Russell Davis II adds to Washington's already deep pass rush rotation

Before Sunday's Apple Cup, it had been almost two years since Washington Huskies edge rusher Russell Davis II had last suited up for a game, but he made his presence felt immediately.

On his first snap of the season, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound pass rusher got into the Washington State backfield quickly to drop Cougars quarterback Caden Pinnick for his first sack of the season, and one of three that the Huskies tallied on the day. After an arm injury ended his 2024 season following a breakout 3-sack performance against UCLA, which earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors, and a torn patellar tendon derailed his 2025 campaign, the sack was a big moment for Jedd Fisch and his coaching staff.

"That is Deuce Davis," Fisch said on Monday. "The guy is an unbelievable pass rusher...one out of every 12 plays he's played for us here at Washington has been a sack...the fact that we got through the game, it was his first game back after a whole year, and be productive gives us an opportunity to give him some more plays this coming week."

"It was fun to see Deuce back out there; he's got incredible power, and he's got a great speed-to-power move."

With Davis healthy, he adds to Washington's depth on the edge, where Jacob Lane, Ramzak Fruean, Logan George, and Isaiah Ward also proved in the opener that they can be productive for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.

"I think he adds some explosiveness, some physicality, some strength on the edge," Walters said on Tuesday. "I hadn't seen him play live since I've been here, and Coach Fisch was like, 'As soon as he plays, I guarantee he's going to get a sack,' and sure enough, the first play he was in, he got a sack...It's good to see him out there; it brings us joy as a staff because of the adversity he's faced."

That sentiment resonated with a lot of his teammates, including Ward, as the pair followed Fisch from Arizona through the transfer portal in January 2024.

"It felt great," Ward added on Tuesday. "First play, first sack is something unheard of. Deuce is a great guy, and he's worked consistently, been consistent with rehab, and he's always kept a good attitude, and that was well deserved for sure."