Redshirt report: Nick Washington

Name: Nick Washington

Height: 6-0

Weight: 191

Position: DB

 

Why did he redshirt?

Washington played on special teams in the first two games of 2013 before a season-ending shoulder injury. The injury not only cost Washington his season but also his aspirations of being a two-sport star at Florida. Washington did not go out for the baseball team this spring. Instead, he is focused on getting back to full health and football.

 

Depth at the position?

This depends. If Washington stays at cornerback Florida has a wealth of talent, albeit young and untested.

However, Washington has the frame and ability to move back to safety if the Gators feel like he could help their numbers up top.

Given his skillset and numbers on the roster a move to safety would help Washington get on the field quickly. He is a very smart person and football players, plus has the acumen that Will Muschamp demands and requires of his safeties.

 

Player Evaluation

Washington has the ability to play all over the secondary but he may be best suited for safety. He doesn’t have great hips and that shows when he’s in press coverage and he has trouble knocking the receiver off of his route at the line of scrimmage.

He is a sound tackler and a very smart football player. He’s good in zone coverage and those are all skills that would make him a very good safety at Florida.

 

2014 Prognosis

It’s unclear if a position change is in his future but Washington is a versatile player who will certainly make an impact on special teams at the very least. He has the potential to jump into the rotation at cornerback or even compete for a starting job at safety.

Washington is a good player and if he can stay healthy will be one who Gator fans are re-introduced to in 2014.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC