Captain Durfee Sets Example for Other Huskies to Follow

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 6:01 PM ET

Some people might question how Zach Durfee could have such a glowing reputation as a University of Washington football player after playing in only seven career games, and barely more than a series or two in most of them.

Yet another indicator showed up over the weekend concering his football prowess, when he and his teammates were asked by coach Jedd Fisch in a meeting room to list six captains on a piece of paper and hand it in.

Well, the players know who's got the most talent and can be an impactful leader -- and Durfee, a 6-foot-5, 256-pound senior edge rusher from Dawson, Minnesota, emerged as one of the six team captains heading into Saturday night's opener against Colorado State. The honor was well received by him.

"It means a lot to me," he said on Tuesday. "It's sort of been a dream since I was a kid. To have your peers vote on it and choose you, it means a lot to me and I'm super grateful. I called my dad right away."

By now, Durfee's college football path is well known, full of too many obstacles yet still holding out great success as a carrot. He transferred to the UW from NCAA Division II Sioux Falls, sort like two levels down, and was good enough to play in Montlake right away.

Yet the NCAA penalized him for taking classes at North Dakota, ruling him a double transfer who had to sit out the 2023 season. He ended up making his UW debut against Texas in the Sugar Bowl and CFP semifinals 20 months ago. Of course, that rule no longer exists.

Last year, Durfee began the season as a Husky starter and had a breakout game against Eastern Michigan, coming up with 2.5 sacks and a near pick-6 in the flat. However, he got stepped on that day and it led to double turf-toe injuries that ended 2024 prematurely for him.

Now he's a captain and likely a season-opening starter once more with certain goals within reach.

"I guess I want to show I can play at this level and play at the next level," Durfee said. "It all comes down to staying healthy. I think we all know in this room that's the deal."

Durfee initially was a high school quarterback who made the transition to defense after his Sioux Falls line coach watched film of him dunking as a basketball player and saw possibilities. He was on board with it.

Yet the journey has been a little tougher than he could have imagined with all of this college football potential but two lost UW seasons to show for it.

He's been able to deal with it -- because that's what captains do.

"Man, I think it teaches you to work hard, put your head down and [know] things aren't always going to go your way," he said. "But it's how you respond to those things that says the most about you. If anything, it's made me feel like a better man."

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This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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