Potential first-round picks McDuffie, Gordon among participants at UW Pro Day
The Washington Huskies have had an impressive run of defensive backs drafted in the past decade.
Later this month, when the 2022 NFL Draft begins in Las Vegas, the program is expected to have two more leave the board early on — perhaps as early as the first round — in Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon.
The two standout cornerbacks were both back on campus Tuesday morning to participate in the program’s annual Pro Day at the Dempsey Indoor practice facility, giving scouts on site more to evaluate before the draft begins April 28.
McDuffie participated in the vertical jump — posting a mark of 38.5 inches — broad jump and bench press.
“I just needed to put some numbers out there,” he said. “I’ve been working this whole past two months, haven’t seen any times, no numbers, kind of just grinding, grinding.
“So, today was kind of just the first time I was like, OK, I see where my work has gone — where it started and where it’s at now.”
McDuffie was also one of four Huskies invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Indianapolis — along with Gordon, tight end Cade Otton and center Luke Wattenberg — where he ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash.
In the months since UW’s season concluded, McDuffie said he has been “stacking the days as much as I can” as he continues to work ahead of the draft.
McDuffie started each of the 11 games he played in last fall, finishing with 35 tackles and six passes defended on his way to All-Pac-12 first-team honors.
He played three seasons for the Huskies, tallying 94 tackles, two interceptions, eight passes defended, three forced fumbles and three recoveries through 28 games.
The 5-foot-11, 193-pound cornerback from Southern California is projected by many mock drafts to be a first-round selection, but his attention remains focused on preparation.
“I’m just enjoying the process, controlling what I can control and just enjoying my life,” he said.
Gordon earned a cheer from the watching crowd — which included much of the Huskies’ current roster — early on in the workout when he posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound corner also participated in cone and positional drills later on.
Gordon also ran the 40-yard dash at the combine earlier this month, where he clocked in at 4.52 seconds.
Gordon played four seasons at UW after starring at Archbishop Murphy High School, and started each of the Huskies’ 12 games last fall, finishing with 45 tackles and tied for the team-high with two interceptions. He was also an All-Pac-12 first-teamer.
He appeared in every game the past three seasons for the Huskies, and collected 97 tackles, the two interceptions, 12 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one recovery in his 33 career games.
Now, like McDuffie, who he started opposite of much of last fall, Gordon will wait to see what’s next.
“There’s a lot of great teams out there, so I’m excited to see where I end up,” Gordon said.
Several more Huskies — including Otton, Wattenberg, quarterback Patrick O’Brien, running backs Sean McGrew and Kamari Pleasant, outside linebacker Ryan Bowman, nickelback Brendan Radley-Hiles, punter Race Porter and former wide receiver Quinten Pounds — also participated Tuesday along with Idaho State wide receiver Tanner Conner, a former Kentridge football and track standout.
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 6:05 PM.
