Like his twin brother, Bobby Washington is all about speed — and the Miami Hurricanes
Bobby Washington’s senior season began with a viral moment — the type of play capable of both summing up everything a player does best and piquing the imagination of a fan base.
It was a preseason game for Palmetto, but a high-profile one against Chaminade-Madona, and he flew from one side of the field to the other to arrive just in time at the goal line to lay a crunching hit on a Lion right before he could score. The crowd at Cardinal Gibbons High School’s Dr. Bud Tight Field let out a collective, “Ooh!” and Miami Hurricanes fans quickly got to work sharing it across social media.
Since then, he hasn’t stopped.
“He’s like another Leonard Taylor,” Panthers coach Mike Manasco said, comparing the linebacker to the former Palmetto superstar and Miami defensive tackle. “He’s just going to create mismatches wherever you put him.”
Even though he’s still just a three-star linebacker in the 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2023, Washington is establishing himself as one of South Florida’s best defensive players this year by making plays at all three levels of the defense against a loaded schedule.
Last Thursday at Curtis Park in Miami, Washington and the Panthers blew out Edison, 35-7, and held the Red Raiders without an offensive touchdown and the 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior was the best player on the field, piling up 2 1/2 sacks and four tackles for loss.
He and twin brother Robby Washington, 5-10 and 185 pounds, might not have much in common at first glance, but the two future Hurricanes share one deeply important trait: speed.
“If we race,” said Robby, a four-star athlete, “he’s probably two steps away.”
For Robby, speed manifests in obvious ways. He’s a wide receiver and a running back at Palmetto, and will be a wideout at Miami, openly comparing himself to wide receiver Brashard Smith.
For Bobby, speed makes him a tantalizing prospect, even if he’s not quite as ready-made for the college level.
“They don’t know where to put me at yet,” Bobby said with a smile.
Part of it is Palmetto’s doing and it simultaneously boosts his stock as a recruit, while also making him something of a mystery.
At Killian last year, Washington was a pure linebacker and the result was more than 100 tackles. Now, he’ll get asked to stuff the run in one game, cover the slot in the next and go rush the quarterback in the one after.
When he made his first highlight-reel play against Chaminade-Madonna, Washington was playing as a pseudo-strong safety and peeled away from the slot receiver he was covering once he saw the Lions run the other way. A week later, he was playing as an inside linebacker when he sniffed out a swing pass and knocked the helmet off a Homestead running back. Last week, the Panthers used him mostly as an edge rusher and he derailed everything Edison tried to do.
“He is such a dynamic player. He can do so many things well,” Manasco said. “His length and speed are just abnormal. I love the way we can use him in so many different ways and I think you saw that.”
Unless he grows a little bit, Washington will likely wind up a linebacker in Coral Gables and his speed is badly needed on a defense giving up too many big plays, even if he favors the big hit over fundamental tackling a bit too much.
He’s also this year getting to show off some of his intelligence through his ability to switch between roles and positions from game to game, and sometimes even play to play.
“I learn defense fast,” he said. “I learned the defense, so they can put me at every position on the field.”
He also insists there’s no way he’s backing off his pledge to the Hurricanes, as does his brother.
They’ve both been orally committed to Miami since March — they were the second and third players to commit to this 2023 recruiting class — and they’re stressing patience, and confidence, in coach Mario Cristobal’s vision.
“I just love the new coaching staff,” Bobby said. “They treat us like family.”
Added Robby: “We’re going to turn things around because Cristobal—he can’t rebuild in two games, three games. I’m going to stay no matter what. It’s a rebuild season for him. Next year, we’re going to be on a roll.”
