Don’t let his baby face or warming smile fool you.  New Washington tight end commit Decker DeGraaf has a nasty streak when it comes to blocking.  When he has the ball in his hand he becomes a punishing runner who is looking to score.

The talented tight end fills what will be a position of need for the Huskies going forward.  As things sit right now, Washington has 5 scholarship tight ends on its roster.  Two, Jack Westover and Devin Culp, depart after this season.  Their departure will leave the Huskies with two spots open on the roster.  It will be interesting to see what direction UW goes at this position.

If Decker DeGraaf’s commitment is any indication, they’re looking for combo tight ends–run and pass blocking who can be an extension of the passing game.  (Story Continues Below Tweet)

This past off-season they acquired Josh Cuevas, the Huskies might add another tight end via the transfer portal.  As a freshman at Cal Poly Cuevas caught 57 passes for 622 yards and 6 touchdowns.  This past spring the 6-3, 236-pound transfer showed promise, especially with his soft hands.

Ryan Otton is an intriguing prospect coming out of Tumwater High near Olympia.  The 6-6, 233-pound younger brother to Tampa Bay tight end and former Husky Cade participated in one game but didn’t accrue any stats.  Some questioned the decision to redshirt him but with scholarship distribution, holding off on starting his clock could bode well for the Huskies beyond this year.

Another local kid, Quentin Moore from Kenmore, Washington started two games last season catching 5 passes for 61 yards.  Once the junior puts it all together he will be a force.  At 6-4, 248 pounds, he has very good measurables to be versatile in Kalen DeBoer’s passing attack.

With Degraaf, the Huskies get a kid who likes to maul as much as he likes to catch passes.  At 6-4 and 230 pounds, the Glendora product is right in line with what DeBoer seems to like at tight end.  He caught 23 passes for 378 yards and 5 touchdowns last year.  His versatility means that he’s well-suited for Washington’s offense.

Look for a full interview with DeGraaf shortly.