The University of Washington will open their 2008 football season Saturday at Autzen Stadium against one of their biggest rivals — the University of Oregon Ducks.

And it looks like Decatur High School graduate Darin Harris will be starting at strong safety for the Huskies.

The 5-foot-11, 208-pound fifth-year senior played in 11 of the Huskies’ 13 games a season ago and started the final eight games at safety.

He was 18th in the Pac-10 with 7.3 tackles a game and fourth on the team with 73 tackles.

Harris started four games as a sophomore in 2005 before sitting out the entire 2006 season with a cracked vertebra in his back. It’s an injury that began to give him trouble during the 2005 season.

Washington finished 4-9 last season.

Lance Witherspoon — The 2004 Decatur High School graduate is entering his senior season on the Eastern Washington University football team. Witherspoon is a 6-2, 275-pound defensive lineman.

After last season, Witherspoon received honorable mention All-America accolades from The Sports Network. Also earned second team All-Big Sky Conference honors after starting 10 games at right defensive tackle, including the last eight of the season. He was selected the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 35-13 win over Montana State on Oct. 13 when he had a career-high 10 tackles with a sack. He also earned the team’s defensive player of the week honor in that game.

Witherspoon finished the season with 44 tackles, including 12 for losses with one sack, and two passes broken up.

Eastern opens its season on Saturday in Lubbock, Tex. against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Bryant Cameron, Chase King and Evan Cook — The three 2007 graduates are all attending Eastern Washington University and competing for playing time. Cameron (6-5, 210), a Jefferson grad, is playing wide reciever, King (6-0, 200), a Decatur grad, is a running back, and Cook (6-3, 270), a Beamer grad, is playing defensive line.

Chris Corey — The Decatur grad is an offensive lineman on the Western Washington University football team. The 6-4, 285-pounder is starting at right tackle for the Vikings. Last season, Corey started all 10 games for Western. The Vikings open their season at home Sept. 6 against Western Oregon.

C.J. Green — The Federal Way grad has made a switch in positions this season on the Western Washington football team. Last year, Green started for the Vikings at cornerback and started all 10 games. This season, he will be moving to an outside linebacker position as a starter entering his junior year. Green was credited with 35 tackles last year, including 2.5 for a loss of nine yards. He had a career-high seven tackles against St. Cloud State (Minn.) on Oct. 6.

Tim Satterwhite — The TJ grad is playing his first season of football at Western Washington after lettering in track for the Vikings last year as a freshman. Satterwhite is a 6-2, 210-pound wide receiver.

Rodell Razor — The Federal Way grad is now playing defensive back at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande. This year, Razor has 15 solo tackes and 25 total, including two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He ran one of the interceptions back for a touchdown. He also has returned 11 punts for 68 yards. Eastern Oregon opens their season on Sept. 6 at home against Montana Tech.

Justin Southern — The 2007 Federal Way grad is entering his freshman season at Eastern Oregon University. Southern was the Mirror’s 2007 Player of Year as a quarterback/linebacker for the Eagles.

Greylin James — The 2007 Federal Way grad is playing his freshman season at Eastern Oregon. James is a 6-1, 180-pound receiver.

Mike Waller — The Beamer grad is playing his first season at Central Washington University after attending Mount San Antonio Junior College in California for the last two years. Waller is a 5-10, 154-pound receiver. Central opens their season on Saturday at Dixie State.

Aaron Gilbert — The TJ grad is s starting tackle for Central Washington. Gilbert is a 6-3, 315-pound senior.

Tamarria Landers — The Decatur grad is entering his first season on the Central Washington football team. Landers is a 6-2, 235-pound tight end.

Jared Bronson — The TJ grad transferred to Central from the University of Washington two years ago and is entering his senior season. The tight end started 12 games last year and had 35 catches for 477 yards and two touchdowns.

Lamardray Fuller — The 2007 Beamer grad is entering his first season at Central Washington. The 5-9, 199-pound running back had over 1,000 yards for the Titans the last two seasons.

Josh Waller — The 2007 Beamer grad is entering his freshman season at Central Washington. The 6-0, 156-pounder was an all-league receiver last year for the Titans.

Sean Davis — The 2007 Beamer grad is kicking and punting during his freshman year at Central Washington. Davis was also a standout soccer player at Beamer.

Jimmy Ivory — The 2006 Federal Way grad is a running back at the University of Puget Sound. Last year he ran the ball seven times for 40 yards. He also returned six kicks for 119 yards. UPS opens its season on Sept. 13 on the road against Pomona-Pitzer.

Cory Haywood — The 2006 TJ grad is playing cornerback at the University of Puget Sound. Haywood had an interception, which he returned 80 yards for a touchdown last year.

Michael Oates — Oates is in his junior year at the University of Puget Sound. The Decatur grad is a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker. Last year he played in five games and had six tackles.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com