Mike Washington Jr

NFL Draft Profile: Mike Washington Jr.

Position: Running Back | School: Arkansas | Class: Senior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 228 lbs | Archetype: 3-Down Back (Power / Volume Hybrid)

College Career Summary

Mike Washington Jr. capped off a resilient five-year collegiate journey by becoming the 16th player in Arkansas history to record a 1,000-yard rushing season. A true "journeyman" of the portal era, Washington spent three seasons at Buffalo and one at New Mexico State before arriving in Fayetteville. He quickly silenced skeptics regarding his jump from Conference USA to the SEC by earning the starting job over highly-touted sophomore Braylen Russell.

Washington’s 2025 campaign was defined by high-volume work and a "bell-cow" mentality. Standing at a massive 228 lbs, he provided the Razorbacks with a physical identity under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. He became the first Arkansas back since Alex Collins (2015) to rush for over 100 yards in consecutive SEC games, proving his durability against the nation's most punishing defensive fronts.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Rushing: 167 carries, 1,070 Yds, 8 TD (6.4 avg)

• Receiving: 28 receptions, 226 Yds, 1 TD

• Career Totals: 2,914 Rushing Yds, 26 Rushing TD, 73 Receptions, 470 Rec Yds

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rush/Yds/TD	Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Alabama A&M	9/79/0	2/26/1	A-	Efficient debut; showed elite hands on a 27-yard TD catch.
2	vs Arkansas State	9/116/1	0/0/0	A	Big Play. Opened the game with a 53-yard TD sprint.
3	vs Ole Miss	13/65/2	2/53/0	A	Versatile; 47-yard score showed he can outrun SEC safeties.
4	@ Memphis	15/70/1	2/14/0	B	Workmanlike performance in a tough road environment.
5	vs Notre Dame	16/63/0	1/6/0	B-	Physical front held him in check; high effort on every carry.
7	@ Tennessee	19/131/1	1/6/0	A+	The Apex. Dominated a top-15 front in a hostile environment.
8	vs Texas A&M	16/147/0	0/0/0	A	Massive efficiency (9.1 avg) against an elite defensive line.
9	vs Auburn	12/44/0	1/11/0	C+	Stagnant offensive day; found zero room to operate.
10	vs Miss. State	19/116/0	4/19/0	B+	Grinder. Heavy usage; consistently fell forward for extra yards.
12	@ LSU	13/85/1	1/6/0	B	Efficient and physical; scored the team's only rushing TD.
13	@ Texas	17/105/1	6/43/0	A-	Dual Threat. Career-high receptions in a high-stakes rivalry.
14	vs Missouri	11/53/0	5/26/0	C+	Season Low. Lack of lateral burst evident in the cold.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Leadership: Earned "most points" in summer workouts; lead-by-example captain who won over the locker room instantly.

• Mental Toughness: Transitioned through three schools to reach the SEC; never wavered in his "dog" mentality.

• Competitor: Elite "want-to." Plays with high intensity and finishes every run with a shoulder lower than the defender.

• Star Power: The focal point of the Arkansas ground attack; creates gravity that opens up the passing game.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Height/Weight: 6'2", 228 lbs. (Exceeds both 5'10" and 215lb targets).

• Stamina: High-end; logged heavy snap counts in back-to-back SEC matchups without significant drop-off.

• Durability: Played all 12 games in the SEC; built like an NFL linebacker.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 89/100

• Ball Security: Solid. Only 2 fumbles on 195 total touches.

• Vision: Above average; patient in the hole but occasionally misses back-side cuts in zone schemes.

• Contact Balance: Elite. Rare size allows him to stay upright through heavy interior contact.

• Catching: Very consistent. Proven reliable in the screen game and on Texas-routes.

• Pass Block: Strength. His mass and willingness to engage make him a high-end pass protector.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 85/100

• Speed: Functional. Not a 4.4 burner, but has surprising "runaway" speed for 228 lbs once he clears the second level.

• Agility: Average. He is a high-cut runner, which limits his lateral "shimmy" in tight spaces.

• Change of Direction: Solid one-cut ability; prefers to run through people rather than around them.

• Acceleration: Good. Reaches top speed quickly in a straight line.

• Break Tackle: Top-tier power. Finishes runs "angry" and punishes second-level defenders.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Awareness: High. Processes defensive fronts well and understands situational clock management.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Prototypical NFL frame; exceptional contact balance; high-floor as a 3rd-down pass protector; reliable hands out of the backfield; "SEC-tested" durability.

• Weaknesses: Lacks elite lateral agility due to high-cut frame; vision can be tunnel-focused at times; not a "home-run" threat at the NFL level.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Power/Gap scheme or a Short-Yardage/Goal-Line specialist in a rotation (e.g., Steelers, Browns, Titans).

• NFL Comparison: Najee Harris / Matt Forte (Power Version).

Scout's Final Word

"Mike Washington Jr. is a pro's pro. He doesn't have the flashy 'jukes' of some of his Big Ten peers, but he has the size and violence required to survive a 17-game NFL season. His ability to catch the ball at 228 lbs makes him an immediate 3-down option for a team looking to add toughness to their backfield. Projected: Round 3–4."