Huskies walk-ons vie for playing time

SEATTLE – Cory Nicol’s name doesn’t even show up in the University of Washington football media guide.

It’s quite prominently featured on the team’s depth charts, however.

Nicol, a walk-on cornerback who transferred from Orange Coast College, has done plenty to make a name for himself in his first couple of weeks as a Husky. When Washington opens its season at Syracuse, Nicol might just be a starter.

A combination of good play on Nicol’s part and a depleted cornerbacking unit has Nicol on the verge of playing at the level where he felt he belonged.

With cornerback Byron Davenport sidelined with a hamstring injury, Nicol found himself lining up with the starting defense when the Huskies held a scrimmage Saturday.

“I knew I’d get my shot,” said Nicol, who wasn’t heavily recruited out of Woodinville (Wash.) High School, in part because of a number of injuries that limited his playing time. “I knew if I played well that I’d be in a position to fight for some playing time. I didn’t expect to be with the ones, but I expected to see the field.”

Nicol isn’t the only walk-on with a chance to play a role beyond special teams this season. Receiver Charles Hawkins, who transferred to Washington from NAIA Graceland University partway through last season, has drawn his coaches’ attention.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, Hawkins scored the day’s first touchdown when he hauled in a 40-yard pass from Carl Bonnell despite being interfered with by a defensive back. He added three more catches later in the scrimmage, giving him four receptions for 77 yards in two quarters worth of football.

“Coach talks about just taking advantage of every opportunity that you get, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Hawkins, who played quarterback in high school and was converted to receiver at Graceland. “It was exciting that I got to go out there and make a big play and hopefully I’ll make a couple of more coming up.”

After the scrimmage Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said Hawkins had a good chance of working his way into the rotation at receiver.

Hawkins has a lot more depth in front of him than Nicol does, but he figures he can make the team better whether he’s on the field or not.

“We’ve got five seniors who are capable of playing, but at the same time us younger guys want to push those guy to get even better by putting pressure on them to keep their spots,” Hawkins said. “That’s my job right now.”