Darnell Washington displays elite toughness in title game
LOS ANGELES — The biggest storyline coming into Georgia’s National Championship Game clash against TCU was the health of tight end Darnell Washington. Would he play or would he watch from the sidelines? The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Las Vegas, Nevada native was as close to home as he had ever been before in his Georgia career. Kirby Smart knew he wanted to play, but on Tuesday – less than 24 hours after Georgia secured its second straight National Championship – Smart shared what exactly went into Washington’s participation in the 65-7 win.
“I think our training staff did a phenomenal job. They can do the greatest job in the world, but if the player doesn’t want to buy into that, then it’s probably not going to happen,” Smart said. “He was not able to practice the entire time we were in Athens. We came to LA. He ran with the team and ran decent on the first day we were here. And then he practiced. And we felt like there was going to be a good chance he was going to be able to play. There was no chance of doing any more damage.”
Washington played 43 snaps according to Pro Football Focus, just slightly lower than his average of 44.7 snap per game. He caught one pass for 28 yards, a third quarter reception that got Georgia inside the TCU red zone. Three plays later Stetson Bennett completed to Ladd McConkey for a touchdown, the final of his collegiate career. So, for Smart, seeing Washington out there playing his part was a sign of just how far he had come, arriving on campus a freshman focused only on making it to the NFL and maturing into a team-player over the course of his career.
“Darnell is a classic guy that came to Georgia with the sole purpose of having an opportunity at the NFL. He wanted to play in the NFL,” Smart said. “By the time he left, he was one of the toughest players we had. Missouri, his shoulder pops out, and he will not come out of the game. I mean, he made two probably career-defining catches against Missouri, contested catches, with a shoulder that was hurt and he wouldn’t come out. LSU, he gets cut. He’s 6’7″ and they cut him at his ankles and shins, nothing worse than that, and he’s waving people off – I’m not coming out; like, I’m pissed off.”
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“To see that growth and to see him care about winning the game last night, like, he played last night selflessly,” Smart continued. “Not a lot of throws targeted for Darnell. It was blocking and covering people up. And that part will always hold a special place in my heart for the sacrifices he made for our team.”
Smart’s quotes certainly are indicative of what everybody who’s followed Georgia this season expects as for Washington’s future: he’ll be headed pro after this season with an announcement likely coming in the next couple of days. Washington will finish his career up a champion though, playing in his last game as opposed to sitting on the sideline and showcasing the kind of development both on and off the field Kirby Smart desires for players in his program.
