Alex McLaughlin Is Big Ten's Most UNDERRATED Defender

Is the Washington Huskies defense getting overlooked in Big Ten preseason rankings? Can safety Alex McLaughlin and defensive tackle Elinneus Davis become the conference’s breakout stars? Locked On Huskies host Roman Tomashoff and Last Word On College Sports' Nick Lemkau unpack  McLaughlin’s elite tackling and versatility, alongside Davis’s disruptive potential, which could spark defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' unit and make it one of the best in college football in 2026. The hosts spotlight rising standouts like John Mills and Dezmen Roebuck, while dissecting Athlon and Lindy’s preseason all-conference selections, and explain why the Huskies’ linebacker corps, led by Xe'ree Alexander, Jacob Manu, and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, could anchor one of the nation’s best units. With Hunter Green bolstering special teams and Landen Hatchett providing stability on the offensive line, is this Washington squad poised to defy preseason expectations?  Don’t miss the debate on position battles, underrated talent, and which Huskies deserve a bigger spotlight heading into a pivotal Big Ten campaign. 00:00 Intro 01:27 Alex McLaughlin is one of the Big Ten's most underrated defenders 05:34 Elinneus Davis' spring performance and potential breakout as a defensive tackle 10:47 Washington linebacker unit’s national perception 14:07 Why the linebacker group may be underrated and expectations for the 2026 season 21:25 Preseason All-Big Ten offensive honorees: Is John Mills underrated? 25:30 Dezmen Roebuck is primed for a big 2026 campaign Become a Locked On Huskies Insider: joinsubtext.com/lockedonhuskies Locked On Huskies is part of the Locked On Podcast Network Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.