Indiana University Athletics
Washington is All Business
9/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 25, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. -He weaved his way to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Hoosiers come back from a 13-point deficit against Central Michigan. Tack on the TD scamper he had in the first quarter in addition the 130 yards he produced on the ground and you have a glance at what redshirt freshman Yamar Washington accomplished on Saturday.
Washington elicits the image of a workman arriving at work, with a lunch pale at his side, willing to get the job done any way possible. There is no celebration of individual success. Instead only a toss to the official. Washington is all business.
"I don't really get nervous before a game," Washington said. "I am more business-like and contained in energy. Then I let it loose when the game comes and that is how I have always been."
He is quiet off the field, and hard to stop on it. The scary thing for opponents is that Washington isn't even 100 percent healthy. During a midseason scrimmage last year, Washington was pulled down from behind on a long run and landed awkwardly. The result was a broken ankle that would put his career in jeopardy.
"That was real tough," Washington said of his injury. "I still don't think I am 100 percent. It has slowed me down. The rehab was tough; I didn't think I would ever be the same. I am just working toward that and it is getting better and better.
This season, the Houston native has become the first Hoosiers freshman to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games since Alex Smith accomplished the feat in 1994. Before rushing for 130 yards against Central Michigan, Washington tore up the Wildcats of Kentucky for a 163-yard effort on 32 carries.
"It feels good," Washington said about rushing for 100 yards in consecutive games. "I have been working for this since I was five. I have been watching college football forever and have wanted to be a good college football player. I am just working toward that as much as I can."
Maybe the most impressive thing about Washington's play at running back is his ability to gain yards on every carry. Looking at the stat sheet, the 5-9, 198-pound running back has tallied 332 yards rushing on 68 carries and three touchdowns. Of those 68 carries, Washington has only lost yards on four of those carries, no loss greater than a yard.
Washington's success doesn't seem that surprising when looking at his prep career in Texas. In 2000, he was named the Greater Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year. Washington began his career at St. Pius High school where he rushed for 4,518 yards and 52 touchdowns during his freshman and sophomore years. Before his junior campaign, he transferred to Forest High School to play against top competition. The change didn't hamper Washington much as he rushed for 2,617 yards and 28 touchdowns in his final two years. As a senior, he rushed for 1,712 yards on only 225 carries, an astonishing 7.6 yards a carry.
