Kalen DeBoer: Jabbar Muhammad, Devin Culp, Nate Kalepo 'all good' ahead of national championship

While Dillon Johnson is the biggest injury for Washington ahead of the national championship, a few more Huskies are dealing with “dings and nicks,” according to Kalen DeBoer. However, he provided some reason for optimism just a couple days after a Sugar Bowl victory over Texas.

Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad left the game late and didn’t return as UW held on for a thrilling victory over the Longhorns, while tight end Devin Culp and offensive lineman Nate Kalepo also departed. DeBoer indicated all three players would be able to play in the national championship, barring any potential setbacks.

“I think they’re all good,” DeBoer said on a conference call with reporters. “Just sore and things like that. Believe all of them got back in the game at some point after their dings and nicks. Should all be good.”

Muhammad has been a key piece of the Washington defense this year after transferring from Oklahoma State, leading the Huskies with three interceptions while adding 44 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. On the offensive side of the ball, Culp has 15 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns as part of Washington’s high-powered offense, and Kalepo was a critical part of an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best unit.

Getting those players back, along with Johnson, would be big for Washington against Michigan. The Wolverines have the ninth-ranked rushing defense in the country, but the Huskies present quite the challenge with a high-powered passing attack that ranks No. 1 in the nation.

Still, the running game will be important to opening up the offense, and Kalen DeBoer shared a promising update on Johnson’s chances of playing.

“There’s nothing as far as above and beyond what has happened in the past. Just kind of throughout the game he’ll re-aggravate it, shake it off and go back out there and play. I guess my thoughts are that he’ll be ready to go,” DeBoer said.

DeBoer, knowing that Johnson has managed to overcome this same injury before, shared that even initially he wasn’t overly concerned, even with a short turnaround.

“Obviously it’s a quick week, quick turnaround, only seven days to get ready again. We’ll be smart with how we prepare. And again, that’s my assumption, not having talked to him today. But even knowing when he landed, as long as everything came out alright with everything, he was going to do everything he could to be on that football field next Monday,” DeBoer said.