Freshman defensive tackle Derek Colman-Brusa is officially on On3’s Midseason True Freshman All-America Team, making a colossal impact in his first seven games. This isn’t just some recognition, folks. We’re talking about a kid who has completely redefined what it means to step onto a Big Ten field as a true freshman. The Emerald City has a new defensive force, and he’s just getting started.
From Kennedy Catholic to Big Ten Beast Mode, FAST
Let’s be real, this kid’s rise has been absolutely wild. Derek Colman-Brusa, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound product from our own Kennedy Catholic High School, basically hit campus and Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff immediately went, “Yeah, we need that in the middle of our D-line.” We saw it brewing, too. He grabbed the majority of first-team reps during both spring and fall camp. Then, boom, the season kicks off and he’s not just rotating, he’s starting *all seven games* for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. All seven! Seriously, before he even played a down, 247Sports had him on their Preseason True Freshman All-America Team. This isn’t just potential, this is pure, unadulterated performance right out of the gate.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, The Talent Shines
Colman-Brusa isn’t just taking up space out there, he’s disrupting everything. In those seven starts, he’s stacked up 11 tackles, with 2 for loss, a sack, and a crucial pass breakup. Those are legit numbers for anyone, let alone a true freshman playing in the Big Ten. The coaching staff has been raving about his physicality and his ability to pick up the game so fast, even while he’s anchoring that defensive front alongside Elinneus Davis and the transfer portal additions like Kai McClendon, Darin Conley, and DeSean Watts. Colman-Brusa himself kept it real, saying the biggest adjustment was “getting used to the pace of the game” and that it’s “a lot bigger in the Big Ten than it is in high school.” But credit where it’s due, he gave huge props to defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi and quality control coach Korey Rush for getting him to this level. Think about this: he’s the *only* member of Washington’s 2026 class to snag midseason Freshman All-America honors, even though Kodi Greene and Jeron Jones were on preseason lists. That tells you everything about this kid’s immediate, undeniable impact.
Seven games in and Derek Colman-Brusa is already making noise as a Midseason All-American. What are we going to see from this absolute beast by the end of the year? The Huskies are battling, and you know Colman-Brusa is going to be bringing that fire to the middle of the defensive line every single snap. This kid is the real deal, and he’s just getting started. Get ready, Huskies fans, this is gonna be an incredible ride watching him tear up the Big Ten.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply