FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Washington Jr. broke through the line of scrimmage, sprinted 91 yards untouched.
It’s starting to become a routine for the Arkansas running back.
Washington, a senior transfer from New Mexico State, scored touchdown runs of 91 and 35 yards Saturday during the Razorbacks’ second and final major scrimmage of fall camp.
In the previous week’s scrimmage, he caught a 62-yard pass before adding a four-yard rushing score and another 40-yard touchdown run.
All of Washington’s big plays came with the first-team offense against the second-team defense, but coaches and teammates say his performance and preparation are setting him apart.
“Mike Washington seems to, in live ball, make long runs,” Hogs coach Sam Pittman said Saturday. “Obviously, they’re doing a good job up front, but he’s also doing a good job of breaking tackles and has tremendous speed.”
Washington’s latest highlight came after Arkansas was pinned deep by punter Devin Bale. Quarterback Taylen Green recognized an interior blitz and checked to a run. Center Caden Kitler made the correct blocking call, and Washington accelerated through the A-gap for the touchdown.
“Mike had another great day,” senior offensive lineman Fernando Carmona said later. “When he gets that ball, he’s just hitting the hole. He’s not really thinking. He’s hitting the hole as hard as he can, and he’s making that play, and he hit it for 91.
“I don’t know if he got touched. But it was all thanks to Taylen looking at the defense, diagnosing that we got interior pressure, and from there, Caden made the right call. We blocked it up, and Mike did his job.”
Washington joined Arkansas after one year at New Mexico State, where he rushed for 725 yards and recorded eight touchdowns on 157 carries. He previously played three seasons at Buffalo. At 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, Washington has also drawn praise for his physical transformation since arriving in Fayetteville.
“He’s gotten a lot bigger since he’s gotten here, and that’s just because of how he works,” Carmona said. “He works extremely hard. Just each and every day, really quiet guy, he’s not going to say too much, he’s just going to come up, show up and work.
“It just speaks volumes of who he is as a person, because he comes out to practice each and every day. He’s the same guy. He works extremely hard in the weight room, extremely hard on the field, and you guys are starting to see the product of it.”
The Razorbacks’ running back depth chart also includes sophomore Braylen Russell, redshirt junior Rodney Hill, redshirt senior AJ Green and freshmen Cam Settles and Markeylin Batton.
Kolby Smith, Arkansas’ running backs coach, said earlier this week Washington’s maturity and field vision made him an important addition for the team.
“On the traits that you need and you’re looking for in that room, that’s going to add diversity to the group and maturity and leadership,” Smith said. “Through my research, that’s how we came across Mike. I like how he’s able to visualize the game and see it, which allows him to play faster on the football field. You’ve got to be able to, like I said, picture it and visualize it and think fast and play fast.”
Pittman and his staff expect Washington’s work ethic and production to set the tone as the team prepares for its season opener. Arkansas’ running game struggled with injuries and inconsistency last year, but Washington’s arrival has brought fresh optimism to the backfield.
“Obviously, they’re doing a good job up front, but he’s also doing a good job of breaking tackles,” Pittman said.
As the Razorbacks look to rebound from a disappointing 2023 campaign, Washington’s emergence adds depth and experience to a crowded running back room.
If his fall camp form continues, he could play a key role in Arkansas’ offense this season.
Arkansas will open the 2025 season Aug. 30 against Alabama A&M in Razorback Stadium at 3:15 p.m. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
Fans can also listen to the game on ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
