It was just another day in the life of 2020 4-star tight end/defensive end Darnell Washington.
As he was heading to basketball practice one day, his coach told him to call a number he was not familiar with. He called the number, and talking on the other line was Michigan tight ends coach Sherrone Moore. He was offered a scholarship right there and then.
“He let me know they wanted me at Michigan,” Washington told Maize n Brew.
That was the first conversation Washington ever had with Moore, and it more than likely won’t be the last. Especially since Moore asked Washington a key question in his recruitment — which position he wants to play in college.
“He didn’t want to keep me long, but he did ask if I wanted to play tight end or defensive end in college,” Washington said. “He wanted to know which one I would like to play in college.”
Washington’s answer to Moore that day was “tight end,” but if the coaches wanted him to play defensive end he would have “no problem” doing so, and that he “would like to try playing both sides of the ball.”
The 6-foot-7-and-a-half, 238-pounder from Las Vegas admitted he is very interested in Michigan because he used to watch the Wolverines when he was growing up, and also because of Michigan’s utilization of the tight end position.
“If any college uses (the) tight end a lot (like Michigan), I think I can fit right in,” he said.
Washington said he does not have a firm leader as of now, but he does hold offers from Alabama, USC, Texas, UCLA, Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma, BYU, Nebraska and Minnesota, among others.
“I’m not interested in (any) college more than another,” he said. “What I’m trying to say is I like them all the same.”
He doesn’t have any confirmed plans to visit Michigan as of now, but he does want to visit the university at some point in the near future.
The plan is for Washington to wait until the end of his junior season to break down which schools he wants to pursue further. He hopes to have a decision before his senior season.
Washington is the 87th ranked overall player in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports. He does not yet have a composite score. He is also listed as a 4-star on Rivals, so he will more than likely be a consensus 4-star when the time comes.