Let’s talk about Washington’s X factor, or rather their ZTF factor going into the 2021 season. If he’s healthy, it answers one of the biggest questions about the team going into the year, and could cement them as the team to beat in the Pac-12. So first, the facts:
In mid-April during spring camp, Washington’s best pass rusher, Zion Tupuola-Fetui, ruptured his Achilles tendon during a drill. It was originally reported by head coach Jimmy Lake that Tupuola-Fetui was going to be out for anywhere between six and 10 months following surgery, before alerting the media on Friday that he’s “well ahead of schedule.” He didn’t give a timetable for his star edge rusher’s return, but said, “you’ll know when he’s practicing.”
What does this mean for the team’s expectations? The Huskies were already one of the favorites to win the Pac-12, after a very promising but shortened 2020 campaign. Adding ZTF, even if it’s just for 25-30 snaps a game, makes a significant impact. After Laiatu Latu’s medical retirement, Washington’s depth at edge rusher was looking very thin, with five players expected to eat up the majority of the snaps. Not to mention that three of those guys, Bralen Trice, Cooper McDonald, and Sav’ell Smalls, have very little experience at the college level.
That’s not to say that they won’t be successful in 2021, but it’s a much bigger question mark compared to someone like Tupuola-Fetui, who recorded 20 pressures through four games in 2020. While it’s very unlikely that he’ll start as soon as he’s ready to play, having that presence is more than enough to help free up whoever’s on the other side. Teams will naturally slide more protections towards him, which will give Trice, Smalls, and even interior linemen like Faatui Tuitele, and Tuli Letuligasenoa one on one opportunities.
Next, how does this affect the NFL Draft? If he were to leave after the 2020 season, the combination of size, speed, and athleticism ZTF possesses would have probably made him a top-two-round pick. Coming back for the 2021 season was definitely in his best interest, and he still has a ceiling as high as anyone’s in the country.
As a prospect, he’s got all the intangibles of a prototypical NFL edge rusher, along with all the technical skills needed to be successful. At 6’4, 260, ZTF has the ability to come in and contribute from day one at the next level. As he continues to refine his technique, whenever he enters the draft, there’s a good chance he gets taken higher than former Husky Joe Tryon.
Everything isn’t sunshine and rainbows with him though. A ruptured Achilles tendon is a very serious injury, and it’s much better to be safe and not rush him back. Obviously, Tupuola-Fetui wants to play as much as the coaches want him back out on the field, but safety is key because of the risk of reinjury. If he’s truly ready to play by say week three or four, he’ll probably be on a very limited snap count.
There’s a lot to be excited about with Tupuola-Fetui, and he adds so many elements to a promising Husky team, but his health should be the team’s top priority until he proves he’s 100 percent ready to go.
