By Alan Ford
Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 15:34 PM.
Sometimes with only one look, you just know … even when it’s an important decision.
That’s the way it was for Shelby High running back Raekwon Washington. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior running back went to a football camp at Youngstown State University in Ohio this summer. It made quite an impression.
Washington has verbally committed to the YSU Penguins to continue his playing career there next fall. He’ll be joining a Missouri Valley Conference program that is currently ranked eighth in the Football Championship Series (FCS) poll. Youngstown State is 8-1 at present with the only loss against non-conference foe Michigan State of the Big Ten.
“They were the first ones to get on him early last spring,” said Shelby coach Lance Ware said. “They saw him on film and they came and watched him. He went to camp there this summer and really liked it. He just feels like he fits in well there.”
Washington was recruited by former Gardner-Webb offensive coordinator Kurt Beathard, now on the Penguins’ staff.
Ware said YSU intends to keep Washington at running back.
“They wanted a big, physical back. They like how hard he works and that he’s a high character kid,” said Ware, “and he’s an excellent student.
“He’s not real vocal but he leads by example. He’s really worked hard to put himself in this position.”
Though battling injuries as a senior, he has rushed for 620 yards for the Golden Lions this season to help provide balance for an offensive unit averaging 39.8 points/game through 10 contests. As a junior, Washington ran for 1,128 yards to help his team reach the third round of the lower 2A state playoffs.
http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/high-school/shelby-rb-washington-commits-to-youngstown-state-1.230942
