Mike Washington Jr. turning heads during fall camp
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas football team has several options to turn to at running back this coming season, and one is turning the heads of his teammates and coaches.
Mike Washington Jr., a transfer from New Mexico State, turned things on in the spring and has maintained that level through the first day of fall camp.
“Well, I just saw the same guy we saw in the spring,” Pittman said. “Everything they do in the summer is competition. And when they win, they get points. They’re going against somebody, it’s not the same guy every day, it’s just whomever we decide. The strength staff decides who’s the best competition for them. Mike had the most points this summer on the football team.
“And he wasn’t going against me. He was going against guys that can run as well. So, we expect a lot out of him, because we saw a lot of good things out of him in the spring. He’s earned the right to be where he’s at on the depth chart.”
Washington was a workhorse at New Mexico State last season and tallied 725 yards and eight touchdowns on 157 carries with the Aggies. He also added a receiving touchdown and didn’t fumble the ball once.
Arkansas defensive back Larry Worth III had high praise for the Hogs’ rusher, and said Washington is a hard worker.
“Only thing I can say about Mike Wash, he’s a dog,” Worth said. “I don’t use the word lightly, you know what I mean? He’s a real dog. He’s not going to say too much. He’s going to put his head down and work. I didn’t even know he had the most points this summer. But he stood up, Mike Wash had the most points, and he’s a dog.”
Arkansas offensive lineman Fernando Carmona Jr. will be one of the guys up front blocking for Washington this season. He said Washington’s work ethic over the summer stuck out to him.
“I think dog is the best way to say it,” Carmona said. “I actually had the pleasure of working out with him in one of the mornings. I think it was like week two of him being here. He had to work out early Friday morning for an early class, and I had to work out early for some reason, and I had to work out with him, and I was struggling to keep up.
“Just the way he throws around weight, I was like, ‘Man, this dude is something special.’ Like you said, he’s a dog and I’m excited for you guys to see him on Saturday because he’s going to put up some highlights for sure.”
Washington and the rest of the Razorbacks will get back on the practice field on Saturday morning for Day 2 of fall camp. Be sure to stay tuned to HawgBeat for more coverage of Arkansas football.
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