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Washington Football: Austin Joyner ready for breakout 2018

By Andrew Miller

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a 34 yard reception past defensive back Austin Joyner #4 of the Washington Huskies during the first half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a 34 yard reception past defensive back Austin Joyner #4 of the Washington Huskies during the first half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Pac-12 doesn’t get all the attention it should, especially with programs like Washington football, so players like Austin Joyner are overshadowed.

Washington football is putting together a truly deep roster that should make a deep run in the upcoming season. It’s already pretty well known how good this Huskies’ defense will be in 2018. The deepest position group along the defensive side of the ball for UW is the defensive backfield.

A secondary that features future NFL standouts such as Byron Murphy, Taylor Rapp, JoJo McIntosh, and Jordan Miller, may have its most unheralded name as a backup to start the regular season. That underrated defensive back is rising redshirt junior Austin Joyner. If injuries continue to plague the Huskies’ secondary like they did a season ago, Joyner’s presence will be huge.

Even if the Huskies manage to stay healthy in the secondary this year, Joyner will play a big role. He nabbed one interception last year and will be a part of a ball hawking group of defensive backs again this year. Joyner also played a huge part in the Huskies’ blitz packages last season, racking up two sacks and six tackles for loss.

This season should see Joyner with an increased role due to the progression he showed the previous two years. His ability to take another leap forward will also impact how much UW head football coach Chris Petersen allows him to see the field in key situations this fall.

There’s so many talented players in the UW defensive backfield that it’s hard for just one or two guys to standout. It will take a really huge season for Joyner to let the college football world know what he can do, and become a household name when he probably should’ve been one last season.

With his smaller size compared to what NFL scouts search for out of the prototypical idea for an early round NFL Draft selection, Joyner does have an uphill battle in front of him to play on Sundays.

Next: 2019 NFL Mock Draft: Way-too-early complete first round

But, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be considered among the middle to late round picks in either the 2019 or 2020 NFL Draft. Staying out through the next two years would be a wise move for Joyner to refine his game with one of the best coaching staffs and defenses in the nation.

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