Before last Saturday’s game, which pitted N.C. State against Murray State, redshirt freshman James Washington boasted an unimpressive resume.
The 6 foot, 180-pound true freshman from Orlando, FL was not aggressively scouted and came in with little fanfare. According to Scout.com, the only other Division I football program to offer him a scholorship after he ran for 17 touchdowns and nearly 1600 yards during his senior season was Memphis.
However, he had a solid showing in his new team’s opener against South Carolina, when he accounted for 16 yards — more than a fourth of the team’s total rushing yards. His 5.3 yards per carry average, in a game in which State averaged less than two yards per carry against the Gamecocks, led to his increased role and a subsequent breakout performance against Murray State. Now, Washington is securely the team’s second running back.
Washington rushed for 35 yards against Murray State and finished with three touchdowns, one receiving and two rushing – all in his second game as a college student.
Head coach Tom O’Brien said he was impressed with Washington’s performance and glad he was able to benefit from the snaps he received against Murray State.
“It’s something where he now can go back and has some things to look and be graded on what he needs to get better at, and he is the type of individual that will look at it and hopefully get better next week,” O’Brien said after the game.
Washington was visibly thrilled after his first collegiate scoring play and afterward, saying contributing to the final tally was something he needed.
“It was really important to come out and score,” Washington said.
He described his role on the team as multi-purpose.
“I would say I am explosive and block when the team needs me to and [I can] also make the first guy miss,” Washington said. “I try to hit the hole before the defender can get there.
“I see it as if I hesitate, it gives them a better chance to catch me and as long as I hit the hole with 110% it gives me an advantage.”
Senior Toney Baker, who also finished with three touchdowns, said Washington is an important piece of a promising offense.
“He’s definitely going to be good before it’s over,” Baker said. “[That game] was fantastic for him.”
O’Brien said the tandem of Washington and Baker will continue to improve put up points for State, at least while Eugene is absent.
“I think that the receivers made a concentrated effort that they had to get better [against Murray State].” O’Brien said. “They practiced hard and spent a lot of time catching balls, and its just a matter of concentration. Once they got going, there was a good feel down there.”
