UW Huskies CB Trent McDuffie drafted 21st overall by Kansas City
Apr 28, 2022, 8:46 PM | Updated: Jul 18, 2022, 3:48 pm
UW Huskies CB Trent McDuffie celebrates a safety against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 6, 2021. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The UW Huskies continue to produce top secondary talent, with Trent McDuffie the latest to join the list of Dawgs to go in the early rounds of the NFL Draft, selected 21st overall Thursday night by Kansas City.
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Not only is McDuffie yet another standout defensive back to come out of the university over the last few seasons, but he goes higher than any of his predecessors such as second-round pick corners Kevin King and Byron Murphy and All-Pro safety Budda Baker, who also was an early second-rounder.
After emerging as one of the top defensive backs in the nation in high school out of California, McDuffie became an immediate contributor as a true freshman with the UW Huskies in 2019, appearing in all 12 games (11 starts) while recording an interception, two pass breakups and three fumble recoveries.
McDuffie then upped his game and became a star cornerback for the Huskies, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors in the shortened 2020 season and first-team honors in 2021. He was a third-team All-American last year after breaking up six passes.
Check the tape. @UW_Football’s @trent_mcduffie can do it all at CB.
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft— April 28-30 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/TZ7iBBbq28
— NFL (@NFL) April 9, 2022
McDuffie then declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, where he was projected as a first- or second-round pick. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, which was 14th-best among all defensive backs.
NFL.com rated McDuffie as one of the top 10 players in the draft, and draft analyst Lance Zierlein believes he can be an immediate starter as a rookie.
The #NFLDraft moment for @trent_mcduffie 📞
You could say it was LOUD 🔊📺 @nflnetwork #ProDawgs pic.twitter.com/rZppbeqcoZ
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) April 29, 2022
McDuffie was the only player from UW to go on the first day of the draft. Fellow cornerback Kyler Gordon of Mukilteo, tight end Cade Otton of Tumwater, and WSU offensive tackle Abe Lucas of Everett are all potential selections on Friday during the second and third rounds.
