CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Desmond Trufant has yet to play a down in the NFL, but life in the league is nothing new for this cornerback prospect out of Washington.
Desmond's older brother, Marcus Trufant, is a 10-year veteran cornerback with the Seattle Seahawks. A second brother, Isaiah, is a defensive back with the New York Jets.
"It's an advantage that not too many other players have," Desmond told Around The League on Wednesday. "Not too many people have two older brothers in the league. Just picking their brains, watching them and ... seeing how confident (they are) on the field puts more confidence in me. I see my brothers having success, I feel that I can have success, too."
Desmond was 12 when Marcus was snatched up by the Seahawks in the first round of the 2003 draft. Going to Seahawks games ever since has been a way of life; hovering close to players and coaches in NFL locker rooms is a familiar drill. The lineage makes Desmond -- Mike Mayock's No. 3 corner in the draft -- an attractive prospect, but so does his play.
"I feel I'm honestly one of the best corners out there in this class," said Desmond, who started 45 consecutive games at one point for the Huskies.
Desmond showed versatility at Washington, lining up both in the slot and outside and showing prowess in coverage. He thrived at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine after earning the reputation as a battler in college. Desmond told me he models his play after some guy named Darrelle Revis.
"Revis, you know, you can just put him on an island," Desmond said. "You know, just lock down this side of the field. Lock this receiver, we're not going to worry about him. I feel like I can do that."
Fair enough, but that will require a nickname.
"They called me 'Tru's Island' after the Stanford game," Desmond said. "That's what my coaches were telling me."
Heady stuff -- and premature -- but if he lives up to expectations, fans of at least one NFL team wil have an island to call their own.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
