SEATTLE – Ty Eriks didn’t have a lot of time to chat.
The latest Washington Husky defensive end was between meetings, learning how to be a Washington Husky defensive end.
Extra tutoring is nothing new for Eriks in the football sense, although it shouldn’t take long for a pre-med major who breezed through O’Dea High School with a 4.0 GPA.
But this is a challenge not even Eriks, a sophomore now learning his fifth position since he came to Montlake, has done before. He is in his third week of learning defensive end, and already he has played in two games. He made his first start Saturday against UCLA.
Talk about your on-the-job training.
“He’s a sponge,” defensive line coach Randy Hart said. “He loves to study. He loves to work at it. He asks more questions than anybody.”
Eriks has been one guy – another is quarterback/slotback Isaiah Stanback -who the coaching staff recognizes as a talented football player in need of a position.
Therein lies the problem.
Eriks has played tailback. Linebacker. Safety. He seemed a fixture at fullback early in fall camp this season, but finally was beaten out by Adam Seery. And when Zach Tuiasosopo came back after his legal issues were completed, Eriks again was left looking for a position.
Almost by process of earlier elimination, defensive end came up. The plan was that he would share time with Graham Lasee.
“It was a mutual decision,” Eriks said. “I always wanted to try it. I always thought it would be kind of fun. It was good to get out there, get a shot and play a lot on Saturdays. I’m having great fun doing it.
“But the switch was tough to begin with, when everything happened the way it did. I wasn’t seeing much time at the fullback position, as it is with everybody who doesn’t get the opportunity to do what they want.”
Eriks watches film for a least an hour a day, whether it’s after classes or between classes. He has to.
“He makes mistakes, but what he gives you in effort, what he gives you in enthusiasm for the position, it allows us to spell off with Graham and it winds up giving us a good look back there,” Hart said. “But he’s light years from where he wants to be.”
As much as Eriks wanted to play defensive end, the saying is that he should be care for what he wishes. Flash back to Saturday.
Much of the time against UCLA, Eriks found himself matched up with Bruins left tackle Cleary Blanton, all 6-foot-9, 325 pounds of him.
As inexperienced as Eriks is, he made up for it in quickness and explosiveness. He made only one tackle, but he regularly cut off the point of attack and turned plays inside.
“I think Ty played awfully hard,” UW head coach Keith Gilbertson said. “He’s a real battler and a scrapper. He’s been there three weeks, but he’s a scrapper, he plays hard, throws his body around and gives it all he’s got. Ty might be 235 pounds soaking wet, but I’ll take a battler and a scrapper anytime.”
The thing is, this isn’t brain surgery. It’s football. The reason Eriks is playing as much as he is this early in his development is because of his commitment to learning technique and his natural athletic talent. Eriks believes he can beat the Blantons of the world with his speed and explosiveness. After all, former UW standout defensive end Andy Mason weighed 228. Donald Jones weighed 238, which is why the coaching staff doesn’t see the need for him to bulk up extensively.
“It’s leverage, it’s quickness,” Hart said. “Those who think it’s body weight aren’t real tuned in. It’s nice to have big guys, but you want a guy who can come off the edge with good speed. The weight thing can be negated.”
So, is this it for Eriks? Has he found a home or will he continue to be the team vagabond, going from position to position.
“I hope this is it,” Eriks said. “I’m having fun doing it.”
Wait until he gets the hang of it. That should be even more fun.
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