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Jack Westover originally was a walk-on player for the University of Washington football team.
He's not always a starter at tight end, giving way to Devin Culp.
Yet this 6-foot-3, 247-pound senior from Bellevue, Washington, might just end up as one of those unsung yet overly resourceful Huskies who sneaks into the draft and spends much of a decade in the NFL.
Since he redshirted way back in 2018, Westover has been a steady contributor for UW teams coached by three different leaders.
They've marveled at his versatility and athleticism, been forced to give him a scholarship and will call on him whenever they need a big play. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb described Westover as "wildly athletic" after first watching him on film.
"From a competitive mindset, I've always felt I could compete with anybody," the tight end said.
Going down the roster from No. 0 to 99, Westover, who wears No. 37 all to himself, is next up in a series of profiles about each of the Huskies' scholarship players and assorted walk-ons, summing up their spring football performances and surmising what might come next for them.
Westover came to the Huskies after playing just two games of high school football, choosing to concentrate on basketball initially and then breaking his collarbone once he pulled on a helmet and pads for Mount Si High School in North Bend, Washington.
UW football followers first noticed him when Chris Petersen begin using the newcomer as a blocking fullback and then had Jacob Eason throw a 3-yard touchdown to him at Arizona in 2019. Westover was a redshirt freshman.
During the height of the pandemic, Westover started two of the four games and curiously ran the ball (5 carries for 22 yards) more than he caught it (one catch for 9 yards) for the Huskies in 2020.
Injuries helped destroy the 2021 UW team and Jimmy Lake's coaching career and Westover was not exempt from this, appearing in just seven of the 12 games. He started one game — at Michigan, where he caught 2 passes for 11 yards and ran once for 3 yards.
It took Grubb's multi-dimensional offensive set to properly use Westover and gain the full benefits from him. He played in 13 games last fall, started five and finished as the Huskies' fourth-leading receiver with 31 catches for 342 yards and a touchdown. He trailed only the UW's three starting wide receivers in catches.
"This offense gives the tight end a little more finesse, I'd say," Westover said. "It's been a really good fit for me."
Westover was productive from start to finish, catching a career-best 5 receptions for 49 yards in a 49-39 victory over Arizona. He entertained the Husky Stadium crowd that day by leaping over a defensive back after a catch.
He caught his second career TD pass against Oregon State, a wide-open 24-yarder to help rally the Huskies to a 24-21 victory.
Not bad for a walk-on with almost no high school football experience, but, yes, wildly athletic.
JACK WESTOVER FILE
Service: A sixth-year senior, Westover has played in 37 Husky games, starting 8. Only intermittent injuries have held him back.
Stats: Westover has career stats of 41 receptions for 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns, plus 6 carries for 25 yards. With the Grubb/DeBoer offense, his ball-carrying days likely are over.
Role: He basically rotates with fellow sixth-year senior Devin Culp as the starter and that situation shouldn't change. Both are highly capable players. Both have a chance to be NFL players.
Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories — as soon as they’re published.
More must-reads:
- Clemson’s Dabo Swinney gives smug response about not using transfer portal
- NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
- The 'Most triple-doubles in the postseason' quiz
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