UW Notebook | Locker ready, either way for UW

Jake Locker says he's ready for anything his coaches want him to do.

Johnny DuRocher says simply that Locker is ready.

"I thought Jake was ready in August," said DuRocher, a junior quarterback for the Huskies who has become tight with Locker, a true freshman. "I still think he's ready. I think if he gets an opportunity to play on Saturday, I think he would do just fine."

Coaches will apparently use practice this week to figure out if they think Locker is ready, as well.

They reiterated Tuesday, in the wake of the news that Isaiah Stanback is out for the year with a foot injury, that Carl Bonnell will start Saturday at Cal. But after that, the position is in flux.

"I think we will go with Carl and just see what happens," said offensive coordinator Tim Lappano.

Lappano said Bonnell would get most of the reps in practice this week but that DuRocher and Locker would also get some snaps with the first unit.

"We will explore all options this week in practice," Lappano said.

Coaches have been attempting to redshirt Locker this season, but Stanback's injury could change those plans. The Huskies need to win two of their final five games to get to a bowl game, and if they decide Locker gives them the best chance of doing that, they might decide to play him.

Locker said Tuesday that's fine with him.

"I feel like the coaches are going to do what is best for me and what's best for the team, and whatever they feel is the best choice for me and the team, I will be supporting them 100 percent either way," Locker said.

"I came here because I trusted in these coaches and I don't think they are going to throw anybody into a situation that hurts them or the team. I trust them 100 percent with any decision they will make."

Lappano said Locker knows the playbook well enough but the issue is whether he can translate that onto the field. Locker has been working almost primarily with the scout team in practice this season.

Coach Tyrone Willingham did not meet with the media Tuesday, saying through a spokesman he had nothing new to add on the quarterback situation. Lappano acknowledged that a decision would probably have to be made in the next week or two before it got too late to make it worth it for Locker to give up a year of eligibility.

He also left open the possibility that a decision to play Locker could be made during the game Saturday, depending on how things work out with Bonnell.

Locker said he's ready to play if needed.

"I'm confident in my abilities," he said. "It's obviously a different game, and obviously I haven't had a chance to play in a big-time atmosphere like this. But I'm confident I'd be able to go out there and move the ball and help the team."

Notes

• Lappano called it "a tough day for me" Monday when he learned about Stanback's injury. "A good kid like him doesn't deserve that," Lappano said. "It's hard to take when you don't even get hit, you're just running down the field, stick your foot in the ground and it just popped. He just put his foot in the ground and you just see it give."

Lappano said Stanback was concerned that he won't be recovered in time to take part in the NFL combine and other workouts next winter.

"He was getting a lot of attention from the next level and he probably won't be able to do that stuff now and that's what bothers him," Lappano said. "But he wants a shot and he'll have to do it the hard way, just like he did it here the last two years. He's willing to do that."

• CB Dashon Goldson, who aggravated his troublesome ankle Saturday, was noticeably limping during practice Tuesday.

• James Montgomery, a running back from Rancho Cordova, Calif., was one of the first players to commit to UW after Willingham took over as coach, and was regarded as the centerpiece of the Class of 2006 along with Locker. But shortly before signing day, he changed his mind and ended up at Cal, instead. He's redshirting for the Bears this year, however, stuck behind three veteran running backs, led by Marshawn Lynch.