South Alabama hybrid defender Aakil Washington signs with SMU
Former South Alabama and Liberty hybrid defender Aakil Washington has signed with SMU, On The Pony Express learned Saturday. Washington’s been in the transfer portal roughly a week now.
He played in all 13 games on the 2024 season with 10 starts. Washington totaled 41 tackles on the year, including a season-high six tackles in the road opener at Ohio.
Washington played for now SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons at Liberty. He played in 38 games for the Flames across four seasons, making 77 tackles, including 10 for loss. Washington recorded 5.5 sacks, including 4.5 in 2021. He forced one fumble and broke up three passes.
Washington is the latest piece to the puzzle for SMU’s new-look defensive line room. He adds some needed position versatility on the edges for the Mustangs.
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SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said the Mustangs needed to find out where the defensive production is going to be replaced in 2025 as spring practice came to an end.
“I think we’ve got a chance and I think we’ve got a long way to go, because it’s it’s hard to have the level of success we want to have. But I do think we have a team that has a chance. I think the biggest thing we have to figure out is where are we going to replace the production on the D-line, particularly the interior D-line. I think we have enough for turning players and incoming guys on the edges to still be really good. Where do we have, not only the production, but the depth at D-tackle. And I think linebacker. When you lose two linebackers of caliber we did, we like the guys that are back, it’s just a lot.
“That’s a lot of games, that’s a lot of tackles, that’s a lot of experience. So I think that’s the area on defense that we need, right up the middle. And we believe in the linebackers on our roster and we believe in the D linemen, getting them all healthy and all that, and some of the pieces coming in.”
