David Pollack names Denzel Boston as Washington's player to watch in 2025

With the Huskies’ receiving corps opening up last season, Washington WR Denzel Boston broke out. Now, as their leading returning receiver and one of the top returning receivers in the sport, David Pollack expects him to have an even bigger year this fall.

Naming players to watch in the Big Ten on ‘See Ball, Get Ball’, Brent Rollins, his co-host, went with QB Demond Williams Jr.. That made it a simple selection for Pollack in choosing Boston considering he’ll be the one who’ll be catching the most passes from him.

“I already knew who you were going to do so this was very easy to me because, every time we mention Washington, you mention the quarterback…Well, I went the guy he’s going to be throwing to – Denzel Boston,” Pollack said. “He really came on last year…Like, clearly became the go-to guy with the size on the outside.”

“You got your quarterback,” said Pollack of Williams and his effect on a target like Boston. “He’s going to spin it around.”

After having seven catches for 66 yards as an underclassman, Boston went on to have 63 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. That included a big start to the year with 40 catches for 540 yards and all nine of his receiving scores coming over the first seven games. That had him second on the team in receiving, while posting better averages with just 59 less yards despite 22 less catches, to Giles Jackson while leading them in the reception touchdowns. With Jackson gone, Boston is the leading returner in the corps for Washington and is the third-leading receiver returning to the Big Ten.

Boston had a big season last year in his first with a starting, starring role in the Husky offense. Pollack now projects that continue in his second with a new quarterback getting him the football.

“I think Boston has a huge year,” said Pollack.

Todd McShay explains why Boston could be a potential first-round pick

Denzel Boston got the chance to emerge last season in Seattle. He’ll have the opportunity to continue that as a senior and, with it, try to get his stock as high as being a first round pick in the NFL Draft.

Todd McShay named Boston as a top seven receiver for the 2026 NFL Draft recently on ‘The McShay Show.’ That’s with a standard evaluation of him as a prospect that has a lot of traits that would make him, if nothing else, reliable as a pro receiver.

“Denzel Boston, Washington receiver. 6’4, 210. Really intriguing frame, right?” McShay said. “Estimated 4.52, so like, good enough speed for his size, not a burner. I thought, versus man coverage, one-on-one, he was really, really good. I thought he was okay, solid with like the zone stuff. Caught the ball extremely well – three drops last year. That’s it – 4.5%. He was up there, like, I don’t know, high 80 percentile, whatever it was.

“Big, strong receiver. Uses quick feet and physicality, that combination. Not a burner, he’s not going to get guys backed off and worried, but it’s this quick feet at the top of the stem with a little, you know, to get separation. I didn’t see much as a vertical guy, not huge after the catch, but drags defenders, generates extra yards with his strength. But, my goodness, he’s just reliable. As a route runner, catching the football. Is excellent – not good, excellent – on contested catches. Knows how to body guys. Strong frame, strong hands. I just kept writing the same notes – big, physical, tightly-packed, sturdy, not explosive, not fast, but good contested, strong in traffic, reliable hands. It’s all the same notes, you know.”

Boston put his name on draft boards with his production last fall. His next could then put him in a position to hear his name called on night one of the draft come April, McShay thought.

“I give him an 82 grade, but like, recognize that a second-year, full-time starter? It wouldn’t shock me if we were talking late first for this guy when it’s all said and done,” McShay said.