It hasn't taken freshman defensive tackle Derek Colman-Brusa long to make a big impact with the Washington Huskies.

As soon as the 6-foot-5, 295-pound product of local Kennedy Catholic High School arrived on campus, Jedd Fisch's coaching staff wanted to find a way to work him into the rotation in the middle. He took the majority of his reps during both spring and fall camp with the first team, and has started all seven games for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, tallying 11 tackles, 2 for loss, with a sack and a pass breakup.

Those numbers were enough to earn him a spot on On3's Midseason True Freshman All-America Team, after he was named to 247Sports' Preseason True Freshman All-America Team ahead of his inaugural campaign.

Throughout the year, Colman-Brusa has looked like he belongs in the Big Ten. Washington's coaching staff has praised him for his physicality and ability to pick the game up quickly while playing alongside starter Elinneus Davis, and a rotation that includes transfer portal additions Kai McClendon, Darin Conley, and DeSean Watts.

"I think just getting used to the pace of the game," Colman-Brusa said of the biggest adjustment to the college level. "Obviously, it's a lot bigger in the Big Ten than it is in high school, but (defensive line coach Jason) Kaufusi and (quality control coach Korey) Rush have done an unbelievable job getting me to where I am today."

Thus far, Colman-Brusa is the only member of Washington's 2026 class to receive midseason Freshman All-America honors, after he was flanked on preseason lists by offensive tackle Kodi Greene and cornerback Jeron Jones.