UW Huskies: Seven Players to Play on Sunday After Draft

Oct 31, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies linebacker Azeem Victor (36) watches as linebacker Travis Feeney (41) celebrates a sack of Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (not pictured) during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

The UW Huskies sent seven players to the NFL after the draft and the days following, a far cry from the 2015 draft.

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During the 2015 NFL Draft, four UW Huskies were selected from the first 44 players off the board. This year, the UW Huskies sent seven players to the NFL, five of whom were selected after the draft as undrafted free agents. The first Husky to be drafted from Chris Petersen’s crew was linebacker Travis Feeney by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round. The Detroit Lions picked running back Dwayne Washington in the seventh round.

Feeney will be missed by Petersen and company next season. Last year, Feeney led the UW Huskies with 17.5 tackles for loss, eight of them sacks. He was third in the Pac-12 in both categories and led the Pac-12 in forced fumbles with three. He is a homegrown talent from Redmond and hopefully finds a spot in the Steelers defense.

Washington came to the UW as a wide receiver. Petersen and his staff converted him to running back before the 2013 season. His breakout season for the UW Huskies was 2014, when he was named the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player after running for 697 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. He played only nine games in 2015 due to injuries, but he should inject some speed into the Lions’ running back rotation.

The rest of the UW Huskies to make to the NFL are undrafted free agents. Their positions are more precarious in terms of making an NFL roster out of training camp. Defensive team captain and defensive lineman Taniela Tupou signed with the Seattle Seahawks, hoping to join Quinton Jefferson as a new member of the Seahawks defensive line rotation. Marvin Hall signed with the Oakland Raiders, wide receiver Jaydon Mickens was also signed by the Raiders. Linebacker Cory Littleton signed with the LA Rams.

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Good luck to the UW Huskies new to the league… unless they’re playing the Seahawks, that is. Hopefully they all at least make their respective teams out of training camp. Petersen seems set to reload in Montlake with a fresh recruiting class.

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