“I needed to clear my mind, I was stressed seeing the picks drop down and my name not being called,” Huff stated. “I looked over the tree line, cleared my mind, and focused on how I wasn’t going to let going undrafted define who I was as a player.”
Huff received a three-year contract from the Eagles four years later as a result of his outstanding on-field performance and tenacity off-field.
At four years old, Huff—who was born and reared in Alabama—had the pads on. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother Jordan, who went on to play football for Northern Illinois University in college.
“I always watched my brother growing up and when I got to that age, I was able to play ball,” Huff stated.
The 25-year-old had initially committed to play for the University of South Alabama in his hometown on a collegiate level. He left Mobile for Memphis after having a late change of heart. Mike Norvell, the head coach of the University of Memphis, persuaded Huff to change. Arizona State University, which was led at the time by Norvell, made Huff one of its offers. Huff saw it as obvious when Norvell transferred from the Sun Belt to the American Athletic Conference.
Huff played outside linebacker for Memphis during his first three years of college. From St. Paul’s Episcopal School, he had experience playing this position. Huff switched to a “hand-in-the-dirt” defensive end as a senior.
In his last two seasons at Memphis, he burst into the scene, wrecking havoc in
While preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft, Huff’s agent told him that he could be a Day 3 pick. As the rounds wound down, he received a call from the Jets. When the phone rings for a draft prospect, it is usually from the general manager of their future team telling them they are being selected with an upcoming pick. On the other line of Huff’s phone was a Jets coach expressing his interest in signing him as an undrafted free agent.
The Jets kept their promise, signing Huff as an undrafted free agent at the end of the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the challenges of being an undrafted free agent increased as Huff began his NFL career during the COVID-19 pandemic. Huff lost out on the opportunity to have his Pro Day and the chance to show off his skills in preseason. Through all the adversity, Huff made the Jets’ 53-man roster as a rookie. Huff credited former Jets defensive assistant Blake Williams for helping him learn the playbook and teaching him the ins and outs of being in the NFL.
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