While Washington Huskies edge rusher Zach Durfee did play in their Week One victory over Weber State, coach Jedd Fisch made sure to let everyone know that he did not play his best in that game.
The former Sioux Falls transfer seemed to take this message to heart, as he was downright dominant in Week Two against Eastern Michigan. Durfee finished with 2.5 sacks and 5 total tackles, but his performance was even better than the already impressive box score shows.
Zack. Sack. 😤🙌 @zach_durfee
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— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 7, 2024
After being forced to sit on the sideline for most of Washington’s 2023 season, he vowed to make an impact when he returned to the field. Durfee stated on Saturday that he still feels like he is shaking off the rust from not playing football for an entire year.
His performance on Saturday should be a huge confidence builder, as the team will rely on him as their top edge rusher.
At 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, Durfee is built like the prototype edge that college and NFL teams want on their roster. For the Huskies, who have an extremely deep edge rotation, Durfee has played extensively in both games this season.
The Huskies were blowing by the Eastern Michigan offensive line throughout the game, and Durfee’s pressure numbers may be even better than his sack numbers, a testament to his motor and effort.
The Husky defense, led by coordinator Steve Belichick, has shown discipline and dominance in a way that did not show up last year, even with how good the team was. Belichick has introduced schematic and technical leaps that have drastically improved the defense’s play, and Durfee has been exhibit A of this transformation.
His athleticism and strength also show up in the run game. The team can move him all over the defensive line and give him better matchups that he can exploit no matter the situation. After playing sparingly in the Sugar Bowl and national championship, it seems like two games were more than enough time for him to fully adjust to Division I football and make a major impact on the Husky defense.
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