Husky Edge Rusher Zach Durfee Gets His Shot With Jacksonville, Skipping the Combine Route

Zach Durfee is heading to the NFL, and he's doing it the hard way. The Washington Huskies edge rusher became the seventh Husky selected in the 2026 NFL draft on Saturday when the Jacksonville Jaguars picked him in the seventh round with the 233rd overall pick. Here's the thing: Durfee never even got invited to the combine. That's a statement about his film, his tape, and what scouts saw on the field at UW.

A Productive Husky Despite the Obstacles

The 6-foot-5, 259-pound pass rusher put together some solid numbers during his two seasons at Washington. He racked up 53 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks. Not bad at all. But here's the context that matters: Durfee battled significant injuries during his tenure, and he also dealt with the now-defunct NCAA transfer rules that complicated his path. When you put together that kind of production while dealing with those roadblocks, it says something about what you could do when you're healthy and in a real NFL system.

First UW Edge Rusher in Two Years

Durfee's selection marks the first time a Washington edge rusher has heard their name called since Bralen Trice went to the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2024 draft. That's a gap worth noting for a program that has pumped out talented defensive ends. Now it's Durfee's turn to prove he belongs at the next level with Jacksonville.

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