Washington Huskies Football: Where Does This Draft Class Stack Up?

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Desmond Trufant catches a pass during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time since 2011, a Washington Husky was drafted in the first round: Desmond Trufant. However, Trufant was also the only Husky drafted, making this the first time since 2009 and the sixth since 1974 that there has only been a single Washington player picked throughout the whole draft.

Forget the, well,forgettable years of 2006, 2008 and 2009, and you have to go back to 2003 (no players drafted) then 1974 (Rick Hayes, 11th round) to find the last time there were less than two Dawgs drafted.

That paints a picture of the legacy Washington football has, but we all know that. What isn’t so certain is how this draft class measures up to those before it.

There may have only been one Husky picked, but it was in the first round. In 2006, when just one Husky was picked, it was offensive lineman Joe Toledo, going 117th overall to the Miami Dolphins.

Most years, however, when multiple Dawgs get taken, none is a first rounder. 2012 saw Alameda Ta’amu go in the fourth round and Senio Kelemete in the fifth. 2011 had arguably the best Husky talent in the 21st century, with Jake Locker going No. 8 overall and Mason Foster being a third round selection. 2002 and 2004 were banner years as well, each having its own first round selection.

2013 was the first draft in which the only Husky taken was a first rounder, begging the question: quality or quantity?

Without a selection on (what is now) day one or early day two of the draft, we can eliminate plenty. Since 2000, there have now been four Huskies taken in the first round: Jerramy Stevens (2002, No. 28), Reggie Williams (2004, No. 9), Locker and Trufant.

Each of those have been joined by other Huskies; Stevens by Larry Triplett (second round) and Omare Lowe (fifth), Williams by Tank Johnson (second) and Marquis Cooper (third). Locker was flanked by Foster in the third round.

Clearly each of those draft classes trump Trufant’s. But what about 2010, with two third-rounders? 2007 with two fourth-rounders? In 2001, five Huskies were chosen, but only one before the fifth round.

I would put each of those ahead of 2013 because it shows that the Huskies are producing NFL talent. For the average bystander, one could see just one Husky drafted and think the first round talent is an enigma. You know what other school only had one player drafted? Central Michigan. Eric Fisher went No. 1 overall.

That being said, I think the talent UW produced for this year’s class ranks seventh since 2000. In my mind, that’s a statement about how strong UW has been, even in down years. Despite only one player being drafted this year, expect a big draft next year for the Huskies.