The Washington Huskies didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard last season, but they still showed plenty of promise under head coach Jedd Fisch in his first year. And there’s one receiver who’s quietly started turning heads.
And The Athletic (formerly part of the New York Times) is taking note.
In its latest ranking of the top 25 players in the Big Ten, the Huskies landed a name on the listThat name? Denzel Boston — Washington’s breakout receiver who found himself as the sole Husky on the list, landing at No. 21 overall.
It’s a major nod for a player who didn’t enter last season with much national buzz but finished it as one of the most reliable wideouts in the conference. His size, production, and upside have quietly turned him into one of the Big Ten’s top pass-catching threats — and The Athletic’s latest rankings only back that up.
“The 6-4, 209-pound junior started all 13 games last season and ranked second on the Huskies with 834 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 63 catches,” The Athletic wrote. “He’s viewed as a strong NFL prospect.”
Boston really took a step up last season and has often been compared to former Huskies first-round pick and NFL receiver Rome Odunze based on size and frame alone. After tallying just seven grabs across his first two seasons, he exploded in 2024 — finishing with numbers nearly identical to veteran Giles Jackson, the team’s top statistical receiver.
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With Jackson gone and the wide receiver room looking for a leader, Boston now enters 2025 as the unquestioned No. 1 option. That should pay dividends for incoming quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who will be looking for a steady and proven target as he settles in under center.
For Washington, it’s a passing of the torch at a position that’s quietly become a staple. And for Boston, it’s a chance to prove he’s not just next up — he’s already arrived.