Washington 2023-24 football preview

WASHINGTON — When Washington football opens its season this fall, there will be some new names leading the charge.

The Demons lose their statistical leader at every position.

Ethan Patterson threw the ball just 88 times for 410 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

The then senior will be missed this fall. The only other player to throw a pass last season was Logan McDole. McDole went 4-for-5 with 28 yards and one touchdown.

When it came to carrying the ball out of the backfield last season, Tayven Stuart (1,135 yards), Patterson (417 yards), Jude Brown (184 yards), DaShaun Westphal-Edwards (75 yards) and James Strabala (64 yards) all led the way. All five are also gone.

The other four rushers from last season all return. They were Casen Evans (36 yards), McDole (17 yards), Julian Carter (seven yards) and Alec Ulin (six yards).

As for receiving, the Demons will look fairly different as just one player makes a comeback and that is Luke Beenblossom.

Beenblossom was the third leading pass catcher. He caught eight passes for 70 yards and one touchdown.

Brown paced the Demons a year ago with 12 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Evan Van Der Molen followed with eight catches and 84 yards.

Defensively, Washington loses leading tackler James Strabala, who finished with 86.5 total tackles in 2022.

The Demons do return a lot of heavy hitters in the defensive department.

Casen Evans, who tallied 66 tackles returns as well as Chase Greiner, Alec Ulin and Nicolaus Dittrich. All of which ended with 30 plus tackles.

Washington finished 5-4 a year ago and will be looking to improve on that total in 2023.