William Washington Season 1991

Honors & Awards
First-Team All-Big Eight (Football News, 1992)
Second-Team All-Big Eight (UPI, 1989)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1989)
Team Captain (1992)

1992 (Senior)
A four-year letterman and one of four Husker co-captains as a senior, William Washington earned first-team All-Big Eight recognition from Football News in 1992. One of the nation’s best blocking tight ends, Washington helped Nebraska claim its eighth NCAA rushing title in a 13-year span by averaging 328.2 yards per game. He also caught four passes for 15 yards and two touchdowns as a senior while playing in 10 regular-season games (10 starts). He had two catches for 10 yards, including a touchdown against Oklahoma State. He also scored on a one-yard pass against Colorado to help the Big Red claim the Big Eight title and a trip to the 1993 Federal Express Orange Bowl. Washington missed the Iowa State game with an injury.

Washington, who played 36 regular-season games with 27 starts, closed his NU career with five regular-season receptions for 22 yards and two touchdowns, while helping the Huskers to three NCAA rushing titles (1989, 1991, 1992). He added one assisted tackle. He also had two receptions for 27 yards in Nebraska bowl games.

1991 (Junior)
Washington helped the Huskers capture the NCAA rushing title by averaging 353.2 yards per game in 1991. The Big Red also ranked third nationally in both total offense (506.5 ypg) and scoring (41.3 ppg). Washington recorded his first regular-season reception with a seven-yard pass from Keithen McCant in the third quarter of Nebraska’s win over Oklahoma. Washington helped the Huskers to a share of the Big Eight title by starting eight regular-season games and the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl against Miami, when he had one catch for six yards.

1990 (Sophomore)
Washington started six games in a tight end rotation that included Chris Garrett, Daryl Leise and Johnny Mitchell. Washington helped Nebraska lead the nation in rushing (340.0 ypg) while leading the Big Eight in total offense (444.4 ypg) and scoring (37.5 ppg). He missed four games during the season because of injuries and a death in the family. Washington hauled in his first reception as a Husker with a 21-yard touchdown grab against Georgia Tech in the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl.

1989 (Redshirt Freshman)
Washington saw action in 10 of Nebraska’s 11 regular-season games as a redshirt freshman, missing only the Iowa State game with a sprained ankle. He also played in the 1990 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl against Florida State. He earned three starts (Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma) and claimed second-team All-Big Eight honors from UPI and honorable-mention all-conference recognition from the league coaches without recording a reception.

1988 (Redshirt)
Washington joined the varsity shortly after arriving on campus, before electing to redshirt in his first season at Nebraska. The Huskers won the Big Eight title.

Lee High School
A two-way starter for Coach Biff Peterson at Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, Washington was a unanimous all-district choice on both offense and defense as a senior in 1987. A unanimous All-East Texas selection, Washington caught 15 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end in an option offense. He also recorded 72 tackles, broke up two passes and recovered three fumbles as an outside linebacker on defense. He led Lee to an 8-2-1 record and into the Texas state playoffs for the first time in 30 years. Washington was listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and was a member of the Distinguished Society of American High School Students.

Personal
The son of William and JoAnn Washington, William was born June 22, 1970. He has a younger brother, Roderick. William earned his bachelor’s degree as a finance major from Nebraska in 1993.