The former top recruit from Washington state has physically and mentally improved his game in preparations of become a fixture in the Huskies linebacker room.
SEATTLE — The Washington Huskies football team is through two days of fall practice, and it's been mostly-light when it comes to physical activity.
The Huskies ran almost exclusive walkthroughs the first two days of practice Thursday and Friday, respectively, trying to iron out fundamentals and working installations.
It won't become clear which position group, or the offense or defense as a whole, is the strength of the team until pads come on and players start hitting.
However, there's a noticeable amount of energy with the team, particularly on the defensive side of things.
Washington's defense is mostly healthy, aside from Mississippi State defensive tackle transfer Kai McClendon, who's expected to be back at some point in training camp.
The defense's intensity, despite it still being walkthroughs, is a reflection of the newfound familiarity the team has in its second year under defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, as well as the veteran leadership returning to the team.
And arguably the best combination of veteran experience and ability on the defense comes from the linebacker room, which has a good chance to be the focal point of Walters' defense.
The linebacking corps boasts several upperclassmen, several of whom spent time out last year or this spring due to injuries: fifth-year Buddah Al-Uqdah, fifth-year Jacob Manu and fourth-year Xe'ree Alexander.
The linebacker group has been mentioned by coaches and starters as feeling like it has "four starters." The other "starter" in the unit is the youngest of the four, second-year player Zaydrius Rainey-Sale.
Rainey-Sale, who was the top in-state recruit in the Class of 2025, is coming off his own injury. He missed the first five games of the season with an injury he suffered his senior high school year, but made an impression in his final eight games. He finished his true freshman season with 21 total tackles (13 solo), including one tackle for loss and one sack, three passes defended and one interception.
Linebackers coach Brian Odom once described Rainey-Sale as "one of the fastest linebackers in the country." The Tacoma, Wash., native doubled down on that statement following a practice Friday at Husky Stadium in Seattle, calling himself the single fastest at his position in the country.
"I feel like it's great (everyone is healthy)," Rainey-Sale after practice Friday. "I just feel like, for all of us, just putting our best foot forward and just making sure we're the leader of the defense, communicating and making sure we're all playing as one, that's the biggest thing."
Rainey-Sale has ditched the knee brace he had during last season and spring practice and also looks noticeably leaner. He confirmed that he had put on nine pounds of "lean mass" since the end of last season.
Walters could plan on using Rainey-Sale in creative ways.
Rainey-Sale lined up during walkthroughs at the edge of the defensive line several times Friday. Given his newfound size, health, speed and his extra year of familiarity with his coordinator's defense, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker could prove to be an secret weapon for the team this year.
"I feel like mixing it up with different pressures and coming off the edge, I'm going to get sacks this year, for sure," Rainey-Sale said.
