DeBoer Explains Departure of Husky Edge Rusher Sav'ell Smalls

Edge rusher Sav'ell Smalls' decision to leave the University of Washington football team revolved around playing time and he'd been in ongoing discussions with the coaching staff for some time regarding his situation, Husky coach Kalen DeBoer said.

This past week, Smalls entered the transfer portal rather than finish out spring football practice. In three seasons with the UW, he played in all 29 games held, but started just once as a freshman.

"That's what you always want, is the opportunity, to understand that the role that is in place for you or that you envision is what they want," DeBoer said. "I think it's always ongoing."

A 6-foot-3, 257-pound senior, Smalls not only faced the prospect of playing behind Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui, both one-time All-Pac-12 selections, he had to contend with a pair of promising players in sophomore Maurice Heims and Sioux Falls transfer Zach Durfee.

Smalls came to the Huskies as a vaunted 5-star prospect from Seattle's Kennedy Catholic High School who held 31 scholarship offers from nearly every major program in the country, among them Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. 

It will be interesting to see if he ends up with one of his previous suitors.

"We've been talking with Sav'ell for a while," DeBoer said. "He's a great person, a great kid. Obviously we're always wishing the guys the best. Hopefully, he finds a place that he really he feels good about and gets the opportunity he's looking for."

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