Houston — As much as anybody donning a purple and gold uniform, Julius Buelow merits another opportunity to play at Michigan. Why hold out until the University of Washington and Michigan Wolverines’ first Big Ten conference game, which is set for October 5 at Husky Stadium? The starting right guard for the University of Washington, who insists he is 6-foot-9, or an inch taller than listed by the school, was one weary football player who took a moment to think back on where he’s been and what he’s done as he left New Orleans’ Superdome last Monday night after defeating Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl.
“This is crazy,” a smiling Buelow remarked. “You were there in 2021.” The large Hawaiian was a redshirt freshman starter for the Husky team two years ago when they traveled to Ann Arbor and were thrashed 31–10 by Michigan. Along with defensive tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa, tight end Jack Westover, and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, he is one of just four starting UW players left from that contest. Upon the team’s dismal performance in the 2021 season, Buelow was among the first to point the finger at Jimmy Lake.
He only played in three more games, for a total of five, before being substituted out of the starting lineup. Buelow expressed in the spring that he felt as though he had let the squad down. “Despite my youth, I placed a great deal of responsibility on myself to contribute well to the team. Regardless of my age at the time, I believed I ought to have taken on greater responsibility.”
Buelow stayed a backup player during the Huskies’ comeback as an 11-2 squad that ended the 2022 season with an Alamo Bowl victory over Texas, even after Kalen DeBoer took over as coach. He participated in just eight games. With his career stalling out, it wasn’t unreasonable to believe at that moment that Buelow may be viewed as damaged goods and not long for DeBoer’s program.
Nevertheless, Buelow was carefully helped by the coaching staff to get ready to play again. Give up on a movable 6-foot-9, 313-pound guy? Hard to do. Even yet, Buelow had difficulty regaining what was once his. Parker Brailsford, a redshirt freshman, beat him out to start as right guard this season, therefore he started as a backup.
However, Brailsford replaced starting center Matteo Mele, who was sidelined by a season-ending injury against Tulsa, and Buelow started at guard for Michigan State. However, in the second half, Buelow suffered a leg injury that prevented him from playing for the next two games. Buelow persevered. After he eventually returned to the starting lineup against Stanford, he has managed to start seven straight games.
In addition to playing effectively, he prevented rival defenders from snagging quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and shared in the Huskies’ Joe Moore Award, which is given to the best offensive line in the country. He’s getting ready to play Michigan in this Texas city in a national championship context—a personal rematch for him. He is both well and productive. It’s nearly impossible to process.
Regarding his own comeback, Buelow remarked, “Yes, there’s like no words.” “I simply feel appreciative and thankful for the boys. We persevered through it. Oh, and I’m fourteen. Visiting the Natty.”
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