Darnell Washington ready to start tapping into potential as 'unique' player
INDIANAPOLIS — Anybody that’s seen Darnell Washington over the last few years at Georgia knows that this dude is different. Tight ends that are 6-foot-7, 270 pounds don’t just grow on trees.
That’s part of the reason Washington still has so much left to show the world. After spending three seasons in Athens playing under Todd Monken and the Bulldog offense, Washington is off to the NFL with untapped potential. Many believe he’ll be better in the NFL than he was NCAA, and it sounds like Washington might be one of those.
“I feel like I’m only scratching the surface,” Washington said on Friday when speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I feel like I’m a good blocker but I feel like I could turn into a great blocker. I feel like I’m a good athlete currently but I feel like I’m going to turn into a great athlete. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface.”
Washington posted career-best numbers in 2022. Combining for 17 catches, 320 yards and a single score in his first two seasons on campus in Athens, the Las Vegas, Nevada native had 28 catches, 454 yards and two touchdowns this past season alone. That also came in the same offense as the nation’s top tight end Brock Bowers.
“I take a lot of pride in it. I embraced it,” Washington said about taking a backseat role at times in the passing game and being a great blocker at his size. “I knew at the University of Georgia I wasn’t getting 40-50 catches; we had Brock Bowers, Ladd (McConkey). There’s only one football. You can’t give it to everyone. I embraced the role in blocking. That’s the mindset there.”
“I feel like I have lots of untouched talent when it comes to that area,” he added, talking about his potential as a pass catcher. “In high school I was getting the ball 60 times a season. From that, coming to college and not so much in that area. When I tap into that potential, that’s going to be crazy to see.”
Yes Darnell, it will be crazy to see. That’s what everybody was thinking already as the massive freak of nature was hurdling over people this past season. That athleticism at his size comes as a result of his past, playing other sports and other positions.
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“Being a multi-sport athlete helps my as a tight end in every way,” Washington said. “In basketball, boxing people out. That transitions to the football field. When it’s a jump ball you have to box them out. I did shot put, and I don’t really know how that helps with being a tight end. Volleyball, jumping, that helps with jumping and things like that.”
“When I was little I played running back then I played left tackle. Then I moved to receiver. I played d-end my entire life so I was always on both sides of the ball,” he continued. “Really I just started running back to tackle to receiver for 3,4,5, years then receiver to tight end when I started putting on weight.”
As Washington continues to grow into his role as a tight end with whoever picks him this coming April in the NFL Draft, don’t be surprised if you see special things. It’s come natural to Washington all of his life. And don’t be surprised if you start to see some of those crazy things on display today when he takes the field at the Combine. Washington and the tight ends will go through on-field workouts including the 40-yard dash and positional drills alongside quarterbacks and receivers starting at 1:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
“I feel like I’m the most unique tight end here; I’m not saying I’m the best,” Washington said. “I’m very humble. It’s just when you talk about size, I’m bigger, heavier than most of the tight ends. You’ll just have to see the 40.”
