During his first year with the Washington Huskies, it didn't take long for linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale to prove himself as an elite athlete.
Now, entering his second year with his hometown team after compiling 21 tackles with a sack, an interception, and a pair of pass breakups in eight games last season, he's added nine pounds of lean muscle while retaining his athleticism; he's up to 240 pounds as Jedd Fisch's coaching staff has touted him as one of the fastest linebackers in the country.
"I feel like he knows that," Rainey-Sale said on Friday when told linebackers coach Brian Odom called him one of the nation's fastest players at the position. "I am the fastest."
That speed has helped the former four-star product of Bethel High School become
the ultimate Swiss Army Knife for Odom and defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, as he can line up at several spots in the formation, from inside and outside linebacker to nickelback.
"The type of athlete he is allows you to do a lot with him," Odom said before the start of fall camp on Tuesday. "He's as fast as anybody on the field, he's got some coverage skills, he understands football, so he can legitimately play quite a few different positions, so that allows us to do some things with that."
Linebackers Jacob Manu (9) and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (23) working through drills with position coach Brian Odom
— Andy Yamashita | 山下伸幸 (@ANYamashita) August 6, 2026
Also features LB Buddah Al-Uqdah (0) participating for the first time since his season-ending knee injury last season pic.twitter.com/XeqDZeKX7I
Playing alongside seniors Jacob Manu and Xe'ree Alexander, Rainey-Sale's athleticism allows Walters the freedom to get more out of his best and most experienced unit.
"X plays a very similar style, but he's got a little bit of a different skill set in terms of his position flexibility that he can provide," Odom continued. "So there are things that being able to get those guys in different personnel groupings to be able to get them all on the field at the same time, it makes it really attractive, and you can do a lot with it."
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Zaydrius Rainey-Sale gives Washington football elite athleticism
