2020 5-star TE Darnell Washington was out competing against some of the top competition in the country at the Opening Finals two weeks back. While the Desert Pines (NV) star made a few highlight reel plays, Washington still felt like he left a few opportunities on the table.
“I think I did good, I scored a touchdown early on,” Washington said. “It’s just the rotation - I think I could do better, but I’m not playing the whole game, only 2 or 3 drives per game, but I think I did good.”
Washington made his second cross-country visit to Coral Gables to check out the University of Miami and compete in UM’s annual Paradise Camp during the last weekend before the dead period in late June. Even though some time has passed since that visit, Washington says he’s still very high on UM.
“Miami’s always been there since it’s Tight End U,” Washington said. “I played a little throw and catch with Tyler Van Dyke, he’s a good player, good 2020 quarterback coming in, smart. Coach (Stephen) Field is a good dude. They’re just good all around, they got Brevin Jordan from Las Vegas, he’s from where I’m from. He says it feels like home and he’s from Vegas, so I don’t know, it’s just that feel.”
Just a few days before his Miami visit, the 6-8 260 pound prospect took a trip to LSU and described meeting with the Tigers’ coaching staff.
“It was good, it was great, they showed me the new playbook they’re going to be using this season,” Washington said. “But I don’t really go based off what the coaches say, I’ve got to see it for myself. They can say it, they can tell me, but I’ve got to see it.”
When asked to elaborate more on that, Washington gave an intriguing answer.
“Their plan is great for tight ends, but that’s everyone’s plan, it’s what all the coaches tell me,” Washington said. “It’s not all the exact same, but some schools will tell me this, tell me that, while some schools actually do it. Like Miami, they already pass to the tight end, Georgia, schools like that.”
Because schools like Miami and Georgia have already proven they will feature the tight end, Washington says they are two programs that he knows will get an official visit.
“I want to go to Georgia, Miami… I mean, I got more than 5 (I want to visit) so I’ve got to narrow it down, but some I will take are Georgia, Miami,” Washington said. “I’m also considering Bama, Auburn, Tennessee, LSU… it’s pretty much my top 12, I want to take all of them, but we only get 5 so I have to break it down from there.”
Washington says he plans to release a top 6 “soon” and will decide his official visits from there. The jumbo pass catcher is planning to take all his OV’s during a team’s home game to see firsthand how the coaching staff acts and how the offense runs on gameday.
“With the officials, I’m taking all my visits during a game week, so I just want to see how the coaches react if the tight ends mess up, how they get the tight ends the ball, what formation they run - 12, 11, 10,” Washington said.
After his officials, Washington anticipates he will make an announcement of his decision at the Under Armour game in January. At the Opening Finals combine testing, he recorded a 4.75 40-yard dash, a 4.50 shuttle, and a 31.3 inch vertical leap.
