On Wednesday afternoon, Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and edge rusher Bralen Trice took part in a teleconference to kickoff media availability ahead of the Huskies' national championship game matchup with Michigan on Monday in Houston.
DeBoer updated the status of injured running back Dillon Johnson, reflected on some of the points of his career on the way to this point, discussed the impact of his coaching staff and of course talked plenty about Penix.
Here's a complete transcript of DeBoer's comments:
KALEN DEBOER: Appreciate you all being here with us. We are back in Seattle, just honored to be representing our team here in the National Championship, and just congratulations and tip of the hat to Coach Harbaugh and Michigan. Amazing season they've had, and just a lot of domination all year long. Well-fought win against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. We are looking forward to the challenge, looking forward to everything that comes along with the National Championship here in the days ahead, and our preparation, especially with the coaching staff and the game planning is going strong already. In a couple days we'll be back down in Houston and really looking forward to that, flying down there. I'll open it up for questions.
Q. How is Dillon Johnson doing, and what did you see happen to him at the end of the Texas game?
KALEN DEBOER: Yeah, I mean, I haven't seen him today. I know that we got back yesterday, and they continued to look at him and had a report with our training staff today. This is just something he's been working through for a couple months now and just played through it. There's nothing as far as above and beyond what's happened in the past. Just kind of throughout the game, he'd reaggravate it and shake it off and go back out there and play. I guess my thoughts is he'll be ready to go. Obviously, it's a quick week, quick turnaround, only seven days to get ready again. We'll be smart with how we prepare, and I guess that's my assumption not having talked to him today, but even knowing where we landed, as long as everything came out all right with everything, he was going to do everything he could to be on that football field next Monday.
Q. How important is he to your team and what you guys do on offense?
KALEN DEBOER: Yeah, I think he's just really established himself the second half of the season, both at running the football, which I know was everyone's theme, just the big games he's had and the physicality he brings. He is very much in sync with our offensive line. Trusts them a lot, they trust him and go the extra mile to pave the way for him to get the yards he has. I think the other piece is we have other guys that do a really good job, too, but he is just a solid player all around and does a solid job of pass protection and keeping the pocket clean for Mike. Smart football player, understands his responsibilities, but physically able to take on all the different types of bodies that come at him pressure-wise or just helping in protection.
Him being a first-year guy with us, he's really the second half of the year come along as the reps have added up, and he gets more opportunities. He's a big piece to it. I don't think I'd be able to sell it any other way. I think everyone would see through that. We have other guys that are ready to go if he's not able to step out there, but Dillon is I know going to do everything he can because he's putting his heart and soul into this season, this team all year long.
