Tag: washington huskies football

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan with No. 92 pick

Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 92nd overall pick on Friday.

Jalen McMillan didn’t get the full experience of the run to the national championship, missing four games and leaving a few others early with a knee injury that just wouldn’t subside.

But on Friday, he got the full experience of being part of the NFL draft, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him with the 92nd overall pick. McMillan joins Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, Troy Fautanu, Ja’Lynn Polk, Roger Rosengarten, and Bralen Trice as Huskies to be selected so far in 2024.

A member of the 2020 recruiting class with Odunze, McMillan helped usher in a new era of Washington wide receivers after John Ross and Dante Pettis left for the NFL. Primarily working out of the slot, McMillan accrued over 1,000 yards as a junior in 2022, leading the Huskies in receptions and receiving touchdowns.

One knock on McMillan leading up to the draft was durability, as he missed a game in 2020 with an ankle injury, missed another in 2021 with a hand issue, and missed four games in 2023 with the knee issue. But he played through many of those ailments and more, showing an admirable competitive spirit – emblematic of so many Huskies – that no doubt endeared him to teams in the interview process.

In Tampa Bay, McMillan will look to carve out a role as the primary slot receiver with potential at every level of the field. Chris Godwin is still on the roster, but the Bucs don’t have a reliable option behind him with Trey Palmer playing more of a Z role.

McMillan joins a host of Huskies on the Bucs – Vita Vea, Greg Gaines, Cade Otton, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka are all already in Tampa.

Baltimore Ravens select OT Roger Rosengarten at No. 62 overall

Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft.

Michael Penix Jr.’s blindside protector has come off the board.

Washington Huskies offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten became the latest member of the runners-up for the national championship to be drafted, landing at No. 62 overall with the Baltimore Ravens, where he will step in as a key protector for quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Rosengarten shot up draft boards in recent weeks after running the fastest 40-yard dash of offensive linemen at the NFL combine and looking smooth in positional drills at Washington’s pro day in late March.

Huskies Wire also reported that San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and offensive line coach Chris Foerster worked Rosengarten out following one of the Huskies’ spring practices, prompting a wave of interest in him at the back end of the first round.

But ultimately, Rosengarten had to wait until Friday to hear his name called. Baltimore sniped him away from San Francisco right before the 49ers came up at No. 63 overall.

A natural right tackle, Rosengarten also took snaps at left tackle at the Senior Bowl in January, where he looked proficient. But with Ronnie Stanley entrenched on the left side and following an underwhelming season on the right side for Baltimore, Rosengarten will stay at his natural position of right tackle for the foreseeable future, and he gets to continue wearing purple and gold.

New England Patriots draft WR Ja’Lynn Polk at No. 37 overall

Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk was selected by the Patriots with the 37th overall pick on Friday.

Ja’Lynn Polk came to Washington because their wide receivers room was thinning out between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. After three seasons on Montlake, Polk became the latest member to reap the benefits of Washington’s offensive renaissance.

Polk joined Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, and Troy Fautanu as official members of the NFL on Friday when he was selected by the Patriots with the 37th overall pick.

Polk, who ascended to Penix’s No. 2 option in 2023 to the tune of 1,159 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns has long been a favorite of draft analysts thanks to his smooth athleticism and willingness as a blocker. The Patriots agreed with that assessment, and he’ll now likely be one of the primary options for new quarterback Drake Maye.

A versatile receiver who spent slightly more time on the outside than in the slot, Polk will be a productive Z or slot receiver for New England. While an average separator on breaking routes, Polk is an easy vertical separator that should generate field-stretching value despite running just a 4.52 40 yard dash.

Grades for Washington’s three first round picks in the NFL draft

The Washington Huskies had eventful night one of the NFL Draft, but how do the selections grade out when considering how they fit with their team?

It was an eventful night for the Washington Huskies, as three members of the 2023 team were selected in the first round of the NFL draft, with two going in the top ten. There will be even more action on Friday and Saturday when more members of the Sugar Bowl-winning team find new homes in the NFL.

With the first round wrapped up, it’s time to embrace the annual tradition of handing out grades to the picks from Thursday, which are all preliminary and reflect current team fit and projected future success.

Atlanta Falcons – Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8 Overall)

The Falcons shocked the collective football world when they chose to pass on other positions of need and select the Washington quarterback in the top ten. Many had assumed that Penix would fall into the early teens and there were only whispers that the Falcons had some interest in Penix. For a team with plenty of young talent at the skill positions including running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts, and wide receiver Drake London, this is a fantastic situation for Penix to walk into. He should immediately be able to gel with those players and become the future centerpiece of the offense.

Penix’s downfield aggressiveness should allow for chunk plays to Pitts and London’s size should create plenty of contested catch opportunities once the two build up a connection. With a running game led by Robinson taking pressure off Penix, it should help him settle into the pro game even faster, that is, whenever he gets on the field.

This pick does not come without its serious question marks and confusion over what exactly the Falcons were thinking. The team made one of the biggest splashes of free agency, signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a nearly $180 million deal that will tie him to the team for at least two years before any feasible contract outs arise. Post-draft, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot stated that they will be following the Green Bay Packers model and wanted a succession plan in place for Cousins.

Penix is clearly a tremendous player, which is not something Husky fans have to be convinced of. However, he will be 24 years old as a rookie and waiting behind an established veteran for multiple seasons could mean that Penix is in his late 20’s when he sees his first meaningful NFL snaps. It’s possible that there is some concern among the Falcons brass that Cousins, coming of an Achilles tear, will not be the same player, thus bringing in Penix provides the team insurance.

This then brings up even more questions, why did the team sign Cousins in the first place? Why not inform Cousins of the plan to be aggressive at quarterback? These aren’t questions that can be answered in the immediate future and will play out as Penix’s career progresses.

Again, from Penix’s perspective this is an excellent fit as he comes in with a solid coaching staff, good supporting weapons, and will get to learn from an established veteran quarterback. The importance of the position cannot be understated, as teams are always encouraged to “get their guy,” and the Falcons seem to have done that and yet are catching plenty of heat.

If this ends up working out and Penix thrives in Atlanta, all will be forgiven. However, the surrounding circumstances of the pick still make it incredibly confusing to sift through. The coming years in Atlanta will be pivotal to the future of the franchise and how this controversial pick is viewed.

Pick Grade: C- (B+ for the player and D- for the circumstances)

Chicago Bears – Rome Odunze (No. 9 Overall)

Huskies ended up going back-to-back in the top ten, as the Bears used their second first rounder on another receiver for quarterback Caleb Williams in what was one of the best picks of the night. Odunze was the third receiver off the board but could very easily end up being the best from this class.

He will immediately walk into one of the best skill groups in the league, with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore as his running mates. Giving the ultra-talented Williams as many elite weapons to throw to as a rookie was a tremendous goal for the team to achieve and they have blown away all expectations.

Unlike Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. who were selected above him, Odunze will not be forced into the lead role right away, and can settle in slowly as the team will be able to maximize his skill set. He will likely fill the X receiver role in Chicago, where his contested catch ability, body control, and vice grip-like hands have the potential to make him one of the top receivers in the league.

The Bears could not have been more thrilled that Odunze, who has already been working with Williams during the draft process fell to them. The new-look Bears offense should provide plenty of fireworks next season with Odunze as an integral cog.

Pick Grade: A

Pittsburgh Steelers – Troy Fautanu (No. 20 Overall)

The final Husky selected in the first round was left tackle Troy Fautanu who had one of the most impressive draft processes of any Husky. He dominated the NFL combine and placed himself firmly onto plenty of team’s radars in a talented class of top offensive linemen.

The Steelers made him their choice at No. 20 and will value his positional versatility, which was a major selling point of his profile coming out of Washington. He is technically advanced and possesses high-level foot speed that will make him an instant contributor in Pittsburgh.

It’s unclear at the moment where Fautanu will play along the Steelers offensive line. The team’s 2023 first round pick, Broderick Jones, will likely occupy one of the tackle spots and with veteran Dan Moore as the other listed tackle, the team could choose to start Fautanu out on the inside.

Wherever he ends up he has All-Pro upside and will be facing players like Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Alex Highsmith in practice every day which should only sharpen his skills. It appears that all three Huskies landed in excellent spots and Fautanu only continues this trend.

Pick Grade: A

Washington QB Dermaricus Davis enters transfer portal for second time

One of Washington’s two four-star quarterbacks in the 2024 class has entered the transfer portal.

The Washington Huskies are down to just two scholarship quarterbacks after former four-star recruit Dermaricus Davis decided to enter the transfer portal for the second time this offseason on Friday morning.

After originally entering in January following Kalen DeBoer’s departure, the true freshman withdrew his name and gave coach Jedd Fisch’s staff a shot during spring practice.

However, through Washington’s 11 spring practices, Davis appears to have fallen behind his classmate Demond Williams, who has taken a fair amount of snaps with the first team and looks to be the successor to 2024’s probable starter, Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers.

That’s not to say that Davis doesn’t have the same upside as Williams, he appears to need some more time to develop and has chosen to look elsewhere to do so. The true freshman was not present for Washington’s latest workout on Wednesday, seemingly putting the writing on the wall for his future.

Now, as Fisch and the rest of Washington’s coaching staff continues to scour the transfer portal for some assistance along the offensive line, it might need to bring in a third quarterback as well.

Odunze landed in the best-case scenario with the Chicago Bears

Washington Huskies star receiver Rome Odunze is going to continue to thrive with the Chicago Bears.

The NFL draft process is always a divisive one, where analysts will always differ on particular players, but Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze seemed to buck that trend.

Early on in the draft cycle, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah called the All-American his favorite player in the draft, and most members of draft media seemed to agree that Odunze was going to be a great fit wherever he ended up, but landing with the Chicago Bears at No. 9 overall is perfect for him.

Odunze gets to team up with the top quarterback in the class, USC’s Caleb Williams, whom he had been working out with throughout the offseason. He also gets to step into a situation where he’s surrounded by talent in veteran wide receivers D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, tight end Cole Kmet, and running back D’Andre Swift.

Even though the Bears have struggled in recent years, general manager Ryan Poles gave the team a facelift on the offensive side over the last few months and has turned the team from one of the worst offenses in the league to a perennial juggernaut with Odunze’s acquisition.

He can step in immediately and play on the outside, acting as a big-play threat in a similar role to what he played at Washington. While he might not see the target share he did during his time with the Huskies in his rookie year, he will be able to continue to refine himself as a route runner while learning from Allen, who is only under contract with Chicago for this season.

Thanks to Williams’ big arm and ability to make plays out of structure, it appears the Bears have found the cornerstones of their offense for a long time.

The Atlanta Falcons made an A+ pick with Michael Penix Jr.

Some might call it a reach, but the Atlanta Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix Jr. is a home run.

Some might call it a reach, but the Atlanta Falcons did the right thing by selecting Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL draft.

Even though the organization signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180-million fully guaranteed deal in the offseason, there are serious questions about the 35-year-old’s future after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October.

Penix, who after suffering multiple season-ending injuries early in his career, stayed healthy for the entirety of his Washington career and got a clean bill of health at the NFL combine in late February.

Even if he has to sit behind Cousins for any period of time, Atlanta can provide Penix with one of the best supporting casts in the NFL. The Falcons have invested heavily in offensive weapons, using the No. 4 pick on tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021, and then utilizing the No. 8 overall picks in back-to-back years on wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson.

Behind one of the better offensive lines in the NFL, anchored by another Washington product in right tackle Kaleb McGary, the Falcons may have found their franchise quarterback in Penix. The only question is, when will he see the field?

Atlanta Falcons draft QB Michael Penix Jr. with No. 8 pick

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 8 overall pick on Thursday.

In retrospect, Michael Penix Jr. was never going to have to wait until Friday to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL draft. There was too much magic in that national championship run. There were too many quotes from coaches around the league, who raved about Penix’s makeup and abilities. He passed the medical checks and shone in interviews.

He was never going to make it out of the first round.

And he didn’t. The Atlanta Falcons made Penix their quarterback of the future with the No. 8 overall pick, displaying faith in the Washington legend to bring some of that trademark magic, mentality, and makeup to their franchise. Penix is lauded as a leader and a competitor, traits that made him a favorite of coaches even if scouts were worried about his longevity.

But Penix played two injury-free seasons at Washington. And in those two seasons, he did everything you could possibly expect out of a quarterback. He elevated Indiana to heights they hadn’t seen in years, then came to Montlake and elevated the Huskies to a national title contender.

It seems foolish to bet against him elevating the Falcons next, even with quarterback Kirk Cousins under contract for the next four seasons.

Adam Mohammed was Scottie Graham’s best kept secret

Running back Adam Mohammed has been one of the most impressive early enrollees from Washington’s 2024 class, and coach Scottie Graham didn’t want anyone else to find out about him.

“Shh, don’t tell anybody.”

That was the first thing running backs coach Scottie Graham had to say after watching true freshman Adam Mohammed play in high school.

The 6-foot, 205-pound running back has been one of the biggest standouts among the early enrollees from coach Jedd Fisch’s 2024 class thanks to his impressive physical stature, speed, and ability as a pass catcher.

“Baby,” Graham said after Wednesday’s practice. “205 [pounds]. When he gets to 220, it’s going to be lunch money. You know what that means? Remember back in high school? ‘Give me your lunch money.’ ‘No!’ ‘Yes, give me your lunch money.’”

The coaching staff has high hopes for the 17-year-old from Apollo High School in Glendale, Arizona, who only needed one game to sell Graham on his abilities.

“I went to a game where he threw for 200 yards, ran for 100 yards, picked off a pass for 60 yards, and I was like, ‘I want him,'” Graham said. “He’s not going to be a liability, he works so hard and he’s so passionate about what he does.”

Coming out of high school, Mohammed held only 8 offers when he signed with Arizona, before opting out of his national letter of intent to follow Fisch’s coaching staff to Seattle. Graham said that offers from California and Boston College came in before his and that he held out as long as he could before offering the nation’s No. 132 ranked running back a scholarship.

“I was trying to hide out as much as I could and wait as long as I could to offer him,” he said. “People read into that and the minute you offer somebody other teams are going to swoop in and say ‘Ok, I’m gonna offer him now.’ But I always had a great relationship with him and he knew that, so I offered him late.”

Fisch has no reservations about playing freshmen and it appears Mohammed, who has taken some snaps with the first team during spring practice, could be next in line to assume a significant role during his first year on campus.

“It takes a lot to play in our system, you’ve got to catch, you’ve got to block, you’ve got to do a lot of different stuff, you can’t just drop step,” Graham said. “There are so many different steps it takes to play in our offense, you’ve got to play receiver sometimes. Adam can catch the ball like a receiver, he’s lengthy, it’s incredible.”

Behind Jonah Coleman and Cameron Davis, Graham is looking for someone to step up as the third option at the position and Mohammed has done everything in his power to claim that spot so far during spring camp.

Sights and sounds from Washington’s eleventh spring practice

The Washington Huskies saw some explosive plays and impressive defense at Wednesday’s spring practice.

The Washington Huskies moved Wednesday’s spring practice to Dempsey Indoor Center to get out of the rain, which seemed to greatly benefit the passing game. Quarterback Will Rogers had another impressive day, making multiple high-difficulty throws to wide receivers Jeremiah Hunter and Giles Jackson.

Quarterback Demond Williams had two 20+ yard touchdowns on the day, linking up with redshirt freshman receiver Rashid Williams for both of the scores. The first connection came for a 26-yard touchdown during a team period, where the freshman made an impressive throw on the run, while the second came from 22 yards out in a 7-on-7 period.

Although the offense had some impressive plays, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Throughout the practice, there were multiple dropped snaps during drills and team periods as the coaching staff continues to figure out its plan along the offensive line.

The secondary also made its fair share of big plays throughout practice, with Arizona transfer Ephesians Prysock showing off his elite length and recovery skills for a pass breakup against the speedy Audric Harris, before blowing up a screen play and recording a tackle for a loss on the next play.

Safeties Tristan Dunn and Peyton Waters accounted for the only two turnovers on the day, with the former stepping in front of wide receiver Keith Reynolds for an interception and the latter laying a perfect hit on fellow freshman Harris to force a fumble on the last play of the day.

Spring Practice Notebook

  • Running backs coach Scottie Graham discussed freshman Adam Mohammed after practice, who has been one of the most impressive early enrollees. “Baby,” Graham said of the running back who turns 18 on Friday. “205 [pounds]. When he gets to 220, it’s going to be lunch money. You know what that means? Remember back in high school? ‘Give me your lunch money.’ ‘No!’ ‘Yes, give me your lunch money.'”
  • Mohammed took some reps with the first team on Friday, where Rogers got to work with Hunter and sophomore Denzel Boston together for the first time.
  • During one on one drills, freshman receiver Jason Robinson Jr. made an impressive, fingertip grab to pull in a touchdown.
  • Bad news along the offensive line continued when Washington’s top transfer portal target, SMU tackle Marcus Bryant, committed to Missouri during the workout.
  • Redshirt freshman Kahlee Tafai also suffered an injury toward the end of practice, but was seen walking under his own power at the end of the day.