OFFENSE

Steve Sarkisian has done a lot in two seasons as the Huskies coach: He’s recruited well, ended a seven-year stretch without a winning record, beaten USC twice and directed a Holiday Bowl victory over Nebraska. If he can find a quarterback to replace Jake Locker, momentum won’t slow any time soon.

Sophomore Keith Price is first in line to replace Locker. Following spring practice Sarkisian tabbed Price as the Huskies’ starter, saying he has “earned the right to be our starting quarterback.” Price beat out redshirt freshman Nick Montana. The mobile Price has started once and thrown touchdown passes against Oregon and USC. Montana, son of Joe, has that classic quarterback pedigree.

Junior running back Chris Polk is the Huskies’ centerpiece. He comes off two 1,000-yard seasons and ranks sixth in school history in rushing with 2,561 yards. Polk runs over and away from people. He finished up with 284 yards rushing against Washington State and a 177-yard MVP performance in the Holiday Bowl, often running behind senior left tackle Senio Kelemente, soon to be a four-year starter at multiple positions.

Senior wide receiver Jermaine Kearse isn’t bad either. Kearse was a second-team All-Pac-10 pick last season, when he caught 63 passes for 1,005 yards and 12 TDs. He is a deep threat.

DEFENSE

This defensive line was a serious liability for several seasons, including most of 2010, before it turned physical and disruptive, particularly in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskies finally have a pass rush and a push up front after getting manhandled repeatedly. Tackle Alameda Ta’amu and end Everrette Thompson started to produce as juniors in 2010. End Hau’oli Jamora and tackle Sione Potoa’e made big breakthroughs last season as freshmen, with Jamora continually finding his way into opposing backfields.

The secondary should be something the Huskies can count on. Three of four starters are back, led by junior cornerback Desmond Trufant, a two-year starter and an honors candidate. The other regulars are senior cornerback Quinton Richardson, a three-year starter, and junior free safety Nate Fellner, who led the team with five interceptions.

If the Huskies can find some linebackers to go with senior Cort Dennison, the man in the middle and only full-time starter returning, they could be pretty good.

SPECIALISTS

Any team in the country would be hard-pressed to promote a kicking crew with better credentials than this one. The Huskies have a highly reliable placekicker in senior Erik Folk, who connected on 52- and 54-yard field goals last season, has beaten USC twice with last-second kicks and hasn’t missed an extra point in 68 tries. Punting is an absolute luxury. Kiel Rasp, who set a school record with a 43.8-yard average, is the returning starter. Will Mahan, who is making a comeback from a knee injury, was the 2009 starter and averaged 40.6 per kick.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Enthusiastic and positive, Sarkisian isn’t satisfied with small steps. He’s clearly impatient for this program to return to its past glory and contend for championships again. In his mind, a 7–6 season and 19–7 victory over Nebraska in the postseason, ending seven-year non-winning and bowl-less seasons, were just the beginning.

Washington will have a tough time contending in the new Pac-12 North — Oregon and Stanford are both in the division, after all — but the Huskies should win more than they lose and be back in a bowl game.