The Washington Huskies football program has a history of producing talented defensive backs.
Some names that come to mind are Desmond Trufant, Marcus Peters, Budda Baker, Kevin King, and Taylor Rapp. Marcus Peters and Budda Baker, drafted in 2015 and 2017, respectively, are the most decorated NFL defensive backs to come out of Washington.
In the next year or two, we can expect two more Washington Huskies’ names to be called in the draft: cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon. This talented tandem was recently ranked seventh on Pro Football Focus’s top 10 cornerback tandems list entering the 2021 season.
Trent McDuffie is starting to earn some national attention as one of the top cornerback prospects in next year’s 2022 NFL Draft. He has played a big part on the Huskies defense since joining in 2019, playing in every game and finishing with 46 total tackles, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.
McDuffie has excellent instincts and athleticism and can be a major factor for the Huskies defense in 2021. He has great speed, fluidity, and competitive toughness but can often lose battles at the point of the catch due to his size. Nevertheless, McDuffie is regarded as one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the upcoming draft, and he could ultimately end up as the highest-drafted Washington defensive back ever.
Expected to play across from McDuffie this season is redshirt sophomore Kyler Gordon who is still relatively unproven. Gordon is one of the most versatile and athletic players on the team. He can play out wide, in the slot, and has even been a standout player on special teams. For two years in a row, he has been named the team’s Special Teams MVP and has made multiple game-changing plays.
With last year’s starters, Elijah Molden and Keith Taylor, out of the picture and taking on the pros, McDuffie and Gordon have the opportunity to take a big step into the spotlight.