Kalen DeBoer optimistic about Maurice Heims' chances to return

Maurice Heims won’t be gone for long. On Monday, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer provided an update on his defensive lineman who missed the Huskies’ Week 4 win over California due to injury.

“Hopefully, [he’ll be back] even this week,” DeBoer said. “We’ll go through the week and see how he’s doing. I don’t anticipate anything serious.”

After appearing in just seven games last season, Heims took a significant step forward in Washington’s defensive rotation this year. In two appearances, Heims boasted three tackles. The 6-foot-5 EDGE is just one tool in the Huskies’ dangerous defense.

In only four games, Washington’s defense has created seven turnovers. Consequently, the team is 4-0, boasting an average win margin of 32.75 points. DeBoer knows how vital these in-game momentum changes are to the Huskies’ efforts.

“It all becomes contagious,” DeBoer said after the win on Saturday. “I think the last couple weeks, just attacking defensively, those things become contagious and you’re excited and you can’t wait to go make that next play, that big hit, that interception, whatever it may be.”

Joel Klatt raves about Washington

Obviously, a few setbacks haven’t hindered Washington from succeeding. The Huskies are 4-0 and listed as the No. 7 team in the country in the AP Top 25 Poll. After Washington’s commanding 41-7 win over Michigan State in Week 3, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt raved about the Huskies.

“I think that this is a legit playoff team. Absolutely. There’s no doubting,” Klatt said. “If there’s one team in the country that we are underappreciating right now as a college football entity, as just a national spotlight? It’s absolutely Washington. If there’s one player that we’re undervaluing right now in the country? It’s Michael Penix. This guy can play.

“Washington is a problem for everybody. Not just in the Pac-12, not just for USC – for everybody. Let me just put it to you this way – which offense, which quarterback, which team do you trust in the Top-11 to get in a shootout with Washington and actually come out on top? That’s when this gets interesting,” Klatt continued. “Are we undervaluing Washington? Absolutely, absolutely. Washington is legit.”

With Pac-12 play underway, fans will soon see how legit Washington really is. While the Huskies will face off against Arizona this week, the team will take on No. 9 Oregon on Oct. 14. Washington downed the Ducks in a grueling 37-34 victory last season.