There are more Miami connections for five-star TE Darnell Washington than you might think
Darnell Washington’s decision to travel across the country from Nevada to South Florida for college wouldn’t be unprecedented. The last great tight end from Las Vegas is currently a John Mackey Award finalist for the Miami Hurricanes, and Washington has watched closely what Brevin Jordan has done in his two short years in Coral Gables.
When Washington narrowed his choices to a top group of schools, Miami was an obvious choice to make the cut. The five-star athlete from Desert Pines came to Paradise Camp for an unofficial visit in June and put on a show inside the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility. Jordan spent the camp glued to his hip, and coaches all made it clear he was as big a priority as anyone.
He spent a few days in Florida to learn about the program and the surrounding community, and he saw the same sort of things which impressed Jordan two years earlier.
“He got to see South Beach and fell in love with the city, and he was just saw there’s a great energy down here,” Jaguars coach Tico Rodriguez said Wednesday. “It’s kind of like Vegas, but tropical, so definitely Miami made an impression on him. He really enjoyed his time, and he likes what Miami’s doing, the family feel they have, so he’s definitely excited to get down there.”
Washington’s much-anticipated return trip is slated for this weekend. The 6-foot-8, 261-pound senior is the headliner for a major official visit weekend for the Hurricanes. The No. 10 overall prospect in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the Class of 2020, Washington is one of two five-star recruits Miami is still in contention to land heading into the early signing period, which begins Dec. 18.
There are a lot of reasons for Washington to like the Hurricanes, even after a mediocre debut season for coach Manny Diaz. The Jordan connection plays a role, as does Miami’s history — and present — with tight ends. He wants to go somewhere he will be utilized and the Hurricanes still use the tight end as much as just about anyone.
Washington also has an important pro-Miami voice in his ear. He was the tour guide for the area when Washington took his unofficial visit in the summer and spends just about every day with the elite athlete in the fall. Rodriguez is a Hurricanes fan and Miami native who grew up in Little Havana.
“I’m always wearing Canes stuff and I’m always pointing at it,” Rodriguez said, “so he knows where I want him to go.”
Rodriguez’s influence can only mean so much, though. He isn’t going to force his star player’s hand, but he is another voice to make the pitch tight ends coach Stephen Field is making.
“The pitch has been, We’re tight end U. We really know how to use tight ends. We know how to develop tight ends,” Rodriguez said. ”Coach Field has a good relationship with Darnell, so he’s done a great job of letting him know that Miami is a great place for a tight end and Darnell is very intrigued.”
Washington is slated to announce his commitment next month at the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando. He has already taken official visits with the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, and he has a final official visit set with the Tennessee Volunteers the weekend of Dec. 13.
While Georgia and Alabama can best pitch Washington on being able to compete for championships, Florida and the Hurricanes are the two who can best make a case at being able to develop tight ends, which is where just about everyone is recruiting the two-way athlete. Jordan finished the regular season 15th in the nation in receiving yards among tight ends despite missing three games. Kyle Pitts, the Gators’ star tight end, finished eighth nationally. Both sophomores are likely potential first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.
None of the other three schools in Washington’s top five have a tight end ranked in top 50 in the country in receiving yards.
“He wants to go somewhere where they’re going to use the tight end, where he’s going to be able to catch the ball and showcase his talent, and Miami has done a great job doing that,” Rodriguez said. “That’s one of the advantages that Miami has going in this whole process.”
It doesn’t hurt to have a fellow Vegas native as the example to point at, either.
Jordan, who played at Bishop Gorman, was the No. 1 tight end in the Class of 2018 when he picked the Hurricanes from a long list of suitors, which also included the Crimson Tide. It has worked out well for Jordan, who is now a finalist for the award handed out to the best tight end in the country. He, Rodriguez and Field will all try to convince Washington this weekend it could work for him, too.
“Brevin’s special and Darnell’s the next one coming through,” Rodriguez said. “You see what Brevin’s been able to do at the U, and Darnell is definitely paying attention to that.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 3:10 PM.
