Washington Football Juggernaut, TE Will Dissly, among Mayock’s Top 5

Wahington Football tight end Will Dissly is a huge, physical, juggernaut . A versatile tight end who can block and receive. And NFL.com Mike Mayock lists him among his Top-5 tight ends

The Washington Football team boasted some incredible tight end talent in 2017. There was freshman tight end Hunter Bryant. There was tight end Drew Sample. But the player who caught my eye early in the season, a young man I nicknamed Juggernaut, was senior tight end Will Dissly.  Dissly made quite an impact when he made a play on the field. He appeared to be a giant among me – a guy who seemed to wade through defense backs like a honey-smacking bear wades through bees.

Dissly did not rack up a thousand yards receiving. But he can catch passes thrown his way. In fact, he made a spectacular transition from defensive end to blocking tight end for the Washington Huskies.  And he did it between his sophomore and junior seasons.   That’s an incredible feat for any young man.  But this happened on the fly, and with just two seasons remaining in NCAA eligibility, he is now a Top-5 tight end prospect per NFL.com’s Mike Mayock.

A big receiver, a strong blocker

Will Dissly is not about the spotlight.  He is about contributing to help his team win. So when the coaches suggested he switch from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive to make use of his strength in the blocking game, he jumped on the chance. Little did he know that in the next two years, he would excel.   In two seasons, he now emerges as one of the nation’s Top-5 tight-ends.  Wow. THAT is versatility. And if you want to watch a guy shed defensive backs? Check out these highlights

Dissly was not a featured receiver on the Washington offense. But that does not mean that he did not show up big in the passing game. He caught 21 passes for the team all season. But he caught a third, or seven, of those passes in the team’s three losses. So when the team needed a dependable receiver, the Huskies turned to Will Dissly.

NFL versatility makes Dissly incredibly valuable

When he lines up, he is a formidable mass of muscle. A tight end who, on the right team, could convert to the offensive tackle position in the NFL.  Isn’t that how Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters got his start?  And if you watch the film, you see flashes of that level of brilliance. After all, he had just two seasons to make the transition. Imagine how high the bar is raised in two more seasons?

The News Tribune focused on Dissly in an article by Todd Milles before the season. In that article, Coach Chris Pedersen was asked about Dissly’s progress at tight end:

"“He can set the edge pretty good,” UW coach Chris Petersen said. “At times, he flashes in a big play, a real positive way. But like everything, we’re working for consistency. He’s making good strides. He’s certainly different than he was last year.”"

But blocking is not the only thing he does well. Just ask the Montana Grizzlies.

Juggernaut with the ball

Will Dissly is a 6-foot-4 267 pound target in the passing game.  That makes him a huge target when the quarterback is looking for an open receiver. And once he hauls that pass in, that also makes him an incredibly dangerous ball carrier.  It was clear that he created huge mismatches for defenses he faced.

If he opposed a huge strong linebacker, he became an incredibly effective pass receiver. If he opposed a good pass defender, he became a mauler. He overpowered defenders, allowing the running game to gulp down huge gains. And it’s that ability to block which has earned him a top-spot in the 2018 NFL Draft. In a sport reemphasizing versatility, team play, and role players, Dissly scores highly on many levels.

Dissly is an NFL bargain

When he arrived to the Washington Huskies, he arrived as a two-star weakside defensive end. As he emerges four years later, he has transitioned to one of the nation’s top-5. Not many players have so much asked of them in the midst of their NCAA football playing career. Still fewer thrive in a transition from defense to offense, from pass rusher to pass receiver. Will Dissly, from that aspect alone, stands out.  Some do not consider him an NFL receiver. I can picture him doing just that in the NFL.

Next: QB Jacob Eason impacts the Washington Football program

Still, the image of him carrying a defender on his back as he lumbered along on his way to the end zone was on of my favorite plays of the season.  For NFL teams, I doubt they will be as enamoured with one play. But the background of a player who has as much defense as offense background should make more than a few NFL scouts sit up and take notice.  Dissly is a day one special teams player. But on NFL teams with specialty players, imagine having a roster spot filled with a player who conceivably can fill in at either the defensive line or tight end positions?  And with his build, he could bulk up to develop into an offensive tackle, or remain streamlined as a cover outside linebacker.

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