• Whether the freshman trio retains starting roles as Washington’s defensive rotation solidifies in upcoming weeks.
• Snap counts and usage for Jones, Colman-Brusa, and Fruean once conference play begins.
• Penalty trends for Washington after a 130-yard performance.
• Washington’s next scheduled game and any updated availability reports.

Source: original release