With the transfer portal chaos dying down, the Washington Huskies are making some of their final moves as they look to get to the 85-scholarship limit. The team has secured commitments from two former Sacramento State defenders in safety Cameron Broussard and defensive lineman Deshawn Lynch, who could be impact players in 2024.
Lynch was an excellent pickup for the Huskies as his versatility will further bolster the depth up front. While edge rushers weren’t a huge need for the team, defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi now has one of the deeper rotations in the entire country, with a mix of homegrown and transfer talent, all of whom with unique skillsets that could factor in the defense this season.
He wasn’t a full-time player for Sacramento State and as only a sophomore last season, he has plenty of time to continue to improve. He will also be coached by defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, who will likely help mold his intriguing frame and athleticism.
It’s uncommon to see a player of Lynch’s size routinely play as a stand-up edge rusher, but this was his main deployment last season. One of the biggest reasons he can play on the edge is his ability to get moving off the snap and effectively convert that speed into power.
The clip below is an excellent example of this, Lynch drives the offensive lineman back, not allowing him to anchor, and then hits former Husky Sam Huard as he is throwing.
— Ben Glassmire (@BenGlassmireNFL) May 20, 2024
As a thick-framed rusher, Lynch will have the flexibility to kick inside on passing downs and should be able to be productive from a three-technique alignment. That move may require an adjustment period though, as it isn’t something Lynch has done before. However, none of this should detract from Lynch’s potential effectiveness on the edge.
As mentioned, his ability to win with speed and power worked well at the FCS level to an extent, however, he will need to refine his game for the Big Ten by adding counter moves and more potential pass rush moves he can use earlier in reps. There was the beginning of an effective push-pull in his game, but further refinement of that move could make it lethal off the edge or even on the interior.
Lynch will be a junior next season and will be competing with plenty of talented players along Washington’s defensive line. He may end up as a player who isn’t seen all that often this season, but becomes a heavy piece of the rotation in 2025.
The lack of refinement and production at the FCS level doesn’t bode well for an instant impact for the Huskies now, but the flexibility he could offer in certain situations may be enough for him to find his way onto the field.