It’s been a long road for Julius Irvin in his time at Washington.
The son of 11-year NFL veteran cornerback LeRoy Irvin, who spent all but one season of his career with the Los Angeles Rams from 1980-89, signed with the program as part of the 2018 recruiting class out of Servite High School in Anaheim, California.
At 6-foot-1 and 177-pounds, the younger Irvin played much of his high school career at safety and was recruited by more than two dozen schools to do so at the next level. However, he did at times fill in where the coaches needed him which meant some sparse time at cornerback.
Fast forward to the 1:03 mark in third quarter against Kent State. Senior Jordan Perryman came up limping as he went towards the Golden Flashes sideline after they had completed a pass inside the UW 35-yard line.
In the two weeks leading up to the season opener the Husky coaches approached Irvin about a move to cornerback for the fifth-year junior.
“I was excited for the challenge,” Irvin said. “The great legacy they have here at UDub for DB’s, and cornerback’s especially. I was excited to take on the challenge. Ever since then I’ve been working my ass off every day to perfect my craft and carry on in that role.”
Over the previous four seasons the former four-star defensive back has played in five or more games just once – 2021, starting in only two games at home against Montana and at Michigan the following weekend.
With limited options at outside cornerback in fall camp UW had to get creative. Irvin has been listed as the backup free safety along with redshirt freshman Makell Esteen on the depth chart.
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Both players saw the field against Kent State. Esteen recorded his first career interception in just his second career game with 5:18 remaining in the fourth quarter against the Golden Flashes. The veteran Irvin played 34 snaps in the opener and was only targeted once in 18 coverage plays.
UW co-defensive coordinator William Inge acknowledged Monday that playing Irvin at cornerback is in part to get the best players on the field, and part due to the depth at the position as a whole.
“It’s kind of one of those, what you have is what you can work with. And what we have to work with we’re just kind of putting the different pieces of the puzzle in play,” Inge said this week.
One unique element to Irvin is his knowledge of the game. Second, his confidence, is exactly what you want a cornerback to have.
The combination is what sets him apart.
“I like being on the island,” Irvin said. “I like being out wide. I feel like I can really run with guys. I can get hands on. I think of myself as a more physical guy on the line. Someone who is going to be physical in tackling.”
UW head coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday that Perryman remains day-to-day, but the coaching staff is hopeful he can play Saturday against Portland State. It would be expected that what game time – if any – the senior does get against the Vikings that its limited with the final non-conference matchup against Michigan State looming next weekend.
The Huskies do have a few other options at cornerback based on how things played out in the season opener. Redshirt freshmen Dyson McCutcheon and Devon Banks both got game time against Kent State and factor to see time Saturday as well.
True freshman cornerback Jaivion Green also made an appearance in the season opener. He was one of two true freshmen to see the field along with defensive lineman Jayvon Parker.
