Washington Huskies Football: Where In The NFL Are The Dawgs?

May 4, 2013; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) participates in drills at Falcons Rookie Camp. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

After a long few weeks of pre-draft, draft and post-draft coverage, the storm is clearing and we have a good idea of where our first-year Dawgs are going to end up. Obviously, Desmond Trufant is the big name of the group and was selected No. 22 overall by the Atlanta Falcons. Unlike the others, he should have no problems making the roster. His biggest battle will be that of a starting role. No other Huskies were drafted, but two were signed as undrafted free agents. After tryouts with their respective teams, fullback Jonathan Amosa and safety Justin Glenn both sign NFL contracts; Amosa’s with the Green Bay Packers and Glenn’s with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, simply signing the contract doesn’t in the slightest mean you have a roster spot. There are already UDFAs getting cut around the league. What it means for Amosa and Glenn is that they are getting their shot in the NFL.

Both are going to need to hone their special teams skills in order to stick in the league (at least at first), as the Packers are set at fullback with John Kuhn and the Chiefs at safety with Eric Berry among others. Glenn is already a step ahead of many other rookies in that category. Even as a college star, Glenn still played on special teams and excelled at it; he was named the Special Teams MVP at the end-of-season banquet.

Amosa joined the Huskies as a walk on. Not as a fullback, but as a linebacker. The Rainier Beach product spent each of his first three years on campus either on the bench or practice squad as a linebacker before switching sides of the ball and becoming a fullback. In his two years of starting, he caught three passes while blocking for Chris Polk and Bishop Sankey.

While Amosa was lead blocking, the Huskies had two of the most prolific rushing seasons in school history. Polk rushed for 1,488 yards in 2011 (second), while Sankey was good for third, with 1,465 rushing yards in 2012. With the lack of running success the Packers have had recently, it couldn’t hurt to add an extra body. Amosa’s tackling ability as a former linebacker and blocking ability as a fullback should translate well into the Green Bay special teams scheme as well.

Lots of things can change from here until the season starts, but if I had to guess if we’d be seeing these two guys in NFL uniforms in September, my guess would be “yes.” Glenn has the better odds, as he brings more depth and experience to the table on a worse team, but Amosa will have every chance Glenn does to make a roster.