As the University of Washington Huskies prepare for a successful 2017 football campaign, the 2018 NFL Draft is preparing to harvest another crop of NFL-ready Huskes. But the question is, who?
From the moment the 2017 NFL Draft concluded, and Washington Huskies have stepped into the NFL, The Washington Huskies busily prepare for another year of college football. So too, prognosticators prepare for another NFL draft. In fact, there have been the occasional 2018 NFL Mock Draft springing up.
So it’s no surprise that FanSided’s Saturday Blitz followed suit in a 2018 Mock Draft by Jerran Anderson. In his mock, he projects Washington Huskies linebacker Azeem Victor to the Green Bay Packers in 2018. Not just by any round either, but in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Who Goes In 2018 NFL Draft?
When news reached us, it gave pause. That 2018 NFL Draft triggered some thoughts. Which University of Washington Huskies might race to the NFL in 2018?
Now it’s not just a matter of maturity, but a matter of football production so outstanding that the nation will notice.
I came up with six prospects:
DT Vita Vea
LB Azeem Victor
QB Jake Browning
RB Myles Gaskin
WR Dante Pettis
OL Andrew Kirkland
There could certainly be more. But from this distance, I expect these six will garner the most interest from prospective NFL Teams. Let’s investigate further:
NFL Prospect I: DT Vita Vea
Defensive tackle Vita Vea was feared to be heading for the 2017 NFL Draft, but was persuaded to remain with the Washington Huskies through 2017. Vea played like a man among boys in the 2016 season, so you can bet he’s aiming at headlining the NCAA defensive linemen this year.
When you stand 6-foot-5 and weigh 332 pounds, you tend to have your way with your opposition. But the NFL version of football does not allow such mismatches, so this year will be vital for Vita Vea to perfect moves to the quarterback.
Vea played nose tackle exclusively. But he stayed abreast of his teammates in the trenches, all the while recording 39 tackles and 5 quarterback sacks in 2017. You can expect those numbers to improve in 2017. By how much? I think 60 tackles and 10 sacks are very realistic numbers. He was courted by NFL dreams at the end of last season. He’ll flirt with a first round ranking by the end of this season.
NFL Prospect II: LB Azeem Victor
Linebacker Azeem Victor already has NFL defensive coordinators licking their chops. In fact, when we opened this article, it was his first round appearance in a mock 2018 NFL Draft that prompted further investigation.
Victor was injured in 2016, and only appeared in 9 of 14 Washington Huskies games. Even so, he was third on the team with tackles at 68, three for a loss. In 2017, you can bet he tops 100 tackles and even sneaks in four sacks.
He will play behind Vita Vea, and will use that to his fullest advantage. He’s actually pretty good at pass defense, dropping back quickly with a full range of motion and awareness. He has good vertical range for a linebacker, and will not only deflect but intercept passes in his zone.
But he feasts on ball carriers. Like a vulture swooping in, he takes a straight line to the intersection point and lays the boom on the runner. There is a reason he is already projected in the first round despite coming off and injury.
His full potential is headline material.
NFL Prospect III: QB Jake Browning
Huskies quarterback Jake Browning is itching to have a breakout season. In fact, of all the Washington Huskies this season, none has more at stake in this season’s performance than quarterback Jake Browning. He needs a great season.
Now, he had a great season in 2016. Well, great enough considering he was injured during the season. Even still, he hurled the ball over 3400 yards and 43 touchdowns to just 9 interceptions. That works out to better than three touchdowns per game. And that was while playing injured.
But he is on the mend now. In fact, he should be ready to go as summer draws to a close. And that will be just splendid – both for Jake Browning and for the Washington Huskies.
But this will be NCAA Playoff-experienced Jake Browning. This will be the “doubled barreled shotgun coming to replace me in 2018” Jake Browning. He will be healed and motivated to show some stuff. And he’ll have the chip on his shoulder from so many claiming 2016 was due to WR John Ross III. Speed means little if a QB can’t get the ball out there.
Look for 3500 yards plus this season.
NFL Prospect IV: RB Myles Gaskin
Myles Gaskin is more than just a running back. He’s offense personified. He can pound through a stuffed hole to daylight. Once he breaks through to daylight, he’s gone. He kicks in a burst of jet propulsion and zoom… gone.
This is his year. In fact, unless he is injured, I cannot see any way around it. He is a workhorse and Mr. Dependable. He will give 100 percent each and every carry. So it’s up to head coach Chris Petersen to resist the temptation of falling into a “hand the ball to Gaskin” predictability.
Keep Gaskin fresh should be the goal this season. If the Huskies can pull that off, they will have a fresh running back when the Alabama Crimson Tide are on the same scoreboard. Then, Myles Gaskin goes full Beast Mode. After all, Gaskin ended his season frustrated by the Tide defense. Held to 34 yards rushing, he’s had every moment since that game to rethink over and over how to improve.
All that thinking will get Gaskin on track early and often this year.
NFL Prospect V: WR Dante Pettis
Wide receiver Dante Pettis steps out from under the shadow of former teammate John Ross III, and rightfully takes his place in the sunshine. Pettis is a true senior, and would like nothing better than to go out on top. And he’s on track to do just that.
He rightfully becomes the Huskies number one receiving threat this season. And coming off an 822 yard15 TD season as the number two guy, you can expect to see plenty more production ahead.
He is not the guy who will “wow” you in a game. He just keeps catching, scoring again and again. In the end, he emerges as a great receiver, and it will catch everyone by surprise. He is ideal at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds. His long strides chew up yardage effectively. He runs crisp routes that always place him where the ball is and the defender isn’t.
This year, watch Pettis assert himself. He gets the full length of his body and hands in his receptions. This year he will be involved all over the field. Even those crossing routes will play a part. He steps into the vacuum left by Ross’ departure. But he’ll soon prove worthy of the promotion.
NFL Prospect VI: OL Andrew Kirkland
Offensive lineman Andrew Kirkland isarguably the most experienced Washington Huskies offensive lineman. Now he’s a year older, more experienced, and turning towards leading the offensive line into a new season. He’s a versatile player, having seen duty at both tackle spots as well as both guard roles.
Now, offensive linemen are not the headliner roles as other positions are in the NFL. In fact, the less you hear about a college lineman, the better they are. But don’t let the absence of press fool you. There are plenty of praises to heap on the offensive line. Each run, each pass, relies upon the seconds of resistance afforded by the sacrifices of those linemen. Andrew Kirkland is not only quite good, but he’s quite versatile.
Kirkland is getting looks at multiple offensive line positions this off-season. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a full time role. It simply means the offensive line is seeking the best five talents. Kirkland’s versatility ensures that he will be on the field. It simply means he won’t be locked in for some time.
Next: Washington Huskies RB Myles Gaskin Going Beast Mode
The key to the entire season is that offensive line. And the key to that offensive line is senior Andrew Kirkland. Right now, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times projects Kirkland as the starting left guard. He had plenty of looks there, but slid out to left tackle occasionally to give right guard reserve Henry Roberts some experience at left guard.
In the end, Kirkland will be there making plays without headlines. And you will know how good he played if the Huskies win.
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