Breakout star: Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
Under Chris Petersen and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, the Washington Huskies have had a line of succession at many positions in their defensive unit. Notably, the defensive line has seemingly produced a tree that has sprouted consistent NFL talent.
It is time to examine that tree and the next breakout star of the Pac-12 Conference. From Danny Shelton to Vita Vea to Greg Gaines and now Levi Onwuzurike.
Onwuzurike is yet another big-bodied defensive lineman that will be expected to hold down the fort and dominate in the trenches for the Huskies. He has seen plenty of snaps as he heads into his junior season and the transition should be seamless.
Each of his predecessors before him has made it to the NFL, two of which were first-round picks. The Huskies’ ability to produce top-flight defensive lineman is one of the reasons they’ve been so dominant in the Pac-12.
They get the ball rolling on defense. Onwuzurike had five sacks and 50 total sacks in his first two seasons on campus. The results so far have been promising.
When looking for breakout stars, it’s always a good idea to examine which position trees have been most successful. For Washington, the defensive line has proved as bountiful as their secondary.