Vea is one of a handful of underclassmen considering early entry into the NFL draft.
If his dominant performance in the Huskies’ Apple Cup rout of the Cougars was any indication, Vita Vea looks ready to take on NFL competition.
He’s just not quite ready to announce his intentions to do so.
Vea, a fourth-year junior, is all but guaranteed to declare for the NFL draft after the Huskies play Penn State in the Dec. 30 Fiesta Bowl. UW coach Chris Petersen asks underclassmen not to make any such announcements before the bowl game.
“You know I can’t say anything about that,” Vea told reporters Monday. “We have a game left. I’m trying to focus on that. I can’t think about that right now. Just focus on Penn State and the bowl game.”
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Vea, a 346-pound defensive lineman, is projected as the No. 21 overall selection in next spring’s draft by ESPN’s Todd McShay.
Vea is one of a handful of underclassmen considering early entry into the NFL draft. Running back Myles Gaskin, defensive lineman Greg Gaines, offensive tackle Kaleb McGary and safety Jojo McIntosh could all leave early, too.
The Huskies lost four underclassmen to the NFL after the 2016 season — Budda Baker, Sidney Jones, Elijah Qualls and John Ross. UW announced their departures four days after the Peach Bowl.
Vea toyed with the idea of leaving for the NFL after last season, when some projected him as a mid-second-round pick. He came back after several discussions with defensive-line coach Ikaika Malloe — and one in particular over burgers at The RAM Restaurant at U Village.
Vea’s decision to stay in school another year should pay off. As a possible mid-second-round selection in 2017, Vea could have earned a contract worth roughly $5 million, plus a $2 million signing bonus. As the projected 21st pick in 2018, he would be in line for an $11 million contract, plus a $6 million signing bonus.
Vea is expected to impress scouts at the NFL combine with his rare combination of size, speed and strength, which could vault him into top-10 consideration by the time the draft arrives next April.
Earlier this month, Vea was named Pac-12’s defensive player of the year.
“Very proud of him to take on that task — of what people thought was already good and trying to make it better,” Malloe said Monday. “I think he did everything we had for his goals … and he’s really focused on this game.”