Ephesians Prysock to San Francisco: How a Husky Cornerback Made the Leap

The Seattle Seahawks didn't grab him, but the Washington Huskies are back to doing what they do best: shipping cornerbacks to the NFL. Ephesians Prysock, a 6-foot-3, 196-pound corner out of UW, heard his name called Saturday when the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the fourth round with the 139th overall pick. It marks the fifth Husky picked in the 2026 NFL draft, and it's part of something much bigger than just this year.

Washington's Secondary Pipeline Is Humming Again

Here's the wild part: Prysock is the second UW defensive back off the board in 2026. Fellow Husky cornerback Tacario Davis went to the Cincinnati Bengals a day earlier in the third round (pick 72). That means Washington just matched something it hadn't done since 2022, when Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon went to Kansas City and Chicago respectively. Since 2017, the Huskies have sent 13 defensive backs to the NFL. That's a machine, plain and simple.

From Arizona Recruit to UW Starter

Prysock didn't start his journey in Seattle. He was a four-star prospect at Bishop Alemany High in Southern California who committed to Arizona coach Jedd Fisch back in 2021, even as the Wildcats stumbled to a 1-11 record that year. Only three other recruits in Arizona's 2022 class ranked higher. He made three starts as a freshman in 2022 with 16 tackles in 10 games while Arizona won five games and nearly cracked a bowl game.

By his sophomore year in 2023, playing alongside Tacario Davis, Prysock exploded. He earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors, racking up 61 tackles (including one for a loss), an interception, seven pass deflections and even blocked a field goal. Arizona won 10 games and beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. When Fisch bolted for Washington before the 2024 season, he brought cornerbacks coach John Richardson with him. Prysock transferred to the Huskies on January 27 and joined a wave of Arizona transplants heading north.

Finding His Groove in Green and Gold

His first year at UW was spotty. Prysock made 45 tackles and six pass deflections but committed six penalties and allowed 162 yards after contact according to Pro Football Focus. Still, he helped the Huskies reach the Sun Bowl. The coaching staff stuck with him anyway. In 2025, Prysock had his best season yet as a senior: 48 tackles, one tackle for a loss, an interception and eight deflections while earning All-Big Ten honorable mention status. That film was enough to convince the 49ers to invest a fourth-round pick. Now the question is whether he can develop into the next link in Washington's legendary secondary chain in San Francisco.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.