Washington Football: Top 3 prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

Washington football is heading into a new era and Jimmy Lake has some NFL talent to work with. Who will be the next Huskies drafted?

It’s hard to believe that Washington is heading in yet another new direction after Chris Petersen took over a half-decade ago. He looked like he was going to be in Seattle for the long-run, but a shocking retirement this offseason forced assistant Jimmy Lake into the head coaching position.

There’s belief around the program that Lake is going to be every bit the same coach as Petersen and the fact that he brings youth to the job helps his case.

Programs are looking for that next star head coach who happens to be young enough to relate to the players but old enough to still demand respect. Lake is right there at 43 years old and he’s been around the block a few times as an NFL assistant before becoming Petersen’s defensive backs coach at Boise State and following him to Washington and being named defensive coordinator.

While he’s never been a head coach, he has plenty of experience and those ties to the NFL should attract top-tier recruits.

Lake’s first year will be critical to his success in Seattle. If he can send a handful of guys to the NFL, it’ll spark recruiting efforts. If he struggles to produce pro talent, the jury will be out for another season.

Which Huskies could be the next to hear their names called in the NFL draft?