Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1496986
3 8 M A Y 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Parker Washington WR | 5-10 | 202 Projection: Fourth-Round Pick When Washington disappeared from Penn State's lineup late last season, the circumstances were murky, as is often the case when injuries strike James Franklin's team. The Nittany Lion coach doesn't like to discuss health-related matters, so it was not known how Washington had gotten hurt or what his injury even was. Now, however, with Washington prep- ping for the NFL Draft, the story can be told. "It was at practice," he explained at Penn State's Pro Day. "I rolled over my ankle, so that's really what happened. It was a tough break, it really was. But just having good support and my team around me helped me go through it." The injury forced Washington to miss Penn State's last two regular-season games and the Rose Bowl. He was in- vited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but because he was still recovering, he only tested in the bench press. He also did not work out at Pro Day. Washington's limited availability for the major scouting events leading up to the draft led some to wonder whether he would have been better off returning to Penn State for one more season. But he told reporters that he was willing to take a risk. "You have to bet on yourself and be con- fident in yourself," Washington said. "At the end of the day, it's a gamble. If I come back, it's a gamble. You have to be willing to attack that and put your best foot for- ward and be confident." There are several Nittany Lions in this year's draft with Day 2 potential who could end up sliding to Day 3. Washington is one of them. Some analysts believe he is one of the top dozen receivers in this year's draft class. Pro Football Focus, for instance, has him rated as the No. 12 wideout and No. 97 overall prospect. Other analysts have him well outside of that range. Washington is at ease with whatever lies ahead. He said he will soon be fully healthy again, and as of late March he was still hoping to do some individual workouts for teams prior to the selection process. After sitting out the end of the 2022 sea- son — a season in which he totaled a team- high 611 receiving yards on 46 catches — Washington understands that he's a bit of an enigma to NFL scouts, noting that the predictions for his spot in the draft have been "all over the place." "It could be Day 2, Day 3," he said. "I've heard it all. It's an exciting time. It's an unknown, but I'm just willing to attack it one day at a time." — Greg Pickel Measurements ARMS 29 INCHES HANDS 10 INCHES 40 — BENCH 16 REPS VERTICAL — BROAD — 3-CONE — 20-YARD SHUTTLE — What They're Saying About Parker Washington "Parker Washington is a decently sudden, crafty slot YAC specialist. He has quality hands and qual- ity, thick/compact build for that role. He really excels in small spaces after the catch, and his bounce and contact balance are awesome. His thick RB body type helps him power through contact, and he does it often; he rarely goes down on first contact." — CBS Sports "Expectations for Washington should be rooted in how many different roles he can claim for an NFL offense quickly. I would expect he will get a chance to claim a return specialist role after returning punts in 2022 and adding that to his resume. While he has promising physical skills in the receiving game, I would expect he will require time to acclimate to a pro offense." — Kyle Crabbs, NFL Draft Network Washington finished with a team-high 611 receiving yards last year despite missing Penn State's final three games with an ankle injury he suffered in practice. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL