Back Injury Ends Raiola's Husky Debut Prematurely In Defeat
Washington's most touted recruit sat out the second half with back spasms, and the Huskies lost their opener.
Promises Unfulfilled
It was a disappointing debut for one of the most heralded football recruits in Washington history. Five-star linebacker Jackson Raiola started the game for the Huskies, but he left in the second quarter with back spasms and did not return.
Without Raiola, the Huskies' defense struggled to contain Montana, which rushed for 365 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory.
"It's a tough one," said Washington coach Kalen DeBoer. "We had a lot of high hopes for this game, and we didn't play the way we wanted to."
A Season Of Hope
Raiola was expected to be a key contributor for the Huskies this season. He was rated as the No. 1 inside linebacker in the country by 247Sports and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in high school.
But his debut was cut short by injury, and it remains to be seen how much he will be able to contribute to the Huskies this season.
"We'll see how he does this week," DeBoer said. "We're hoping he can get back on the field soon."
Next Man Up
In Raiola's absence, Washington will likely turn to sophomore Edefuan Ulofoshio to start at inside linebacker. Ulofoshio played well in the second half against Montana, recording seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
"Edefuan is a very talented player," DeBoer said. "We have a lot of confidence in him."
The Huskies will need Ulofoshio to step up if they want to have a successful season. They have a tough schedule ahead, including games against Michigan, Oregon, and Utah.
"We're going to have to be ready to play our best every week," DeBoer said. "We have a lot of challenges ahead of us, but we're confident that we can overcome them."