Washington’s claim to the DBU title dates all the way back to former Huskies safety Lawyer Milloy, but the modern generation of defensive backs to come out of Montlake starts with Desmond Trufant.
Cornerback Thaddeus Dixon told the media as much last week, mentioning Trufant as the first DB he remembered paying attention to in a Huskies uniform. On Saturday, Dixon and the rest of the Huskies will get an extra boost from the Husky legend. Trufant was named Washington’s “Road Dawg” for the Apple Cup in a social media post on Thursday.
Calling Trufant a Road Dawg is a bit of a misnomer, with the Apple Cup taking place just a couple of exits down I-5 away from Husky Stadium, but the former Husky knows all about the rivalry after playing on Montlake from 2009-13. Trufant’s brother, Marcus, is on the other side of the line – he played for Washington State from 1999-2003.
Trufant was a first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2013, earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl in 2015. He played seven seasons in Atlanta before spending parts of three seasons with the Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, and Las Vegas Raiders.
A native of Tacoma, Washington, Trufant now helps run a nonprofit in his hometown called Tacoma KidZ that gives back to underprivileged youth.
Our Road Dawg for the Apple Cup, @DesmondTrufant 🙌.#AllAboutTheW pic.twitter.com/TyodcO8Bwd
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 12, 2024