| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 3:45 am |
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Sports 
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Huskies' Trufant has been a surprise SEATTLE — During his first week of college, Desmond Trufant was getting worked pretty good.First, from poet Samuel Coleridge. Then, from quarterback Ronnie Fouch. The freshman cornerback from Tacoma’s Wilson High School arrived at the University of Washington and immediately found out that his debut on the practice field would be delayed by an academic technicality. A sign-language class that Trufant had taken at Wilson was not to the NCAA Clearinghouse’s liking, and so he had to take a poetry and popular literature class to become eligible. “I had to read two books ... and (the class) was all day,” he said Wednesday. Even when Trufant was cleared to practice, the work didn’t get much easier. UW quarterbacks like Fouch tested him early and often at his first practice session, during which Trufant gave up several long receptions. “My first week, it was difficult,” he said. “Everybody was faster, everybody was bigger, everybody was stronger. I just figured I’d use my athleticism to help me succeed out here.” Suffice to say, the freshman has made up for lost time. Since that first week, Trufant has been one of the Huskies’ most pleasant surprises. “He put in the time in the summer and showed that he could be a real factor,” said head coach Steve Sarkisian, who is gradually working Trufant into the rotation on UW’s defense. “Unfortunately, it just didn’t start the way we wanted it to. He couldn’t practice at the beginning, and that kind of slowed down his progress. But he’s starting to show up more and more.” Trufant made his official debut on Saturday, playing mostly special teams in the Huskies’ loss to LSU. He has continued to work with the No. 2 defense this week and could see time in nickel and dime packages against Idaho this Saturday. “I’ve just tried to work every day consistently, taking no days off, to impress the coaches and do my job,” Trufant said. In a state where a the name Trufant has become synonymous with football in the fall, Desmond Trufant is the family’s only contributor these days. Older brother Marcus is on the Seattle Seahawks’ Physically-Unable-To-Perform List, meaning he’ll be out a minimum of six weeks. Marcus Trufant, who is almost 11 years older than Desmond, followed up a solid career at Washington State University by becoming an NFL Pro Bowler. While he still expresses his devotion to WSU, the 28-year-old Seahawk never meddled in his youngest brother’s recruiting process. “He was fine with it,” Desmond Trufant said of his decision to go to UW. “He just wanted me to make my decision, not to go off him or off anybody. He wanted me to make my own name and follow my own path. “He was fine with it. He was just happy I made it to college.” Despite a slight delay, the youngest Trufant — another brother, Isaiah, played at Eastern Washington University and in the Arena League — is finally playing college football. Coleridge and first-day practice jitters are things of the past, and now the Huskies are leaning on Trufant to learn about Idaho and the receivers of the Pac-10. “I knew it wasn’t going to be a lost season,” Trufant said. “I just knew that I had to work harder than everybody to be able to compete. “I think I’m doing pretty well on that mental side. I just need to keep getting better every day.” Husky notes Safety Greg Walker took the blame for two long LSU touchdowns last week, but his coaches were quick to rush to the redshirt freshman’s defense. Defensive coordinator Nick Holt said that Walker’s missed tackles on both of Terrance Toliver’s touchdowns were difficult plays. “It’s hard to ask anybody _ an NFL safety — to make a great play in space on a big receiver,” Holt said, adding that Walker was supposed to have help from a cornerback and/or linebacker on both plays in question. Said Walker: “In space, I’ve got to make tackles regardless, because I’m a safety.” Holt said that Walker’s starting position is open, with Walker, Justin Glenn and Victor Aiyewa battling for the job. Glenn saw most of the action at Wednesday’s practice, and it looks like he’ll serve as a nickel back Saturday. … Defensive end Darrion Jones (knee/ankle) sat out practice a gain, and Sarkisian said that he’s comfortable starting redshirt freshman Kalani Aldrich in his place. “I was encouraged that he got in the (LSU) game and played the way he did,” Sarkisian said. “I think he can play even better.” … Backup offensive lineman Skyler Fancher had ankle surgery and is probably out for the year, Sarkisian said. |
- Sorry, Hawkeye; M*A*S*H gets bowled over
- Former Whidbey student shot
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up
- Ruling expected on Sultan beating statement
- ‘Roadkill’ caucus seeks a voice for centrist Democrats
- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
- PAWS calls out for critter care-givers
- Boeing has a busy test schedule
- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches
(10) - State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (9)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (6)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- North Sound Christian girls winning with just six players (2)
- Schools do well in levy elections (2)
- Everett man charged with assault in attempt to circumcise son at home (2)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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