Notebook | Walk-on has special impact on Washington

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- One of the Washington Huskies' big concerns entering their game against Oregon State on Saturday night was improving its kickoff coverage.

The Huskies ranked last in the Pac-10 in that category this week, allowing 25.9 yards per return, with opponents' average drive after a kickoff starting on the 34-yard line.

Special-teams coach Bob Simmons said part of his job this week was to impress on the kickoff team the importance of its job. Most of the members of the kickoff the team are younger players or walk-ons.

"You are on this trip for a reason," Simmons said. "You are on this team for a reason. Now we have to accept this responsibility and that this role is critical."

One person who has taken that message to heart is sophomore walk-on strong safety Jay Angotti of Honolulu.

Angotti had three tackles on the kickoff team, twice coming from the backside (or the other side of the field from where the runner was) to make the tackle. Coaches named him the Huskies' special teams player of the week and also nominated him for Pac-10 honors.

"He was around the ball, and that's what it takes," Simmons said. "When we are good, you will see more than one guy around the football, and that's where we've got to get."

Angotti has thrown himself into the special-teams role all season. Most of his nine tackles this season have come on the kickoff team.

He has also been on the field for a few plays at strong safety, and hopes to get a few more in the future.

But as a walk-on, he also says he'll take what he can get.

"If this is my role, then I have to try to do it the best that I can," he said.

Angotti had offers from a few smaller schools as a standout at Punahou High School but wanted to play Division I football if he could.

He had a connection with the Huskies. His high-school coach, Kale Ane, played at Michigan State with Washington coach Tyrone Willingham.

"I wanted to play at a high level if I could," Angotti said.

Angotti said he was expecting to be moved into the middle of the kickoff team rather than playing on the outside as the Huskies attempted to find some answers to their woes.

Simmons said players are sometimes overrun their assignments, creating lanes for returners, and other times have trouble getting off blocks.

"We want to have reckless abandon, but you want to have control because if you are too reckless and you are not in the right area, they will [block] you outside and create a seam," Simmons said.

No Pac-10 record yet

Jake Locker needed just 23 yards to set the modern-day Pac-10 record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

Locker entered the game with 793 rushing yards. He got 16 on six carries before leaving with a neck injury. The most by a conference quarterback is 815 by Jeff Dankworth of UCLA in 1976.

USC's Morley Drury rushed for 1,163 yards in 1927 but played at a time when quarterback was similar to halfback. The Pac-10 doesn't list the record in its official media guide.

Notes

• Running back J.R. Hasty made the trip and was available. He did not make the trip last week to Stanford briefly quitting two weeks ago and then being reinstated.

• Due to a quirk in the Pac-10 schedule, this was UW's first visit to Corvallis since Oct. 18, 2003, during Keith Gilbertson's first year as coach. The Huskies have made three visits each to Arizona and Oregon since their last trip to Corvallis.

• Redshirt freshman Cody Habben got the start at left tackle for the third straight week. He is rotating with sophomore Ben Ossai, but appears to have taken over the starting role.

• Washington's pregame captains were Louis Rankin, Juan Garcia, Greyson Gunheim and Jordan Reffett. All but Garcia were also captains last week. Gunheim has been a captain for four straight weeks. This is the third straight week for Rankin. Season captains will be selected after the last game.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.