Washington Huskies: Update on U-Dub rookies trying to make it in NFL
Herb Nightengale
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Hunter Bryant, Washington Huskies.
As the 2020 NFL season is about to begin, several players from last season’s Washington Huskies team are looking to make their mark at the next level. Here is an update on their status.
For the Washington Huskies, this year’s NFL Draft was highly disappointing. Only two players, quarterback Jacob Eason, and center Nick Harris were selected, neither of which were on the first two days. That left several former players trying to fight their way on to rosters as undrafted free agents.
Both cut down day, and practice squad signings are over. How did the Huskies 2020 rookie class fare?
Main Roster Players
Jacob Eason, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts, fourth round (122nd overall)
Considered raw but talented, quarterback Jacob Eason was an early season favorite to be a potential first or second-day draft selection. His draft stock, however, fell in proportion to the Huskies 8-5 record. The Indianapolis Colts took him in the fourth round and, by all accounts, are quite happy with the pick.
We’ve seen some good things out of Eason. Now, Jacob’s not getting the amount of reps because of Philip (Rivers) and Jacoby (Brissett), but we’ve seen some really good things out of Eason. He’s very attentive, he’s got really good poise, he’s probably a better athlete than you think — probably a little better athlete than I probably gave him credit for. And he’s got a great room to learn in. – Colts GM Chris Ballard on SiriusXM NFL radio
The coaching staff has been nothing but complimentary when asked about the young signal-caller. There is a chance that Eason could be the Colts quarterback of the future. It’s on him to mature and refine his game.
Eason impressed one key person at Colts training camp, starting QB Phillip Rivers.
Philip Rivers on his early impressions of rookie QB Jacob Eason: "He threw a ball the other day — shoot. I thought to myself, 'I can't do that. I can't make that throw."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 2, 2020
Nick Harris, center, Cleveland Browns, fifth round (160th overall)
The Browns love their fifth-round pick, Nick Harris. With incumbent center J.C. Tretter injured in camp, Harris took most of the reps with Cleveland’s first-team offense. Tretter won’t be ready to go in the opener, which leaves the man who started 50 games for the Washington Huskies as a starter in his pro debut. Due to his poise, confidence, and grasp of the team’s offensive system, the Browns are very comfortable with him in that role.
“He has been impressive in the sense that he can communicate all of the various sequences of communications along the line, whether it is the point system or the call system. He can get us in and out of the protection calls that we need to make.” – Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan on clevelandbrowns.com
Hunter Bryant, Detroit Lions, UDFA
In a very short time, undrafted tight end Hunter Bryant made a very favorable impression on the Detroit coaching staff. Coming from a pass-oriented Washington Huskies offense, Bryant is an excellent tight end to have as the Lions try to air it out more in 2020. He made the Lions 53-man roster, but a pulled hamstring will keep him on the sidelines for the first few weeks of the season.