2020 Jets Rookie Profile: Bryce Huff

Huff will enter the Jets’ training camp fighting a tough fight for his place in the 53-man roster. However, Huff has one of the most impressive resumes amongst New York’s wave of undrafted signees. This makes him a surprise contender for a permanent job in the NFL.

Collegiate Career (Memphis)

During his four-year career with the Tigers, Huff gradually transformed into more of a pass-rushing-type of outside linebacker. Eventually, he became one of the most dominant edge-rushers in all of ACC conference in his last two seasons with the team. Since the start of the 2018 season, Huff has recorded 16 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss.

Constantly attacking off the edges as a part of a 3-4 defensive scheme, Huff was able to duplicate a terrific 2018 campaign last year. In 2018, Huff was second within the conference in tackles for loss (19) and third in sacks (9.5). He only continued to dominate the next year and remained in the top ten in both categories. Huff finished his collegiate career seventh in sacks and eighth in tackles for loss in conference history.

What He Brings to the Team

From Jets Undrafted Free Agents Tracker:

“Much like Jackson, experts also projected Huff to go in the middle or late rounds but that was far from reality. In the past two years, Huff has recorded over 15 tackles for loss each and ranks eighth in AAC conference history with 40. In addition, he also has 16 sacks since the start of the 2018 campaign.”

There were other great edge-rushers deep in that draft class and it was difficult for Huff to stand out. The main difference between him and Jets’ third-rounder Jabari Zuniga is Dan Mullen’s 4-3 system in Florida which saw dominant powers like Zuniga and Jonathan Greenard join forces. Huff’s familiarity with a 3-4 formation, as well as his statistical accomplishments, could play a huge role in his efforts of remaining with the team in the long term.

Huff, as a player, is even more similar to the Jets’ 2019 sack leader, Jordan Jenkins. Both are more typical coming off the edges from the outside linebacker position. In comparison, Zuniga’s nature is being a defensive end all the way. This only makes it interesting how Gregg Williams will utilize all three of them. Meanwhile, the question of who will play more remains, and Huff certainly has no advantage.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths – One-on-one off the edge, Empty-area tackling

Weakness – Flexibility, Range

How He Fits With the Jets

Jackson and Huff were the two biggest signings in this year’s class of undrafted free agents. Both are in for a tough and competitive race for a spot on the 53-man roster.

However, Bryce Huff is definitely in a better situation. While the secondary is way deeper than last year, the pool of pass-rusher can use some depth. Huff is unlikely to have any chance of getting a starting job. Nevertheless, he is a decent bet to make the September roster as a depth piece behind Jenkins and Zuniga, as well as to back up the front three.