Washington feeling healthy, on track to graduate early, play safety at UM

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Stefan Adams

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2020 South Dade (FL) 3-star DB Keshawn Washington has spent a lot of his offseason working on improving his game and getting his body back to 100% after shoulder surgery.

“I’m working on getting my feet quicker, breaking down on routes better, getting faster, everything like that,” Washington said. “I’m feeling healthy. Shoulder’s getting better, back to lifting 225 regularly. It’s time to show out.”

Last season, South Dade went 10-3 and lost in the quarterfinals to Columbus, 54-28. The Buccaneers may have fallen short of their goals in 2018, but this year Washington is committed to finishing the job and ending his senior season on top.

“We’re winning states,” Washington said. “We’re ready - we got the offense, we got the defense, we got a lot coming back on the defense from last year. We’re getting better and better.”

Off the field in the recruiting world, Washington has been a Miami commit since March and the talented safety prospect been receiving more and more attention from head coach Manny Diaz in recent weeks.

“I talk to coach (Ephraim) Banda usually, but coach Diaz has been hitting me up lately, we’re talking,” Washington said. “They tell me to be loyal to Miami and they have a good spot for me there. They tell me to get healthy and work hard this year so I can see the field when I get there.”

In terms of other programs, Washington said he hasn’t really been focusing on schools outside of Miami, although he doesn’t rule out other official visits.

“I haven’t really been talking to other schools, probably Indiana and FSU a little, that’s it,” Washington said. “I’m thinking about taking an official visit to Florida State and that’d be it.”

The 6-2 175 pound prospect admits that it’d be tough to swing him from his UM commitment at this point, and that’s because of the family atmosphere at Miami.

“I love Miami because they treat you like family,” Washington said. “You can come back, you can workout when you go to the NFL. When you need a job, they help you out. Stuff like that.”

As a long and athletic defensive back that is sure to keep growing into his body, some have seen Washington eventually out-growing the safety position and ending up at striker at UM. However, he says the plan for now is still to keep him at safety when he hits Coral Gables.

“I don’t know for sure, but Banda is talking to me like I’m a safety right now,” Washington said.

Does Washington have a preference between safety and striker?

“It doesn’t matter because I can play anything on defense,” he said.

Washington spent part of his summer taking classes in order to graduate high school early and he is currently on track to be on campus for spring ball at Miami next year.

“Coach (David) Cooney told me it was good that I’m graduating early,” Washington said. “He told me to stay on track so I can get to Miami earlier.”

 
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I definitely think he profiles better as a safety playing in space rather than close to the LOS. Daran Branch is much better suited to be a striker in our system.
 
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I definitely think he profiles better as a safety playing in space rather than close to the LOS. Daran Branch is much better suited to be a striker in our system.

Branch is still up in the air. From cb, safety or striker.....but his cb upside is really intriguing. Big , physical cat with extremely long arms. Nice hips , especially for his length.

Our staff has a thing for long , physical cb’s. As do I.
 
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Branch is still up in the air. From cb, safety or striker.....but his cb upsets is really intriguing. Big , physical cat with extremely long arms. Nice hips , especially for his length.

Our staff has a thing for long , physical cb’s. As do I.
I won't be mad wherever they put him honestly cuz I think he's very underrated overall. Good athlete, tough, big hitter.
 
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Hope he is an EE as that 7-8 months of S&C and getting acclimated to the program is so helpful for freshmen to contribute.
 
Man forget all the important stuff like his size and measurables and him being an EE candidate. Let's hone in on the fact that he said "We're winning states" Lol ala Flemming interview several months back. I kid no more State, State's, States debate. Back to the interview, just hope he stays healthy and performs to his potential.
 
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