Jacob Lane evolving as a leader & pass rusher for Washington football

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Washington Huskies have high hopes for outside linebacker Jacob Lane in the 2026 season.

The in-state product of Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup led Jedd Fisch's team in both tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (4) during his junior campaign in 2025, and is showing off a skill set that could help him improve on both those numbers. As NFL scouts have taken a close look at him during fall camp, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Lane has looked like a reliable pass rusher for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.

That showed up in a big way during Saturday's mock game, as the senior was everywhere. As the first-team defense mainly matched up with the second-team offense, it felt like Lane was in the backfield on seemingly every play.

He finished his day with a pair of sacks, a tackle for loss on freshman running back Ansu Sanoe, and a fumble recovery on a botched handoff from freshman quarterback Derek Zammit, as he generated the havoc Walters has preached and has developed into a leader on Washington's defense.

"Football knowledge-wise, I'd say I'm at the peak of my game right now," Lane said before fall camp began at Washington's local media day. "Just overall being a leader, being a guy in the locker room that people can go to, being more open, I feel like that's a big thing I've improved on over the last three years."

With a deep rotation on the edge, headlined by freshman Ramzak Fruean, who Fisch named the starter opposite Lane following the mock game, the senior looks like one of the biggest keys to success for Washington's pass rush as the Huskies look to improve on the 24 sacks it recorded in 2025, which placed the Huskies at No. 12 in the Big Ten.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Jacob Lane evolving as a leader & pass rusher for Washington football

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos