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Rahshawn Clark's versatility leading Huskies defense to strong results
- Story byHuskies Wire
- Rahshawn Clark's versatility leading Huskies defense to strong results
Washington has modified a wrinkle in its defense this season that has freed up their playmakers.
In 2025, the Huskies deployed three safeties with Alex McLaughlin, Makell Esteen, and Rylon Dillard-Allen on the field at the same time, with either Esteen or Dillard-Allen lined up as the "post," or single-high, safety and the other two in the box to allow them to get downhill quickly.
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Ryan Walters' unit has played similar looks in their first two games against Washington State and Utah State, but that post safety has largely been nickelback Rahshawn Clark rather than a third safety. Clark, who is listed on the depth chart as the co-starter at nickel with freshman Jeron Jones, is listed as a safety on Washington's roster but has almost exclusively played nickel corner when healthy.
The results have been promising early on. After McLaughlin had a team-leading 9 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, an interception, and 2 pass breakups, including one on a Hail Mary that resulted in a Clark interception against Utah State, he spoke to the media about how Clark's role in the post has opened up the defense.
"Yeah, I think it's a great versatility we have in our defense," the fourth-year said. "I think Rahshawn is super good in the post, especially with the ball skills he has, and we know (Dillard-Allen), how aggressive he is and how fast he gets to the football. So I think just having both of us down there is a huge thing for our defense."
Walters had a similar sentiment when asked about it on Tuesday and gave an explanation about when those looks are most advantageous for the Huskies.
"It's usually when they're in 12 personnel that he kinda goes back. It allows us to have some flexibility defensively with different variations in coverage," Walters said. "When you get bigger, it limits what the bodies on the field can do from a coverage standpoint. And so, with his ball skills, obviously his coverage ability, that's why we put him back there and let Alex and (Dillard-Allen) get closer to the box. They're probably more physical tacklers and can get aggressive downhill, so having those three guys, being able to play against a 12 personnel package, it definitely helps us schematically."
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That schematic advantage has propelled Washington to a havoc rate of 27 percent against Washington State (98th percentile) and 26 percent against Utah State (97th percentile) in their first two games. (Havoc rate is the percentage of plays where a defense records a tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble, pass breakup, or interception.) The Huskies allowed an EPA/play of -0.33 against the Cougars and -0.27 against the Aggies, which ranked fourth and fourth percentile, respectively.
The defense playing as well as it has is also a major reason why Washington enters this weekend 2-0 after two lukewarm performances from the offense against inferior competition. With cornerback Emmanuel Karnley week-to-week with a soft tissue injury after pulling up on a rare coverage bust, Jones is scheduled to slide over to outside corner if the Virginia transfer can't go. That would put Clark in the nickel more firmly - Washington has not been afraid to put Clark and Jones on the field at the same time - but likely wouldn't affect this single-high formation, considering Karnley has also occasionally rotated into that spot.
Washington has generated 21 havoc plays in the passing game, compared to 8 in the run game, so maintaining their defensive alignments and an increased aggressiveness in attacking the ball should continue to pay dividends for the whole unit. The Huskies will need that to continue as they try to work out the kinks offensively ahead of Big Ten play against Minnesota next week.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Rahshawn Clark's versatility leading Huskies defense to strong results
