UW will use tight ends more this year

SEATTLE – The list of Washington Huskies who would want to relive the 2008 football season is probably smaller than the current membership of the Kevin Federline fan club.

But among those who would most like to forget it are two players who are now entrusted with helping the Huskies again reclaim their long-held title of “Tight End U” – Chris Izbicki and Kavario Middleton.

As last year meandered into winlessness, Izbicki could do nothing but watch, banished to the sidelines for good, apparently as punishment for being cited for two misdemeanors related to a drinking incident at a concert in the summer of 2008.

Middleton, meanwhile, found himself increasingly standing next to Izbicki on the sidelines as the season wore on, his playing time decreasing for reasons he found perplexing.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” he said.

In retrospect, Middleton admits his commitment could have been better. It also made sense that he lost some playing time after senior Michael Gottlieb recovered from an injury to emerge as the starter.

But Middleton also said he had little guidance on what to do or why he suddenly wasn’t playing much.

“I was kind of just lost with everything,” he said. “Nobody really talked to me about anything. I didn’t know what my role was. I didn’t know where I belonged.”

Izbicki had a good idea the arrest was why he was stuck on the bench, though he said former coach Tyrone Willingham never told him as much.

“I just didn’t get to play,” he said. “It was a no-words-exchanged type of deal.”

Both are now relishing a fresh start under new coach Steve Sarkisian.

Izbicki is listed as the starter, but in Tuesday’s practice they each took turns with the first unit while sometimes also playing together in two tight-end sets.

Junior college transfer Dorson Boyce has also impressed early compelling Sarkisian to say Tuesday that “it’s a really good group” and promising all figure to see the field a lot this season.

“We don’t want to be a team that lines up in three- and four- (receiver sets) all the time,” Sarkisian said.

“We like to be multiple and like to have multiple tight ends on the field because of the run threat but then have the ability to still throw the ball. That’s critical in our system.”