LastseasonLouisRankinculminatedhiscareerwithaseasonfortheages.Theoften-criticizedrunningbackrushedfor1,294yardsata5.6yardspercarryaverage.Thatwasgoodenoughtoplacehimfifthall-timeforsingleseasonperformances,ashebecamethefirst1,000-yardrusheronMontlakesince1997.Enteringthe2008season,theHuskieswillleanonyouthinhopessomeoneemergesasareplacementforRankin.Thereareplentyofqualitybacksinthearsenal,butcanonesophomoreandsixfreshmanstepinandgetthejobdone?

Hawthorne,CA(DominguezHighSchool)

5-foot-11,195-pound,TrueSophomore

2007STATS:51rushesfor196yardsanda3.8averageandtwotouchdowns,13kickreturnsfor226yardsanda17.4average

EveryoneassumedthatJohnsonwouldbehandedthereinsasthestaringtailback,aftershowinggreatpromiseasafreshman.However,wordhascomeoutthatJohnsonhadoff-seasonkneesurgerytorepairatornPCLandtornMeniscus.ThePCLinjurywassustainedinhighschool,andheplayedthroughthepainlastseason.HetorehisMeniscusduringspringpracticesandisstillnota100percent.Johnsoninformedusthathefeelsabout75percentbutanticipatesbeingreadytogofullstrengthbythefirstgame.Johnsonisparticipatinginfullatpractices,andbeingthemostexperiencedbackonthestaff,itshouldn'thurthisstatustoomuch.WhatcouldhurthimmoreistheemergenceoftruefreshmanChrisPolk.Regardless,Johnsonwillgetplentyofcarries,andshouldbeoneofthetwofeaturedbacks.

Duvall, WA (Mt. Si High School)

6-foot-0, 190-pound, Redshirt Freshman

2006 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 220 carries for 1,593 yards and 18 touchdowns

Brandon Yakaboski redshirted last season as freshman, but not before he impressed coaches and media during fall practices. Yakaboski has a great frame and uses every bit of his 190 pounds to punish defenses with his down hill running style. Yakaboski also has great hands and could be used out of the backfield with great success. Yakaboski was named the 3A KingCo offensive player of the year as both a junior and senior. Yakaboski compiled 3,135 yards and 33 touchdowns during that period.

PROJECTION:

Oakland, CA (McClymonds High school)

5-foot-8, 200-pound, Redshirt Freshman

2006 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 1,443 yards

Willie Griffin was the No. 50 ranked running back recruit in the nation for the class of 2007 and a top 100 California player. Griffin is a bulldog who uses his balance and stout frame to punish defenses with an aggressive, straight ahead approach. Griffin has good vision and adequate speed, but doesn't have breakaway speed. He rushed for 1,443 yards as a senior in high school, despite missing two games to injury. Griffin also added 854 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

PROJECTION:

Redlands, CA (East Valley High School)

5-foot-11, 210-pound, True Freshman

2007 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 2,561 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns

True freshman Chris Polk was brought in to be Jake Locker's golden side kick. The high school All-American can do it all, and he's had coaches gushing over his athleticism and football instincts ever since he enrolled in the spring. As a junior in high school, when current Husky teammate Ronnie Fouch was his quarterback at East Valley High School, Polk caught 62 passes for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns. Take away his Division-I quarterback and what did Polk do as a senior? He moved to his natural position at running back, where he rushed for 2,561 yards and 29 touchdowns. Keep in mind that Polk did this in a highly competitive California prep league.

PROJECTION:

Seattle, WA (O'Dea High School)

6-foot-2, 190-pound, True Freshman

2007 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 2,545 yards and 36 touchdowns

As a senior Johri Fogerson earned the AP Washington State Player of the Year Award, regardless of position, and the WashingtonPreps 3A state player of the year award, after rushing for 2,545 yards and 36 touchdowns. Fogerson finished his career with a bang, rushing for a state title game record 297 yards and 4 touchdowns. Even more impressive, was the fact that Fogerson did it against one of the best teams in the county, and a Skyline High School defense that barely gave up a touchdown per game all season long. Fogerson was rated the No. 62 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com and should have been higher. He had a ton of quality offers from schools like Oregon, California and Ohio State. Fogerson might even be a more talented safety, and could make the move at some point, much like Nate Williams did last season.

PROJECTION:

Vacaville, CA (Vacaville High School)

5-foot-10, 195-pound, True Freshman

2007 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 1,741 yards and 28 touchdowns

Terrance Dailey may not have been a household name last season, but the 5-foot-10, 195-pound speedster will surprise people in Seattle. Dailey was picking up attention in a hurry when he committed to Washington. Dailey put up mind numbing statistics in high school, amassing 4,076 yards and 56 touchdowns in just two seasons. It didn't go unnoticed either, as Dailey earned numerous accolades. He was named first team all-Monticello Empire League, MEL Back of the Year, all-Metro Team, and all-Sac Joaquin Sectional Team. Dailey also received first team all-state honors for California underclassmen. Dailey is explosive and runs a legitimate 4.45 forty yard dash, and he if he can add bulk, Dailey will have the ideal combination of size and speed to succeed at the collegiate level.

PROJECTION:

Inglewood, CA (Inglewood High School)

5-foot-7, 190-pound, True Freshman

2006 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: (Jr.) 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns

David Freeman could very well end up being a diamond in the rough for the Huskies. The talented halfback was hurt for much of his senior season and flew under the radar as a result. Freeman was a top-10 California running back heading into his senior season, after earning all-league and all-area honors as a junior. Freeman found himself at Montlake, in large part because his high school coaches, Charles Mincy and Donald Jones were both former all-Pac-10 players at the University of Washington. Freeman has adequate speed, good vision and runs much bigger than he is, which allows him to not go down upon first contact.

PROJECTION:

Freeman has bulked up quite a bit since high school and may have given himself a chance to get into the rotation. A redshirt season is the most likely outcome, but once again, there is nothing but freshmen to fill this position, and somebody has to play.

Omaha, NE (Millard North High School)

6-foot-0, 222-pound, True Junior

2007 STATS: 22 rushes and one touchdown, six receptions and eight kick returns for 194 yards, five tackles and one forced fumble

Paul Homer is the returning starter and will be a rock for this young offense. Last season, Homer earned a Pac-10 All-Academic first-team selection, as well as two tough guy awards for his team. Homer was also awarded the Chuck Niemi Big Hit Award and the Earle T. Glant Tough Husky Award. Homer, along with Locker, will be the vocal leaders of the offense. Homer will always provide plenty of motivation with his all out style of play.

PROJECTION:

Olympia, WA (Olympia High School)

6-foot-1, 245-pound, Redshirt Senior

2007 STATS: 17 rushes for 34 yards and four touchdowns

Luke Kravitz combined with Paul Homer make one of the best one-two punches at fullback in the league. Kravitz is a battering ram around the goal line, evident by his four touchdowns last season. He played in 12 of 13 games last season, earning the Husky Fever Offensive 12th Man of the Year Award. Kravitz is also a standout on special teams, and actually lumbered his way to a 42-yard kick return from the up-back position in the Apple Cup. The product of Olympia High School in the state's capital, Kravitz will be playing his fifth and final season at Montlake. Kravitz, much like Homer, is as tough as you will find - expect him to make an impact in his final season, every chance he gets.

PROJECTION:

Reno, NV (Bishop Monogue High School/ The Hun School (N.J.))

6-foot-1, 245-pound, Redshirt Freshman

2006 HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 79 tackles, 12 sacks and 15 tackles for loss

Austin Sylvester wanted to be a Husky, and when the Washington staff suggested he take a season to grow at a prep school, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound monster did just that. Sylvester attended The Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey, where he helped lead the team to a 7-2 record (5-0 league) and a Mid-Atlantic Prep League Championship. More importantly, Sylvester earned that Husky scholarship he was after, and came to Montlake, where he earned playing time as a true freshman last season. Sylvester is a beast and should continue the tradition of hard-nosed Husky fullbacks. However, he still could make a switch to linebacker if ever needed.

PROJECTION:

Seattle, WA (Evergreen High School)

6-foot-0, 230-pound, Redshirt Freshman

STATS: NA

Tobias Togi is a walk-on that redshirted his freshman season. Togi played running back and defensive end for an 8-2 Evergreen High School team, scoring 20 touchdowns as a senior. He was a first-team all-Seamount League running back and also the co-defensive lineman of the year.

PROJECTION:

Togi is buried behind too many talented fullbacks to see playing time on offense. However, his hard work and versatility has served him well thus far and he's made a couple of nice catches early on. Togi earned a service team special teams player of the week award, and you can never have too many big and athletic players flying around on special teams.