Washington’s two starters at safety are more than likely going to feature a combination of CJ Christian, Alex McLaughlin, and Makell Esteen. Over the course of the offseason, the starting defense has included two of these three with consistency. True freshman Rylon-Dillard Allen has been thoroughly impressive throughout the Spring and Fall and remains in the rotation. But the starting nod on Saturday against Colorado State is likely to go to one of the three veterans. 

Washington’s Competition at Safety
The Case for CJ Christian

After Christian’s JUCO season at Iowa Central Community College and three years at FIU, he made the jump to the Power Four at Washington. He was immediately placed into the first team defense. During the Spring, Christian lined up primarily at the post safety spot with the starters, alongside Esteen at the box safety. 

But this Fall, Christian has been taking a lot of snaps at the down safety position. “Coach Mays has got us wanting to be more versatile, learning both positions,” Christian said this month. “So in the Spring, I was mainly, a lot of the time, being the back [post safety] guy. In the Fall, I’m kind of being the down [box safety] guy as well.” Ryan Walters and Taylor Mays have each discussed their preference for having versatile safeties that can play both positions. Walters does not refer to his defensive backs specifically as a “post safety” or “box safety.” Rather, he refers to his players as “defensive backs,” reinforcing his stress on multiplicity.

“Each day I feel like I’m just stacking days,” Christian said. “When I get my opportunity, I’m just trying to make sure I make the most of it.”

The Case for Alex McLaughlin

Like Leroy Bryant at nickel, McLaughlin is a player who’s elevated his game throughout the month of August. The stand-out safety at Northern Arizona has emerged as a starter at box safety for the majority of Fall Camp. “I feel very comfortable compared to the Spring,” McLaughlin said. “I feel like I was just feeling it out [in the Spring]. Listening to Coach Mays and Coach Walters help me throughout the scheme, I feel pretty comfortable.”

And that’s been apparent. McLaughlin notched a sack, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup during Washington’s Mock Game earlier this month. He started both the Mock Game and the Fall scrimmage in August, and thrives playing closer to the formation as a box safety. “He comes down hil and he’ll hit ya,” Fisch said after the Mock Game. “So that’s kind of what impresses me the most.”

McLaughlin has also bulked up since arriving at Washington. He weighed in around 186 pounds when he transferred in, and is up to 200 pounds now. That’s something he recognized he needed to do to be at his best in a power conference. “Definitely the size,” McLaughlin said this Fall. “The size of the linemen is a pretty big difference.” He came from the Big Sky Conference in the FCS. McLaughlin led his team in tackles as a true freshman with 74. A year later, he notched 96 tackles with two forced fumbles and two interceptions. “I just felt like it was time for me to take that next step. I felt like I proved myself at that level, I felt like I was ready to go compete at this stage.”

The Case for Makell Esteen

In terms of being versatile, Esteen is another player we’ve seen at both safety spots for Washington this offseason. In the Spring, the primary first team defense featured Christian at post and Esteen at box. But this Fall, Esteen is playing back deep at post safety. Walters’ defense assigns the post safety a lot of responsibility, needing to track the football the full width of the field. 

“He’s gotta be able to get sideline to sideline, take good angles to eliminate explosive plays,”  Walters said, describing the responsibilities of the post safety earlier this offseason. “Gotta be cerebral in some of our motion adjustments. Those are all things that are essential to playing that position.” That’s something that Esteen has shown his ability to do this offseason. His veteran understanding at safety allows him to trust his reads and limit mistakes. It’s what makes him a likely candidate to start at post safety this Fall. 

“I feel like I fit in pretty well,” Esteen said. “We went back and watched what [Walters] does, and it’s very well built for safeties.” It’s a position that demands responsibility, and Esteen has proven he’s capable of taking on that role with his performance this offseason. “[Walters] works very well with the safeties and what we do in this scheme,” Esteen said. “I’m excited.”

What to Expect at Safety

Christian’s experience at FIU was at a position very similar to the post safety here at Washington. And though he played a lot in the box this Fall, he appears to be best equipt at post. But in terms of a starter at the post safety position, Esteen is the best bet to take the field first on Saturday. His overall consistency as a first-team safety this offseason and 33 games of experience at the FBS level differentiate him from Christian. But the gap between the two is close.

The strides that McLaughlin made this Fall create a strong argument for him to jump into the starting role at box safety. The plays he’s made this Fall, the weight he added, and the way the coaching staff has taken note of his physicality indicate that they believe he’s ready. 

But don’t discount Dillard-Allen, the talented freshman who will keep this trio on its toes. He is pushing hard to earn playing time, and he’ll get it. With the talent spread among the four players in this competition, we’re going to see them all in some capacity this year. As Walters repeats to his players on the defense, “Positions are not owned, they’re rented. And rent is due every day.”

Main Image: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images