UW Football | Freshman QB Fouch will be ready if needed

While Tyrone Willingham insisted there was a chance Jake Locker could still be Washington's quarterback Saturday against California, backup Carl Bonnell ran the first team in practice Wednesday. And freshman Ronnie Fouch at least put a little thought into the fact that he could be forced to make his college debut.

Willingham said "all options are available" in terms of the team's quarterback situation this week, and Locker apparently is trying to convince him he can return.

But when practice began, Bonnell and Fouch were in full uniform while Locker wore sweats, throwing a few passes on the sideline but still looking obviously hampered by the neck strain and stinger he suffered against Oregon State on Saturday, looking like a player who will get the weekend off.

If so, that will make Fouch, from Redlands, Calif., the team's backup quarterback. He had been ticketed for a redshirt season.

Fouch said he hopes to keep his redshirt but that he'd play if asked.

"All I've got to do is be ready to go if something happens to Carl," Fouch said. "But I'm praying that he plays his best and does what he can to make this team win, and hopefully I won't have to go out there this year."

Locker, Bonnell and Fouch are the only scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. The only other QB on the roster is walk-on Taylor Bean of Vancouver, Wash., who like Fouch is a true freshman.

Fouch, however, got a head start on things by graduating early from high school so he could enroll at UW in time for spring ball.

"That was a great move that he had," Willingham said. "The growth that he's had has been tremendous."

Literally, in some cases. Listed at 181 pounds in the team's media guide, he says he weighs 200.

"He has really grown, changed physique-wise since he arrived," Willingham said. "I think his overall confidence and knowledge of the system is so much better."

Willingham said he wouldn't rule out playing Fouch if needed, saying, "You could redshirt him another year, so there are still a lot of options available to us."

California, interestingly, was the school that pursued Fouch the hardest other than UW, even after he had given a commitment to the Huskies. But Fouch stayed with his initial decision.

He has impressed coaches and teammates with his quick assimilation of the offense and an arm that might not be as strong as Locker's but might be more accurate.

He also has decent mobility, though he admits that, like just about every other quarterback, he's nothing like Locker in that department.

"I can run, but I like to throw more than [Locker]," said Fouch, who has made every trip this season as the emergency quarterback. "I'm kind of like Carl, a pocket passer that if he has to run, he's athletic enough to get out of the pocket and get a first down. But I'm not the kind of quarterback that runs on first down or stuff like that."

Fouch has spent most of the year running the scout team, running the offense of the team UW is playing that week. But he took a few snaps with UW's offense last week in practice with Locker ailing with a sore shoulder, and this week will take more.

"He understands the system and understands the mechanics of preparation, so I've been very pleased with him," Willingham said. "He's going to continue to grow. He has the same kind of work ethic that you see in Jake in terms of being one of the most diligent workers on the team."

Notes

• While it might have seemed like something he'd want to forget, UW defensive end Greyson Gunheim said he couldn't wait to replay the blindside block thrown at him by Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao on Saturday night. "No one really wanted to see it as bad as I wanted to see it," he said. "I kept rewinding it, wanting to see how bad it looked." Reser Stadium erupted, as did Moevao, who celebrated wildly. But Gunheim said he hasn't taken much ribbing from teammates. "They knew it was blind side and probably wouldn't have happened if we both saw each other coming," Gunheim said. "It wasn't dirty. I just wish I would have seen him coming. Things would have been different."

• WR Anthony Russo said he suffered bruised ribs when hit hard on the last offensive play of the Oregon State game but that he should be fine to play against Cal.

• Willingham said middle linebacker Donald Butler, out three weeks with a knee injury, will likely be sidelined again this week.

• Willingham said safety Nate Williams, out last week with a hamstring injury, should be back.

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