Spectator Spotlight: Desmond Trufant

Only half way through the season and senior cornerback Desmond Trufant already has some great material for the highlight reel. Most memorable perhaps was against Stanford on their last drive when Trufant dashed the Cardinals’ hope for a comeback with an interception, locking up the Huskies’ 17—13 win. Most recently against USC, Trufant was instrumental in defending USC’s wide receiver Marqise Lee and thus limiting QB Matt Barkley’s passing game.

Sept 1, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies cornerback Desmond Trufant (6) tackles San Diego State Aztecs tailback Walter Kazee (34) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Here are a few other facts to know about one of the Huskies’ 2012 captains:

1. Washington Grown

Just 40 minutes (in good traffic) south of Seattle is Trufant’s hometown of Tacoma where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School. As a Ram, he was a three sport star, participating in football as a running back and cornerback; basketball, where he was named second-team all-league his junior year; and track as a long jumper and triple jumper.

At the time Trufant committed to UW, the Seattle Times reported that he was the No. 70 cornerback high school prospect in the nation. Despite family ties and fierce recruiting by Washington State University (WSU), Trufant became a Husky in 2009.

2. 11 in ‘11

While his freshman and sophomore seasons were solid, it was the 2011 season opener against Eastern Washington University (EWU) that set the standard. During that game, Trufant totaled a career-high 11 tackles (eight solo), replacing his previous high of nine tackles (seven solo) against Stanford in 2010. Also against EWU, as a precursor to his heroics against Stanford a year later, Trufant intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the Huskies’ victory, 30—27. It’s no surprise that after that game, Trufant was named Pac-12 Player of the Week.

3. The Trufant Trio

Like the Mannings, Peyton and Eli, or the Harbaughs, John and Jim, there’s the Trufants: Marcus, Isaiah and Desmond. There are three Trufant brothers who all currently play the cornerback position on three different teams. Marcus is the eldest and has played for the Seattle Seahawks since 2003 when he was the No. 11 overall NFL draft pick from WSU. Next is Isaiah who played for EWU and then was picked up by the New York Jets in 2010.

During the second weekend of November, check out all three brothers at CenturyLink Field when the Huskies host the Utah Utes and then the day after, the Seahawks play the Jets. Should Desmond, the youngest Trufant, enter the NFL next year, the Trufants will be the first trio of cornerback brothers in NFL history.