Washington Huskies Cornerbacks Looking to Carry Performance From Strong Week 1

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The No. 19Washington Huskies will take on the second opponent in their three-game nonconference schedule, the Utah State Aggies, at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday.

The biggest highlight from the Huskies' Week 1 win, a 24-10 result against the Washington State Cougars in the 118th Apple Cup, was the defense, which forced three turnovers and held the Cougs scoreless for three quarters.

Washington's cornerback unit was a large factor in getting the victory.

The Huskies entered this offseason with new starters on the outside after previous starters Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock were both selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

In their stead, returning second-year cornerback Dylan Robinson and fourth-year Virginia Cavaliers transfer Emmanuel Karnley got the nods as starters.

At nickelback, third-year Rahshawn Clark and first-year Jeron Jones, who received a significant amount of offseason work with the starters, took the snaps.

The retooled cornerback group lived up to the billing. Jones recorded the first turnover of the game for the Washington defense, an interception, and Karnley recorded two pass breakups.

Robinson was barley, if at all, challenged by Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick, which drew praise from head coach Jedd Fisch as being indicative of the job the second-year player did in coverage.

The UW defense held Pinnick to 142 yards on 16-for-25 passing. Daniel Blood was the leading receiver, with five receptions for 57 yards.

It was an impressive first showing for the new cornerback unit, which will have time to get its feet wet before the team gets into the thick of its Big Ten schedule.

Utah State is coming off a 29-17 loss to Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team Idaho State on Sept. 5.

Aggies quarterbacks McCae Hillstead and Grady Brosterhous combined to go 20-for-43 for 245 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in the loss.

After its game against Utah State, Washington will conclude its nonconference schedule against FCS team Eastern Washington on Sept. 19.

The struggling Aggies quarterbacks and FCS team will give the Huskies cornerbacks several opportunities, which will do the team well before it faces some of the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten, which includes Southern California signal-caller Jayden Maiava on Oct. 3 and Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore on Nov. 28.

Washington's games against Utah State and Eastern Washingtons will both air on the Big Ten Network. The Huskies will begin their in-conference slate against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at a to-be-determined time Sept. 26 at Husky Stadium.

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