The weight game is almost over for UW’s Atkins

Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 21, 2006

SEATTLE – Anthony Atkins knew what he knew. He knew linebackers were supposed to be chiseled 240-pounders with the ability to fly around the field. And he knew that defensive linemen were supposed to be the big guys, massive enough to push themselves through 300-pound offensive linemen.

So when Atkins found out that he would be a defensive end at the University of Washington, he started putting on weight. It wasn’t something new to him. At Compton Community College, Atkins was told he would be a defensive end, so he put on weight and got up to 265 pounds. Then, a linebacker didn’t pan out and he was moved back to linebacker, so he dropped to 237.

The sudden weight fluctuation didn’t seem to bother Atkins’ play. He was rated the No. 2 junior-college linebacker in the nation by Scout.com and the No. 48 JC player overall by Rivals.com.

That’s why Atkins said another process of gaining and losing weight should not pose any problems for him now that he’s a Husky. When UW head coach Tyrone Willingham told Atkins that he wanted him as a defensive end, Atkins figured he’d have to bulk up to play up front in the Pacific-10. So Atkins went from 237 up to 290 pounds. But when he got to Washington, he realized that was just too big for him to comfortably move around. Now Atkins is down to 274 and hopes to get to 265.

“I’ve lost a lot of weight since I’ve been here and I have a little more to go,” Atkins said. “I didn’t feel comfortable with all that weight. I wasn’t running well, I didn’t have as much energy. I was comfortable at 265 last year so I know if I can get down to that, I’ll be good.”

Willingham said there is a particular weight range he’d like to see Atkins at, but also wants Atkins to be comfortable on the field.

“He’s trying to find that comfortable weight for him in balance for his body and his position,” Willingham said. “Most football players think they have to be humongous so you get heavier than you need to be for the position. Now with the experience he has, he’s figuring out where the right place for him is.”

Surprising some, Atkins decided that Washington was the best place for him. Many of the other schools recruiting him – including Texas A&M, Central Florida and Nebraska – wanted him as a linebacker, and were surprised he picked a school that not only wanted him as a defensive end, but was also coming off of the worst two-year stretch in the program’s history.

But Atkins, a Long Beach, Calif., native who said he wanted to stay on the West Coast, said he’s never been one to shy away from a challenge.

“When I visited last year, the team morale, even though they were 2-9, it didn’t seem that way,” Atkins said. “I’m a good foreseer, so I see some good things happening. I’ve been in programs that lost the year before, and I’ve helped. I’m used to it. I like to start things. Anyone can jump on someone’s bandwagon.”

So will Atkins start for the Huskies come fall? He’s in a group of players competing for the starting end job, with the other being held by returning starter Greyson Gunheim. To win the job, he would have to beat out Walt Winter, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim,, Caesar Rayford and Brandon Ala. Atkins said he’s still learning the position. He did see some time as a rush end last year (he had nine sacks), but says there’s a big difference lining up at linebacker as opposed to starting a play up front.

“I’ve never practiced or played there regularly,” Atkins said. “I’m still trying to see what’s going on in the backfield and not getting set. I’ve still got a linebacker’s mentality. But I’ll get the hang of it.”

“We thought it was an ideal position for him,” Willingham said. “He has some quickness, some explosiveness, and hopefully he can help us find a pass-rusher in our system.”

Last year, the Huskies got 16 sacks from defensive linemen. Five came from Gunheim, and five more came from the departed Manase Hopoi. Atkins thinks that he and his Compton CC teammate, safety Ashlee Palmer (who arrives in the fall), will help give a spark to the defense.

“That’s why we’re here,” Atkins said. “We’re here to get this program back on top. We aren’t coming here to spend two years losing. We want to help us start winning right away.”