Huskies send international offer to high-upside prospect from Australian NFL academy

In what could be a landmark moment for University of Washington football, the Huskies have extended a scholarship offer to Tarquin Schwalger, a New Zealander who’s been training for a career in football at the NFL Academy’s Asia-Pacific facility in Queensland, Australia.

Schwalger, who stands 6-foot-6 and 260-pounds at just 16 years of age, has received a number of Division I offers in the last three weeks, including some from high-profile teams like Michigan, Texas Tech, and Florida State. 

Given his physical gifts, it’s a surprise big-name schools hadn’t come calling sooner. Measurables like 35 ¾-inch arms and a 83-inch wingspan (watch here) would stand out even in a room full of All-Pro offensive tackles. Playing tackle would require Schwalger to add some serious weight to his 260-pound frame, but his height gives him plenty of room to do so.

Tarquin Schwalger’s future looks bright, but his path remains unclear

With another two years of growing and bulking, the West Auckland native could absolutely transform himself into a prototypical offensive tackle. However, if Schwalger doesn’t want to add another 50+ pounds in body mass, he could instead play tight end, where his huge frame would make him a potential mismatch against even the tallest defenders. 

Schwalger’s athletic background certainly supports a future at tight end. He was a member of New Zealand’s U15 basketball team in 2024, competed nationally as a swimmer, and also plays volleyball, all of which indicate high-level athleticism. 

It’s difficult to imagine Schwalger’s professional potential without thinking of Jordan Mailata, who left Australian U20 rugby player, went to America, and transformed himself into one of the NFL's best offensive tackles. However, Schwalger’s height and hardwood background also evoke memories of Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham, two all-time great tight ends who both began their college careers as basketball players.

Schwalger has plenty of physical potential at either position, but he’s still far from a finished product. In fact, he just joined the NFL Academy in January, and as of May 1 had never played in an actual football game. He hadn’t even run full-contact drills in pads until a recent trip to Bradenton, Fla., where the NFL Academy joined athletic powerhouse IMG Academy for spring training.

Ironically, it was at a 2018 IMG event that the Philadelphia Eagles first noticed Mailata. Now, it could be the Huskies that find a diamond in the rough. Schwalger may be inexperienced, but his upside was enough to warrant an offer from the Huskies, which he announced over X/Twitter on May 13.

It’s the first such offer head coach Jedd Fisch has given to an NFL Academy player, and it may not be the last. Last year, six former NFL Academy talents signed with Division I college football teams. It’ll be more than a year until Schwalger has an opportunity do the same, but his is absolutely a name to watch in the meantime.

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