After enduring a tumultuous 2024 offseason, the University of Washington football team’s roster turnover entering the 2025 season seems minimal.
Yet coach Jedd Fisch and the Huskies still brought in a host of new talent from the transfer portal. There are 17 new arrivals on Washington’s roster.
Before the Huskies begin fall camp July 30, here are three recent transfers who will have a major impact on how UW performs in Fisch’s second season.
Honorable mention selections: Linebacker Taariq “Buddah” Al-Uqdah (Washington State); wide receiver Omari Evans (Penn State); and defensive linemen Anterio Thompson (Western Michigan), Simote Pepa (Utah) and Tai’ita’i Uiagalelei (Arizona).
3. Safety CJ Christian
New UW safeties coach Taylor Mays emphasized versatility throughout spring camp. Mays said he wanted players capable of coming down into the tackle box and helping with run support while being comfortable dropping into space.
One of those two starting safety spots has already been decided. Sixth-year safety Makell Esteen enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024, making 44 tackles in 10 games. Pro Football Focus graded the Southern California native as UW’s third-best defender and the team’s best tackler. He surrendered zero touchdowns despite playing 174 snaps in coverage.
Mays rotated who was paired with Esteen throughout the spring, but Florida International transfer CJ Christian was Esteen’s most frequent partner.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety spent the past three seasons at FIU. He made 79 tackles, defended three passes, grabbed an interception and recovered a fumble in 2024. Christian also displayed positional versatility throughout the season. He played 340 snaps in the box, 238 as a free safety and 130 at nickel, according to Pro Football Focus.
2. Left tackle Carver Willis
It’s no secret that Washington’s offensive line struggled throughout the 2024 campaign after integrating five new starters during Fisch’s first season. No position epitomized the struggles up front like left tackle.
Three players started at left tackle in 2024. Redshirt freshman Soane Faasolo began the season as the starter but was replaced by junior Maximus McCree before UW’s 24-5 win on Sept. 21 against Northwestern. McCree held the position for four weeks until he dislocated his thumb against Iowa on Oct. 12. Redshirt freshman Kahlee Tafai stepped into the role next but finished the season with the lowest PFF offensive grade on the team.
Tafai transferred to Minnesota during the offseason. Faasolo, entering his third year at Washington, and a now-healthy McCree remain on the roster. The Huskies targeted offensive line help in the transfer portal, landing former Kansas State tackle Carver Willis.
A Durango, Colo., native, Willis spent five seasons with the Wildcats, primarily at right tackle. He was a 2023 All-Big 12 honorable-mention selection and part of a Kansas State unit that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the top offensive line in the country. UW won the award in 2023.
Willis, who has one season of eligibility remaining, exclusively played on the left side during spring practices. The 6-5, 291-pound tackle played in 35 games during his Kansas State tenure and arrived at UW with 18 starts. Faasolo and McCree have played 20 games combined.
1. Cornerback Tacario Davis
Considering his résumé, senior cornerback Tacario Davis had a chance to go wherever he wanted.
Davis — a 6-4, 200-pound Long Beach, Calif., native — emerged as one of college football’s top young defensive backs during his sophomore season at Arizona under Fisch and cornerbacks coach John Richardson. Davis racked up 25 tackles and 16 passes defended along with his only career interception, earning All-Pac-12 honorable-mention status from the conference’s coaches and a second-team All-Pac-12 selection from The Associated Press.
After briefly entering the transfer portal, Davis returned to Arizona and followed with a strong junior campaign. Under new coach Brent Brennan, Davis made a career-high 44 tackles and defended six passes to earn 2024 second-team All-Big 12 honors.
Davis’ decision to transfer to UW reunites him with Fisch, Richardson and senior cornerback/fellow Arizona transfer Ephesians Prysock (6-4, 195 pounds), giving the Huskies a pair of big corners who have enjoyed success together.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Seattle Times staff reporter Andy Yamashita covers UW football.