Hard work over talent. This mantra runs incessantly through Brayden Washington’s (10) head as he runs, lifts and practices. Standing at 6-feet-5 and weighing in at almost 300 pounds, Washington not only has the immense physique of a football player but also has the athleticism and game sense to be a menace on the field. Considered a top prospect, Washington already has verbal offers from schools yearning for his talent.
Washington has been playing football since he was 3 years old. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who also played football.
“[My dad] got me into football,” Washington said. “They really just threw me on the field.”
Playing as a right tackle and defensive tackle, more is required of Washington than just his size. As a right tackle, Washington is entrusted with protecting his quarterback from runs from defending players. As a defensive tackle, Washington’s role is to put pressure on the opposing quarterback and make game-defining tackles. Both of these roles require Washington to take advantage of his unique sense of the game; he can read and react to plays.
“O-line and D-line, those are some of the smartest guys on the field, right?” head football coach Teran Conley said. “They don’t get a lot of glory, especially the O-line. So, you have to be very selfless. There’s so much that goes on in the midst of that play. You have to be able to take the contact and process information at the same time.”
What sets Washington apart is his size and athleticism. Washington can move and intercept defenders or attackers with alacrity and understands the game to the minute detail. He’s exceptionally strong for his age, with a bench maximum of 300 pounds as well. With this, however, comes high expectations on his shoulders.
“[The pressure] makes you feel like you can’t mess up,” Washington said. “Like, there’s no room to mess up. Like, you gotta be hard on the stuff you do. I’m really hard on myself to try and not to make a fool out of myself. Just pushing, cause everybody, like once you’re big in the city, everybody is looking for you to do something.”
Brayden manages this stress under the guidance of his football coaches. His football coaches have been a huge part of his development, advising him not only on the field but in life as well.
“I teach him how to deal with pressure, and how to get away from it,” Conley said. “Sometimes you gotta cut this stuff off, you know, because it’ll become your life, make you feel like you can’t make any mistakes. So, I have to remind him every now and then that it’s okay to mess up. It’s perfectly fine. Allow yourself to develop. Go be a child. Go get on the game. Put football away, it’s okay.”
Washington already has verbal offers from three colleges: the University of Memphis, the University of Toledo and the University of Oregon. Washington has many factors to consider when choosing a college.
“You need to know what you want to be outside of football,” Conley said. “Do they have your major? You blow that knee out, you still need to get a degree, right? When you visit, do you see yourself playing there, … do you like the environment there?”
Washington wants to be the best, and he reflects that through his attitude. Washington strives to reach the NFL and pursue a coaching job after. But before that, he wants to bring a state championship to WSHS.
“There’s no time that I wouldn’t be practicing,” Washington said. “Even on the weekends, like if I have free time, I’ll go to the gym, or jog or something. I can’t be bored.”
This story was originally published on The Scroll on September 30, 2024.