Bigger, stronger Rainey-Sale ready to deal with physicality of Big Ten

On first and goal from the 9-yard line with 2:29 to play in the Washington Huskies ' 42-25 win over Illinois in October, Fighting Illini running back Kaden Faegin took a handoff up the middle for 4 yards, two plays before the then-No. 23-ranked team in the nation took its only lead of the game.

During that play, linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale had his welcome to college football moment. In a game where the top-ranked recruit in Jedd Fisch's 2025 class showed off his promising potential with a tackle and a pair of pass breakups (one of which was a dropped interception that would have been a pick six), he also learned just how far he has to go to establish himself in the Big Ten.

While safety Alex McLaughlin made the tackle, Rainey-Sale found himself getting walked into the end zone by tight end Tanner Arkin.

"He drew me back, like, 15 yards into the end zone," Rainey-Sale said on Tuesday. "So I was like, damn, you know what I mean? They strong."

While Rainey-Sale showed in that game and in all eight appearances he made last season, as he racked up 21 tackles, 1 for loss, and an interception, that he has the skill set necessary to succeed in the Big Ten, he can still get a lot stronger ahead of his sophomore season.

"I feel like my biggest thing this offseason was getting with (strength coach Tyler Owens ) and (assistant strength coach) Cadillac (Mitchell) and (assistant strength coach Lance Ancar) and getting right in the weight room."

Now at 240 pounds, with plenty of added responsibilities in defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' scheme, flexing between inside and outside linebacker, along with walking out into the nickel at times when he's playing alongside seniors Jacob Manu and Xe'ree Alexander, the bigger, stronger sophomore has an opportunity to establish himself in an elite unit.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Bulked up Zaydrius Rainey-Sale ready for Big Ten physicality