Chris Lawson’s Brief Defensive Audition Ended in a Breakout at Receiver
On November 3, 2026, Washington coach Jedd Fisch said Chris Lawson briefly practiced at defensive back before returning to receiver, where the sophomore has become a leading target for the Huskies.
Chris Lawson spent a few weeks trying out as a defensive back during his freshman season at the University of Washington. The move came while injuries thinned the team’s secondary and Lawson was behind other receivers on the depth chart, coach Jedd Fisch said this week.
Lawson had arrived with experience on both sides of the ball and said he had hoped to play two ways. Fisch ultimately decided the receiver position offered more value to the team and brought him back to offense.
The choice has paid off. In Washington’s 17-10 win over Nebraska last weekend, Lawson caught 12 passes for 155 yards and scored the winning touchdown on a 25-yard reception with 90 seconds remaining. He spun past a defender on the play to reach the end zone.
Lawson leads the Huskies with 638 receiving yards, ranks second on the team with 44 catches and shares the team lead with three touchdown receptions. Fisch said Lawson showed promise in the secondary but is better suited to catching passes. He intends to keep him at receiver, where he expects him to be an elite player for Washington.