Gage makes most of chances with Huskies

SEATTLE – Josh Gage can’t seem to stop smiling, and really, it’s hard to blame him.

Once a high school senior with no Division I scholarship offers, the Washington junior enters fall camp at the top of the depth chart at outside linebacker.

“It’s amazing and I’m just really thankful for the opportunity that has presented itself,” Gage said. “We’ll see where it goes. I’m just trying to work hard and do my best.”

Gage came to Washington as a walk-on from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., after the only college offers he received were at junior colleges. He had only been in southern California for two years, having previously lived on Orcas Island, so coming back to Washington made sense.

“My parents were moving back up here, and I grew up loving the Huskies, so that was definitely a fit for me,” he said. “I got the opportunity to walk on here, and I always wanted to play Division I. I didn’t want to go to a junior college or something small.”

The description of Gage’s 2005 season in Washington’s media guide reads like what you might expect to see from a walk on: “Provided depth but did not see game action.”

In 2006, Gage earned the Brian Stapp Special Teams Scout of the year award, but still did not see game action. A breakthrough of sorts came last season when he was awarded a scholarship in August.

He went on to play in all 13 games on special teams, and earn spot playing time at linebacker.

“It was great,” he said of earning a scholarship a year ago. “It was what you’re working for when you come in. First of all just to be able to play is what your goal is, then after that you want that scholarship. It’s hard paying for school. It was a great feeling.”

Gage started spring football at the top of the depth chart while E.J. Savannah was facing what turned out to be a two-week suspension. He starts fall camp in a similar situation, with Savannah again out (this time for academic reasons). Gage has no idea how long his time with the first-team defense might last, and said he doesn’t let the thought of falling back on the depth chart bother him. Instead he stays confident and hopes more hard work will lead to playing time this fall.

“When I came in, I set my standards pretty high,” said Gage, who got married in January. “I just expected it to be that way, and you’ve got to have that confidence, especially being a walk-on. You’ve got to definitely believe in yourself. So coming in I just worked my hardest and that’s all you can do.”

Gage also tries not to worry about critics who might have reservations about a former walk-on starting at linebacker.

“I guess I would just say, I worked myself into this position and I’ll just try to let my play do the talking,” he said. “There’s always going to be critics, but it doesn’t really bother me. I’m confident in myself.”

“I would say if Josh starts, he has earned the spot,” said Washington coach Tyrone Willingham.