One of the most important things that Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies coaching staff were on the hunt for in the transfer portal were contributors for the defensive line. It may have found one in former Sacramento State defensive lineman DeShawn Lynch.
During his time with the Hornets, the 6-foot-5, 283-pounder played mainly on the edge but could display a lot more versatility under defensive coordinator Steve Belichick.
The Huskies have a plethora of young, talented edge players who all have plenty of upside as pass rushers, but the one thing the staff was lacking is a bigger, stronger player who can set the edge against the run. Lynch has the body type and strength needed to fill that role perfectly, especially as the Huskies move into the Big Ten.
While run defense should be the majority of his role, Lynch also appears to have enough upside as a pass rusher that he could end up as a three-down defender after tallying 4.5 sacks last season.
The Huskies are in need of a lot of help along the interior, especially when it comes to getting after the quarterback, which could make Lynch an even more valuable prospect if he can continue to develop under defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi.
If he can continue to refine his game as a pass rusher and learn how to play from the interior, which will be a new position for him, Belichick should be able to carve out a role for a fairly significant role for him.
Lynch’s progression will be one of the biggest things to watch at fall camp, because if he can make those strides as a pass rusher, he could become Washington’s third interior rusher behind Sebastian Valdez and Jayvon Parker, which has the potential to be an exciting trio when deployed properly.