As the Washington Huskies gear up for their third season in the Big Ten under head coach Jedd Fisch, the running back room is undergoing a major shakeup. With the graduation of star rusher Jonah Coleman and the departure of Adam Mohammed through the transfer portal, the Huskies are looking for their next playmaker in the backfield.
Enter sophomore Jordan Washington—a name that might not be on every national radar just yet, but one that ESPN's Kyle Bonagura believes could be the Huskies' breakout star this fall. "He might not be under the radar in Seattle, but with just 30 carries over the past two seasons, Washington has not emerged on the national scene," Bonagura wrote.
What makes Washington such an intriguing prospect? For starters, the kid can flat-out fly. As a high school senior, he finished second in the 100-meter dash at the California state track meet with a blistering personal best of 10.31 seconds. That elite speed translated directly to the football field, where he was a four-star recruit out of Jordan High in Long Beach. Last season, Washington averaged an eye-popping 8.6 yards per carry on just 27 attempts—a stat that screams "big-play potential" every time he touches the ball.
Despite those numbers, Washington was never a consistent part of the rotation. But with the top two backs from last year gone, opportunity is knocking. Even with the additions of transfer running backs Jayden Limar (Oregon) and Trey Cooley (Troy), Washington's explosive ability makes him a prime candidate for an expanded role.
However, there's a hurdle. Washington suffered a neck injury early in spring practice and is currently in a neck brace. Coach Fisch provided a cautious update: "Right now, we're just on a day-to-day with Jordan, waiting to see how he does once he gets his neck brace off. Then we'll make a decision on his rehab, and whether he can participate in training camp. We'll see how it goes from there."
Despite the setback, Washington's gratitude and determination remain strong. In a recent post, he shared: "Thank you God and the UW community. So grateful to be a Dawg! Best family to be a part of! Thankful for my coaches and staff in walking this journey with me, the most loving staff to be a part of! #godawgs"
If Washington can recover in time for training camp, his combination of track-star speed and explosive running could make him one of the most exciting players to watch in the Big Ten this season. For Huskies fans—and fantasy football enthusiasts—he's a name worth remembering.