Jaxson

Kirkland

Kirkland (6’7/328) was a 3-star recruit, and the 58th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2017 recruiting class, from Portland, Oregon, according to 247 Sports. Kirkland looks more like a Tackle, standing at almost 6’7”, as most interior linemen with those dimensions are brawlers and maulers. However, Kirkland breaks that stereotype by being more of a technician. This is partly because his 33.5” arms do not have the proportional advantage that his height does, which is reflected in his mundane 4.91 RAS. He hits his landmarks with enthusiasm and with an air of professionalism but isn’t particularly aggressive in his process. With poor knee-bend, he would struggle to maintain on the outside, but many of those problems are mitigated on the interior. Washington moved him around as well, originally starting him at right guard, moving him to left tackle for a couple of years, and then finally landing at left guard. The three-time all-conference honoree and Second Team All-American is probably close to ready to contribute but has likely reached the apex of his development.

Kirkland (6'7/310) has opted to put off his NFL dreams until the 2023 draft after opting out of the draft to undergo surgery on an ailing ankle injury. According to Kirkland’s Twitter account, doctors told him he played the 2021 season on an ankle that was functioning at less than 60%. Kirkland will likely return to the Huskies and play in 2022 assuming his repaired ankle holds up. Last May, Kirkland was the top-rated senior prospect according to ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. Last season, Kirkland received a Pro Football Focus grade of 74.9 and allowed 14 quarterback pressures and three sacks on the year.

Hutchinson, a potential first-rounder, whipped Kirkland in a marquee matchup of prime-time prospects. Kiper ranked Kirkland No. 8 overall this preseason, but he might be having a little buyer’s remorse right now. “He needs to play better,” Kiper wrote.

Kirkland (6'7/322) started his career at right guard before sliding out to left tackle in 2020. Though he played just a handful of games in the PAC-12’s shortened schedule, Kirkland did not allow a single sack. It’s not often a player converts from guard to left tackle, but Kirkland has the frame, length, and quickness to be as reliable a pass protector as any. Kirkland is currently Kiper’s 10th overall prospect and No.3 OL prospect.

Otton (6'5/240) earned first team all-conference honors this season, as he caught 18 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. And the redshirt junior wasn’t the only key contributor to announce that he would return for the 2021 campaign, as OL Jaxson Kirkland and EDGE Zion Tupuola-Fetui did so as well. Washington win the Pac-12 North, but was unable to play in the conference title game due to a rise in COVID-19 cases within the program. Jimmy Lake’s Huskies should once again be among the favorites to win the Pac-12 in 2021.

The Huskies had Trey Adams locked in as a starter -- when he was healthy, anyway -- at left tackle for the last four-plus years, and the player who will get the first crack at the position is Kirkland. He’s been a starter himself since his freshman year, but on the interior, not as a bookend that protects the blind side. Kirkland (6-7/322) handling that position would certainly be a big boost to Washington’s offense as they look to compete for a Pac-12 North title.