Mike Washington set for big season with Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE — Mike Washington Jr. is hoping to have an outstanding season with the Razorbacks this fall.

Washington came to Arkansas from New Mexico State where he split carries with another running back. In 2024, Washington rushed 157 times for 725 yards and eight touchdowns. He caught nine passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. This spring, Washington has adjusted to SEC Football from the Group of 5 and talked about the main difference following Saturday’s ninth spring practice.

“Competition level is definitely up there,” Washington said. “I’d say the difference between the G5 level and playing in the SEC is you the difference between O-line and D-line. They can move faster. They’re more twitchier at the D-end position. But at the end of the day, it’s competing.”

At Arkansas, he’s splitting carries with Braylen Russell among others. Russell is a sophomore from Benton.

“Well, Braylen, he’s a great guy,” Washington said. “Off the field, me and him joke a lot. We have a great relationship off the field, and the kind that translates on the field, too. The way he runs, strong, powerful, downhill runner, I kind of have that same attribute with a little more speed. With that, it’s just a 1-2 punch that I feel like is a very dangerous combo.”

Washington was asked what he felt were the reasons he hadn’t played at this level prior to Arkansas?

“Coming out of high school, I was highly recruited,” Washington said. “When I was a junior, I was highly recruited. But it was all G5 schools. After that, COVID ended up hitting. I remember like it was yesterday. Just before COVID, Texas A&M wanted me to come to one of their camps. Me and my family, we felt once they could see how I move, they’d probably end up offering me. Other schools also. But COVID ended up hitting and in New York, they shut everything down. I believe Texas, too. So that kind of like ended everything. I wasn’t able to visit any schools. Actually, when I had transferred to New Mexico State, that was my first official visit that I had ever taken. COVID kind of ruined a lot of things, but we’re still here.”

Washington also addressed the difference in practices from where he played before and at Arkansas.

“With me, like I said, the only difference is really the O-line and D-line,” Washington said. “Other than that, with me, I was going against, an All-American. I don’t know if you guys know him, Shaun Dolac, he was an All-American, led the nation in tackles last year. I was going against him my freshman year, sophomore year, every day. So I kind of got used to to that speed, that physicality. So that’s why it’s a part of my run game now. That just kind of instilled in my head that I’ve got to run hard. So it’s not much of a difference, secondary level. But I would say O-line and D-line.”

Washington had to learn new terminology at Arkansas. Each school has its own terminology.

“In terms of terminology on the field, everything is kind of the same,” Washington said. “I would say the only thing here is a lot of things are blocked differently. But inside zone will always be inside zone. Wide zone will always be wide zone. Running a stretch or running a diagonal will always be that at just about every level. It’s more so understanding the name of the play and like formation and how it’s ran, really, but that’s in terms of on the field.”

Washington almost didn’t end up at Arkansas since he was committed to another school prior to his visit to Fayetteville.

“I’m pretty sure everybody know, I was committed to Utah,” Washington said. “You know, one thing about me: once I’m committed somewhere that’s where I’m going. With them, it kinda was like they were holding off on me for some reason. I don’t know why. I don’t want to say why. Honestly, I don’t know why. I was able to get a visit here and right away I just felt like I was wanted. And that was like one of the main things: going somewhere where you’re wanted, you know, where they want you to be on the field. So that was like one of the main things that led me to come here. And then also academics. Making sure I could graduate and get my degree. So that was like, one of the main things.”

Washington was recruited to Arkansas by Kolby Smith who coaches the running backs.

“It went good,” Washington said. “He asked me, he’s like, ‘You want to play in the SEC?’ And it was like, one of them things was like, yeah, it was a no brainer. It’s kind of crazy because when, at New Mexico State last year, we had played A&M, and then I just remember thinking to myself, like, ‘I could play on this level.’ And then it was just, it kind of like worked itself out.”

Washington admits he has a chip on his shoulder this year as he prepares for Arkansas and SEC Football.

“Definitely got a chip on my shoulder,” Washington said. “I’m from New York, so that’s kind of like, the thing out there, having a chip on your shoulder. Especially with football, because New York is an overlooked state. So really being able to be on that stage and prove you know myself right, and you know everybody else wrong. You know, to look at New York, look at schools and high schools in New York, and players in New York because there’s talent, it’s just hidden.”

Washington and the Razorbacks will play the spring game on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.