TALLAHASSEE – Florida State offensive approach Darius Washington found out that in his first college game he would get the week of the Seminoles Road game Wake up Forest last October.
That gave him time to think, and perhaps remember, that led to the match.
First year. First college game. On the road. Against a conference team. Once he was told he was about to get into the game – to starter Jauan Williams was pulled when he handed over a case without even looking at his assigned defender – the nerves of Washington grabbed steam.
“There were a lot of emotions going on,” Washington said.
On his first ride, Washington got a defensive end from within … and that pressure led to an escaped throw from James Blackman, which in turn led to an interception at a station where FSU marched into the field.
But it was Washington’s response that drew a clear picture of what he could develop as a player. On the next ride, Washington closes off an edge-to-edge, and spits him back to his neighbor guard to give Blackman enough time to make a touchdown box across the field.
Washington did exactly what you want from an inexperienced newcomer: He responded to opposition.
“There were just a lot of things around me. As the game went on, I just slowed down and came back to myself and said to myself, ‘OK, these first few plays are ready, you see how everything goes, just play , ‘”Said Washington.
The Pensacola resident started the next three games of FSU before shutting things down for the season to maintain his redshirt status while cleaning up a shoulder injury that required surgery. Washington, in that team, was not perfect – he thought he sometimes did well in both pass pro and a run blocker, although he knows his technique and strength need to be built – but he demonstrated the athleticism, effort and mental resolution that ‘. t FSU for the first time in years could give a fundamental piece to left tackle.
“Darius is very athletic. He is a boy who can lift his feet off the ground fairly quickly, change direction, ”offensive line coach Alex Atkins said earlier this week. ‘I saw that in the training sessions where you see him running, changing direction. I am very impressed with his movement. It’s just building up his strength, coming off shoulder surgery. He is 100 percent ready to go. I’m envious of watching because I even see his athleticism shown in these last two practices.
‘He can move, run things like that. Really see if he can put the physical part in it. But as an athlete, I believe he can be an elite athlete. ”
Washington missed the FSU’s three practices in the spring while looking over his shoulder again, but he was ‘full-go’ on the first day of pads on Sunday.
“It felt good to be back to get back to physical contact,” he said.
The redshirt freshman is expected to hit a starting spot at left tackle this season. Each time he gets his first action in the 2020 game, Washington will have the newfound luxury of all experience.
“I can see things more slowly and I can play without the nerves,” Washington said. “Jitters from first game are gone. Now I can go out and play. ”
