Washington Football team churns out NFL Draft prospects

The Washington Football team coach staff has two goals in mind. Make the  team competitive and develop prospects to their fullest. Per the latest NFL Draft, they are on track.

When a high school football prospect commits to the Washington Football team, there is an implied trust. That trust involves the coaching staff developing the player to his fullest. That is not reserved for five-star recruits. Nor is it reserved for starters. Each player.  In return, the Washington coaching staff expects a young man to adhere to the guideline, put forth their maximum effort, stay hungry for more, and maintain the academic standing required to compete in NCAA football.

It’s not an easy task. The Washington Huskies compete in the PAC-12, and the media darlings of this conference are USC and UCLA. Southern California has a moderate climate, and for the most part students and athletes have almost no worries about inclimate weather. While that limits the distractions for football players, the very calling to a warmer climate is itself a distraction. The resolve to achieve the status warranting a look from NFL scouts does not flinch or blink at snowflakes. In fact, most NFL teams flourish in the snow belt. So Washington coat

NFL Draft results prove UW is on track

So far it’s working better than any other PAC-12 program. How can we tell?  We can’t. But we can let the National Football League Draft results tell us. And so far, that message is loud and clear.

The Washington Football team placed five players into the NFL via the 2018 NFL Draft, and three more via the undrafted free agent route. That’s impressive folks.

Who landed where?

Let’s run down the who and to which team:

• DT Vita Vea – Pick 12 Round 1 –                 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• WR Dante Pettis – Pick 12 Round 2 –       San Francisco 49ers
• TE Will Dissly – Pick 20 Round 4 –             Seattle Seahawks
• LB Azeem Victor – Pick 42 Round 6 –        Oakland Raiders
• LB Keishawn Bierria – Pick 43 Round 6 – Denver Broncos
• OL Coleman Shelton – UDFA –                     San Francisco 49ers
• S Ezekiel Turner – UDFA –                            Arizona Cardinals
• RB Lavon Coleman – UDFA –                        Houston Texans

As was the case a year ago, Washington players land in the NFL in large numbers. That says a great deal about a program who has enjoyed the benefit of a top rated recruiting class in the past. In fact, the players who are currently enroute to the NFL arrived via the class of 2014. That 2014 class was the 38th ranked class in the nation, and the seventh ranked class in the PAC-12.  But what went into the Washington program emerged as the most NFL ready squad in the conference.

Again.

Why should Washington fans care?

But it comes down to why would or should Washington Husky fans care about the NFL Draft? Good question. It comes down to recruiting.  After all, students go to universities, in part, on the success of placing graduates into meaningful careers. Why shouldn’t athletes judge NCAA football programs by the success of landing their athletes in the NFL?   It only makes sense, right?

Next: 2017 Washingotn Football recruits ready for big impact in 2018

Well, the success of Washington is not limited to the football field. Coach Chris Petersen and his staff do a remarkable job of preparing young men to take the next step. In fact, the Washington coaches clearly outshine the other PAC-12 schools, and many schools nationwide. with their ability to churn out NFL prospects. And it’s that ability to do so which will persuade new prospects to commit to Washington.  The Washington Huskies win on the field, yes. But it may very well be the ability to win the attention of the NFL which will keep the Washington Football Team restocked with top talent for years to come.