NCAA Denies Durfee Bid to Play for UW Right Away, Appeal Filed

The edge rusher has been labeled a double transfer.

Of those on the University of Washington football roster who appear ready to play, everyone has been able to show off his talents so far this season with the exception of one guy — Zach Durfee.

And it still might be a while before that happens in Montlake.

On Monday, Husky coach Kalen DeBoer said the NCAA last week denied Durfee's request to play immediately as a transfer for the UW, forcing the athletic department to file an appeal.

At issue is this: Durfee has been classified as a double transfer — with previous stops at North Dakota State and Sioux Falls — and the college governing body has determined he will have to sit out this season and even lose a year of eligibility, leaving him with two.

The UW is protesting that the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Durfee attended North Dakota State for a semester and didn't even play football because of the COVID pandemic before spending two seasons at NCAA Division II Sioux Falls, one as a redshirt.

The Huskies want him eligible right away, according to DeBoer, for the following reason: "He's a big guy who can run."

A late bloomer as an defensive player, Durfee was a high school quarterback in Dawson, Minnesota, who came to Sioux Falls, where DeBoer played and coached, originally as a tight end. 

Ultimately, he was converted to edge rusher, dominated last season and decided to play up a level or a couple of levels and transferred to the UW.

Durfee arrived for spring football and showed himself to be extra physical in scrimmage play, but he's been relegated to spectator for the Huskies' first four games. 

"We're keeping him very involved," DeBoer said. "He's taken some reps to work in and stay sharp. He brings a great mindset. He knows there's a lot of football for him down the road."

Had he become eligible, Durfee would have played on the edge and on special teams, the coach said.

The NCAA, after allocating extra seasons to players nationwide because of the pandemic intrusion, giving the Huskies several sixth-year seniors this season, has taken a different stance and cracked down on transfers such the new UW edge rusher as of late. 

Durfee's only real misstep appears to be his timing in all of this. 

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