Meet Dyson McCutcheon, the Husky with Great Football Genes

He follows in the football footsteps of his grandfather and father, who were both NFL players.

Just about everybody on the University of Washington football roster dreams about playing in the NFL. Yet only a handful of Huskies can describe what it's like to have a pro football influence in the family.

Put Dyson McCutcheon, Sam Adams II, the Bruener brothers Carson and Braydon, Gaard Memmelaar, Quentin Moore, Will Nixon, Camden Sirmon and Ryan Otton around a table and they could argue over whose NFL connection is greater. 

It might be McCutcheon's.

The UW sophomore free safety and hybrid Husky is the son of Daylon McCutcheon, who had an eight-year career as a Cleveland Browns cornerback. Even more impressive, Dyson is the grandson of the great Lawrence McCutcheon, a 5-time Pro Bowler, a 10-year pro and one of the pre-imminent running backs of the 1970s.

"I've heard a lot of good things," the youngest McCutcheon said of his grandpa. "I still keep in contact with him to this day. That's a great resource for me."

Adams, a running back, likewise has a grandfather and father — Sam Sr. and Sam — who played in the NFL, though as defensive and offensive linemen, and combined for 24 seasons with eight different teams.

The Brueners, both linebackers, can hold up their dad, Mark, a former Husky tight end who spent 14 seasons with the Steelers and Texans.

Asa Turner and Dyson McCutcheon make contact, using a blocking dummy / Skylar Lin Visuals

Otton is the younger brother of Cade, a tight end like him who just finished his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Moore, another Husky tight end, is the son of Mark Moore, a one-time Seattle Seahawks cornerback.

Nixon is a running back and the son of Jeff Nixon, currently the running-backs coach for the Carolina Panthers.

Sirmon, now a wide receiver after stints at running back and quarterback, is the nephew of Peter Sirmon, who had a seven-year career as a Tennessee Titans linebacker and is now the California defensive coordinator.   

And, finally, there's Memmelaar, an offensive guard whose great uncle, Dale Memmelaar, spent nine seasons in the NFL as a guard and a tackle with five teams in the 1960s and was known as "Big Mammo."

This 5-foot-11, 183-pound McCutcheon brings great speed to the Huskies, as well as good football genes, and he continues to work into the rotation at hybrid Husky along with Mishael Powell and Tristan Dunn. 

The Huskies used him in five games last season and these mostly were moments with the outcomes on the line. 

"Learning the playbook and knowing I'm going to compete out there, I feel like, no matter what, I'm going to give my all, especially for my team, and just help them win," McCutcheon said. 

"I'm very blessed to have guys who have been in the league in the family," he said. "They give me some tips and traits. I have heard things, all good things, about [Lawrence McCutcheon]. It's super cool that you know him.

. 

 

---

Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories — as soon as they’re published.

Not all stories are posted on the fan sites.

Find Inside the Huskies on Facebook by searching: Inside Huskies/FanNation at SI.com or https://www.facebook.com/dan.raley.12

Follow Dan Raley of Inside the Huskies on Twitter: @DanRaley1 or @UWFanNation or @DanRaley3

Have a question, direct message me on Facebook or Twitter.