Huskies’ Kasen Williams savors last home game in trying senior season

SEATTLE – There were no just-another-game clichés from Kasen Williams this week.

Instead, he plans to appreciate this final game at Husky Stadium for what it is.

“I want to soak it in a little bit, just because I know that the moment’s not going to last forever,” said Williams, one of 18 seniors who will be honored prior to the Huskies’ home finale against Oregon State tonight.

“I feel like it’s been a long season, and it’s been a long career. I’ve only really played a handful of games in Husky Stadium, because freshman year was the old stadium, sophomore year was (CenturyLink Field), then last year I was hurt half the year. I don’t have a deep connection with Husky Stadium, but I have a deep connection with Husky Nation, if that makes sense.”

It has been a trying senior season for Williams, who suffered a gruesome foot/leg injury in a game against California last year, then spent the offseason trying to get healthy enough to play.

He was fully cleared for the Huskies’ fall camp, but didn’t look like the same player. He was a non-factor early in the season, catching only seven passes in the Huskies’ first 10 games.

His struggles this year, Williams said, have been a result of “the combination of a lot of things. Everything being new in all areas. Coaches, quarterback, system, everything. Just for me, just trying to get back with my foot. I feel good. I feel 100 percent and I’ve been feeling 100 percent for a while now. So it’s about time that we start moving and you’re going to see me on the field a lot more, making more plays.”

That was true last week when Williams was far more involved in the offense, catching a season-best five passes for 39 yards. He currently ranks fourth on UW’s career receptions list with 154, seven shy of Paul Skansi’s total of 161 and 26 behind Jermaine Kearse’s 180.

In the Beavers, the Huskies are facing an opponent coming off their best victory of the season – a 35-27 upset of Arizona State.

OSU (5-5, 2-5 in Pac-12), like UW, is trying to secure another victory to become bowl eligible. The Huskies (6-5, 2-5) have already won six games, but because they play a 13-game schedule this season, they need to reach the 7-win mark to be eligible for the postseason.