INDIANAPOLIS – James Washington had heard for a week in San Antonio 14 months ago that he was going to have a hard time against the newest “DB U.”
Washington, then a junior wide receiver at Oklahoma State, was set to face Colorado, with its secondary that included four NFL draft picks, assuming cornerback Isaiah Oliver is selected in April. Washington wasn’t exactly fearing the challenge.
In a resounding 38-8 victory, Washington had nine catches for 171 yards, doing some of that work with a dislocated finger. Washington believed that performance catapulted him into a senior year at OSU in 2017 that saw him win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver.