From aspiring dentist to "Prospect X," rookie Zach Durfee is refining his raw athleticism by shadowing elite pass-rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie defensive end Zach Durfee is adjusting to the NFL with the help of veterans and said he is enjoying the experience.
The Jaguars drafted Durfee with the 233rd pick in the seventh round. Durfee became ESPN's 2026 iteration of "Prospect X," a recurring NFL Draft feature written by Kalyn Kahler after months of searching for the draft's most overlooked hidden gem.
Now, in Jacksonville, the 6-foot-5 defensive end said he is having a lot of fun being challenged. He is learning under talented veterans like Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
"Just trying to pick non-stop pieces from all the vets and guys older than me," Durfee told Action Sports Jax's Mia O'Brien on Thursday. "It's just a learning experience, but being in the NFL is really cool. I'm having a lot of fun. I'm being challenged extremely hard, learning new techniques, new defense, being an NFL player, like it's challenging, but I'm having a lot of fun facing that."
Durfee is learning how to refine his pass-rushing techniques and develop his skill set to become a contributor. He spent his final collegiate season at Washington, where he tallied 37 tackles (16 solo), four sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defended.
Jacksonville's 233rd pick is a raw, but athletic talent, who shows promise for his career. However, Durfee didn't think he'd become an NFL player after focusing on becoming a dentist.
"I think back to North Dakota State when I was just a normal student sitting in my dorm," Durfee said. "I was a bio major. I wanted to be a dentist, and I was grinding all my biology and chemistry classes, and I can still remember studying hard for those COVID online exams. So thinking back to that kid to now is pretty crazy."
Things changed quickly for Durfee, and now he is learning from some of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. The Jaguars recently extended Walker with a four-year, $110 million contract extension. Hines-Allen recorded 80 pressures last season, tying for fourth in the league.
Although it may be a while before the former Husky earns meaningful snaps on the football field, his veterans are guiding him toward that outcome. Durfee had high praise for the older players mentoring him without ego.
"All the older guys have done a great job of coaching us," Durfee said. "It's not like, 'Oh, I don't want to take my spot or stuff.' It's like helping me non-stop. Josh, Travon, Danny (Striggow) and B.J. (Green II). All of them honestly have done a great job."
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