Preparing for the NFL Draft is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and on Wednesday, Elijah Molden talked me through what he’s doing to prepare for that experience. Molden, who’s currently working with Lester Spellman in Irvine, California, has been training with some familiar faces.

“It’s cool to work with guys like [top quarterback prospects] Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, but I’ve also been able to work with Jordan Miller and Myles Bryant,” said Molden. The former Husky defensive backs currently play with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots respectively and should prove to be great mentors for Molden as he navigates the world of the draft.

One thing that Molden prides himself on is his versatility in the secondary. “I’m comfortable at any position in the defensive backfield, and I’m willing to do anything that a team needs me to. For example, during my junior year, I lined up at safety in base packages and in the nickel in sub packages,” said Molden. “I got a lot more experience at safety as a senior, and I’m ready to take on anything a team throws at me.”

The great thing about that is Molden is that not only is he a film junkie, but he has a good idea of who he wants to model his game after. “I’ve been really interested in studying [Kansas City Chiefs safety] Tyrann Mathieu. I love the freedom that he’s given within the defense, and all the different responsibilities he could have on any given play.”

Molden has to compete with some excellent defensive back prospects, including Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II, and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, but he stacks up very well with them athletically and technically. Washington’s head coach Jimmy Lake preaches perfect technique to all his defensive backs, and Molden is arguably the most technically sound player Lake has produced so far.

As the draft process continues to play out, it should be no surprise to Husky fans and draft aficionados alike when Molden’s name starts to pick up steam. His high football IQ will show up in interviews, and as teams dive into his film, his stock should continue to rise. He’s a player who, just like at Washington, can start early on in his career and will be prepared for anything an NFL team might throw at him.

Molden always makes sure to set the bar high, and making it to the NFL is surely very low on the list of what he expects of himself. “I don’t want to repeat any of my expectations out loud because if I do, someone else might think I’m crazy,” Molden said. “I know what I expect from myself every day, and will do everything I can to reach those expectations.”