Tempers Flare at Husky Spring Football Practice

Fights break out as players compete hard in physical drills

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:53am

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A cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a college football practice, with players' bodies and equipment broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes.An abstract illustration captures the intensity and physicality of a college football spring practice session.Washington Today

The University of Washington football team's spring practice session saw some heated moments on Thursday, with a fight breaking out between offensive tackle Drew Azzopardi and Ohio State transfer edge rusher Logan George. The defense also made some big plays, including a 40-yard touchdown return by linebacker Xe'ree Alexander after a fumble by freshman running back Ansu Sanoe. Despite the intensity, the Huskies were able to end practice on a positive note with a touchdown pass.

Why it matters

Spring practices are an important time for college football teams to evaluate their rosters and work on fundamentals before the upcoming season. The physical nature of these workouts can sometimes lead to tensions boiling over, but coaches will be looking for their players to channel that energy in a productive way.

The details

The fight between Azzopardi and George occurred after a running play, with the much larger Azzopardi taking a swing at the defender. Other players had to step in to separate the two. Elsewhere, Sanoe's fumble led to a touchdown return by Alexander, who celebrated by holding the ball high as he reached the end zone. The defense had several other standout plays, including a tackle for loss by Elinneus Davis. The offense did have some bright spots, with a 35-yard pass from Kini McMillan to Justice Williams and touchdown throws from Stanford transfer Elijah Brown.

  • The fight between Azzopardi and George happened during Thursday's spring practice session.
  • Sanoe's fumble and Alexander's touchdown return occurred earlier in the same practice.

The players

Drew Azzopardi

The starting offensive tackle for the University of Washington who was involved in a fight with a defensive player during spring practice.

Logan George

An edge rusher who transferred to Washington from Ohio State and was involved in the fight with Azzopardi.

Xe'ree Alexander

A senior linebacker for the Huskies who returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown during practice.

Ansu Sanoe

A freshman running back for Washington who fumbled the ball, leading to Alexander's touchdown return.

Elinneus Davis

A defensive tackle who made a tackle for loss during the practice session.

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What they’re saying

“Football's a violent game and we compete and that's pretty much it.”

— Drew Azzopardi, Offensive Tackle

What’s next

The Huskies will resume spring practice on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

The takeaway

The physical nature of spring football practices can sometimes lead to heated moments between players, but coaches will be looking for their teams to channel that intensity in a productive way as they prepare for the upcoming season.