FAYETTEVILLE — When the Arkansas football team landed running back Mike Washington during the winter portal cycle, there were plenty of unknowns about the New Mexico State transfer.
Washington’s speed, durability and bruising running style with the Aggies made him a good complement for fellow All-Conference USA selection Seth McGowan, who transferred to Kentucky. The SEC-bound duo split carries and paced a New Mexico State rushing attack that ranked third in CUSA averaging 180 yards per game.
Washington recorded career bests in rushing yards (725), carries (157) and touchdowns (8) last year, but that was in a smaller conference.
Can his production translate at Arkansas?
Though that question persists, the 6-2, 228-pound tailback has done plenty in spring and fall camps to earn the confidence of his coaches.
During an event last month in Little Rock, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino went so far as to compare the running back to one of his former stars: Knile Davis.
Many remember Davis for his 2010 season that earned first-team All-SEC honors with his 1,282 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led all SEC running backs in rushing yardage that year.
“Mike is very, very exciting for me,” Petrino said July 24. “Now, if you said, ‘Who would you compare him to?’ It would be Knile Davis, because he has that speed. He has the ability that we won't have to call as many plays, because if he gets a chance to take it to the house, he's going to take it to the house. He's going to go the distance.
“And he's a very, very serious young man. Doesn't say a whole lot.”
That was felt during Washington’s first fall camp news conference Friday when he was asked about the comparison. He admitted he didn’t know who Davis was before the two met after a practice in the spring.
“After watching his film, I could definitely see why they've been talking about him a lot,” Washington said. “From watching how agile he is, his breakaway speed, his vision and really looking at the plays that he ran and trying to understand how he was able to break free, how aggressive he was. I do like him as a player, and I've been trying to mimic my game just a little bit after him.”
Washington may be three inches taller than Davis, but the two possess some similar qualities. Like Davis, he has big play ability and is not afraid of contact.
“Downhill,” said Washington, describing his running style. “I can make you miss. I also can break away with speed. Elusive at times, quick laterally.”
Running backs coach Kolby Smith said his plan is having a three-back system with Washington, sophomore Braylen Russell and redshirt junior Rodney Hill. But since his arrival, Washington has taken the most reps of the room with the first team.
“We expect a lot out of him, because we saw a lot of good things out of him in the spring,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Aug. 1. “He's earned the right to be where he's at on the depth chart.”
After the spring practice schedule concluded, safety Larry Worth pinpointed Washington as the offensive player who had gained the most respect from him. Worth had to “put [his] mouthpiece in, put some air in [his] helmet,” when preparing to tackle Washington.
“If I don’t come correct with Mike," Worth said, "I’m going to get embarrassed."
Washington broke away for a touchdown run of at least 50 yards on the first play of a live tackle period Friday, Smith said. That breakaway ability adds a unique dimension to the room.
Washington’s knack for initiating contact gives him a hybrid running style that seems to be a combination of Russell’s physicality and Hill’s speed.
“I love it if I’m being honest,” Washington said. “With Coach Smith, he kind of put that in our head that we can’t be the first person to get hit. What do they say? ‘Be the hammer the not the nail?’
“That’s kind of like the mindset within the whole room. So you know before any practice when we get pads, or we have full pads, the first thing he says you know, ‘They’re coming, don’t delay the stick. We’ve got to be the first ones to do it first.’”
Whether Washington will pan out to be another Davis-like back in Petrino’s offense remains a question for the season to answer. Confidence from his coaches is undeniable, though.
“He’s just a very consistent young man,” Smith said. “He comes to work every day and every day he’s making explosive runs. That’s what tells me he’s ready.”