In 2024, outside linebacker Russell Davis II introduced himself to the Washington Huskies' fanbase with authority, recording 3 sacks and earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in a win over UCLA.
However, that's one of just three games that the fifth-year senior has played in over his first two years on Montlake, and the last time he was able to suit up for Jedd Fisch's team after following the head coach through the transfer portal from Arizona. Immediately following that performance, Davis suffered a torn triceps in practice that ended his season.
Then, he suffered a torn patellar tendon during summer workouts in 2025 that ended his season before he could even get started. Now, he's finally cleared to play and was back on the field
for Washington's first fall practice on Thursday, which delighted both the fifth-year senior and Fisch.
“He was so excited during stretch lines, just that he was full-go and able to do everything," Fisch said on Thursday. "We had no restrictions on him. And he’s big...he’s stronger than he’s ever been, weighs more than he ever has. So he’s in a really good spot, and it’s just great to have him back on the field.”
Now weighing in the mid-230s, Davis could be a disruptive part of a much deeper unit on the edge for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters ahead of his second season. Adding the disruptive Davis, who has 6.5 sacks to his name in his career, allows the former Purdue head coach depth, versatility, and the ability to draw up more situational packages, combining veterans like Jacob Lane, Isaiah Ward, and Logan George with promising young players like Ramzak Fruean, Devin Hyde, and JD Hill.
"You have a healthy (Russell) Davis, so there's going to be a healthy rotation, and I think that we'll be able to be more situational-specific with those guys and develop certain packages personnel-wise depending on the situation, so I think that will be the biggest difference between this year and last year in terms of the edge room," Walters said on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Disruptive pass rusher makes long-awaited return to Huskies practice
