Kirby Smart Praises Darnell Washington's Development On and Off the Field
Georgia held its 2023 Pro Day in Athens on Wednesday to provide former players the opportunity to further showcase their talents to NFL teams. During the event, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart took time to meet with members of the media to share his thoughts on specific players participating in Pro Day. One of the players Smart spoke extensively about was TE Darnell Washington.
When asked what type of player an NFL team would be getting in Washington Smart applauded the work Washington has done preparing for the NFL draft, particularly the changes he has made to his weight composition: “He’s done a tremendous job, I think his weight was 264 at the combine and he played at high 270’s even 280’s.” Washington drew rave reviews throughout his career for his elite blocking ability, but Smart expounded on how Washington’s weight recomposition will enhance his versatility and ultimately his value to NFL teams saying, “He’s a much bigger passing threat than people probably understand when he’s at 264. I think he becomes a weapon in that league. He’s such a great target and he’s hard to cover.”
Darnell Washington during the 2023 Georgia Pro Day
Posting a 4.64 second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-7 and 264 lbs at the NFL Combine, Washington’s physical stature and skillset on the field are certainly remarkable in their own right, but Smart also spoke glowingly of Washington’s character and development off of the field. Smart extolled Washington’s level of maturity saying, “He’s a very mature kid. He had to mature at an early age. He’s a father and he takes a lot of pride in that so there’s a lot about who he is.” Smart also spoke to the professional approach Washington took to his college career, explaining, “He’s had a plan since he got here. He’s followed that plan. He’s executed it.” As talented and dominant as Washington was on the field, in many ways he spent the past two seasons operating in the shadow of 2022 Mackey Award Winner Brock Bowers. According to Smart, Washington’s willingness to serve in that role is indicative of the type of teammate and individual that he is: “He’s been selfless. I mean, the first play of the Kent State game he is running up and down the field literally jumping up in the air and giddy because his other tight end is running a 70 yard touchdown run. And I don’t think you find that many places, because it wasn’t about him.”
After an impressive NFL Combine, Washington has positioned himself as a legitimate option to be drafted in the first-round of April’s NFL Draft. Smart’s praise on Wednesday will only serve to further solidify and enhance Washington draft outlook.
