Position: Cornerback Name Desmond Trufant Height 1.83 m | Weight: 190 lb (86 kg) College: Washington | |
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Date of birth: (1990-09-10) September 10, 1990 (age 25) High school: Tacoma (WA) Woodrow Wilson Role American football cornerback Current team Atlanta Falcons (#21 / Cornerback) Siblings Marcus Trufant, Isaiah Trufant Nieces Kimora Trufant, Karmyn Trufant Similar People Robert Alford, Marcus Trufant, William Moore, Isaiah Trufant, Matt Bryant Profiles | ||
Education University of Washington Place of birth: Tacoma, Washington | ||
Meet the Atlanta Falcons New Cornerback Desmond Trufant
Desmond Trufant (born September 10, 1990) is an American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Falcons in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington.
Contents
- Meet the Atlanta Falcons New Cornerback Desmond Trufant
- Early years
- College career
- 2013 NFL Draft
- Atlanta Falcons
- Personal life
- References
Early years
Trufant attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington. He was named first-team all-state by the Seattle Times following his senior season, and also earned a spot on the Seattle Times preseason all-state team. He was named to the All-Narrows League first team as both a running back and cornerback as a senior, after posting 47 tackles and eight interceptions as a junior, when he was an All-Narrows League first-team cornerback.
Trufant was also a standout long jumper and triple jumper on the Rams' track team, and took second place in the Class 4A state track meet in the triple jump (46 feet, 5.75 inches) and 11th in the long jump (21 feet, 2.25 inches) as a junior in 2008. He also played basketball at Wilson, earning second-team all-league as a junior.
Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Trufant was rated the 56th best cornerback in the nation. He accepted a scholarship to Washington over offers from Arizona State, Oregon and Washington State, brother Marcus' alma mater.
College career
Trufant attended the University of Washington, where he played for the Washington Huskies football team from 2009 to 2012. As a senior, he was a first-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection. The Huskies were ranked No.16 in the nation (second in the Pac-12) in pass defense (188.9 yards allowed per game) at the end of the regular 2012 college football season.
2013 NFL Draft
Trufant was drafted in the first round with the 22nd overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons signed him to a four-year deal worth $8.16 million. Trufant received a signing bonus of $4.31 million. He finished his rookie season with 70 tackles, of which 55 were solo and 15 were assisted, 17 passes defended, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He exceeded expectations, being ranked eighth out of all cornerbacks in the league by Pro Football Focus.
In the 2015 season, Trufant recorded his first career sack when he sacked Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. That season, Trufant received his first Pro Bowl selection when was named an alternate to the 2016 Pro Bowl.
Trufant started all nine games he played in 2016 before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was placed on injured reserve on November 29, 2016.
In the 2016 season, Trufant's Falcons would reach Super Bowl LI. Against the New England Patriots, the Falcons would fall in a 34–28 overtime defeat.
On April 8, 2017, Trufant signed a five-year extension with the Falcons worth $69 million and $42 million guaranteed.
In Week 2 of the 2017 season, Trufant intercepted Aaron Rodgers in the final minute of the second quarter to set up a touchdown just before halftime. He also recovered a fumble off a strip sack by Vic Beasley and returned 15 yards for a touchdown, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Personal life
Trufant's brothers, Marcus and Isaiah, have both played cornerback in the NFL.