Football
Associated Press 18y

Hasty, Young could provide Huskies' offense with some spark

SEATTLE -- Chancellor Young went to Duke with the ambitious
goal of turning around a downtrodden program.

The former Seattle prep star didn't need to move cross-country
to accomplish such a task -- not with struggling Washington across
town.

So, Young transferred back home to Montlake, where the wide
receiver is hopeful he can provide a spark to the Huskies'
lackluster offense of recent seasons.

"One of the things that really enticed me was I could be the
face for Duke, I could be the one to change everything," Young
said before a recent Huskies' spring practice. "I still see myself
as being a player that can help turn (Washington's) program
around."

If Young can match expectations, he could shape the Huskies'
offense in the coming seasons. The first step in that process comes
Saturday in the Huskies' annual spring game.

Young didn't have a long line of suitors waiting when he
announced plans to transfer from Duke. Still, second-year
Washington coach Tyrone Willingham's acquisition was key in the
restoration not only of the on-field product, but the image of the
Huskies' program.

Young, running back J.R. Hasty and incoming freshman quarterback
Jake Locker -- who is currently playing baseball as a senior in
Ferndale, Wash. -- are the first major, and local, recruits for
Willingham. They may largely define how the Huskies' program
progresses from one win in the last 16 Pac-10 games.

"Last year from the outset everybody was trying to find their
identity within this system," Young said. "And now that everybody
has some semblance and identity, they're really taking hold of the
roles they have. Now they have their roles they know what to do
with it."

Hasty didn't play a down in his 2005 redshirt season. But he
made every road trip, and it was a constant Washington debating
point as to whether the freshman should be given an opportunity to
help an offense that averaged only 21.5 points and 135 yards
rushing per game.

After all, Hasty ran for 92 touchdowns at Bellevue High School,
including 50 in his senior season. Now, he's being given an equal
chance against senior Kenny James and junior Louis Rankin for the
starting tailback job.

"I see myself as being that person -- a game-breaker, an impact
player. That's what I strive for," Hasty said. "When I play I
strive to make those big runs, the touchdowns that everyone wants
to see."

Whether Hasty gets that chance will depend on his ability to
improve the aspects away from carrying the ball, running back coach
Trent Miles said. The sooner that learning the right angles to
take, protecting the ball, and helping in pass protection become
second-nature, the sooner Hasty will make an impact.

"Once he gets an understanding of what he's doing in the
system, then it becomes easier to run. Your natural talent takes
over when you know what you're doing," Miles said. "Instead of
being out there thinking, you're just reacting and playing."

Young will be a junior when the season begins, after catching
just two passes for 15 yards with Duke as a freshman in 2004. He
was a two-way star at Seattle's O'Dea High School but most schools
were interested in Young as a defensive back and not a receiver.

His development will be vital for Washington's passing game.
Last year's leading receiver, Craig Chambers, transferred to
Montana. Willingham likes Young's size, 6-feet-2 and 210 pounds.
The coach is hoping Young can provide a downfield threat for
whoever ends up being the Huskies' starting quarterback.

"Chancellor is showing himself to be a physical player and I
think most people that are around football would agree that
football is still a physical game," Willingham said. "I don't
think I've seen all that Chancellor has to give yet."

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