2023 Meet the Croots: Nathaniel Washington of New Milford, NJ

[TuscanSota]

 

To some, New Jersey football is an underrated recruiting bed consisting of diamonds in the rough. This fall, defensive end Nathaniel Washington is one that will garner the most attention from the State of New Jersey.

 

Washington heads into his senior season having started the previous two seasons for the New Milford High School Knights. He's collected over thirty sacks in his high school career, and plans on setting a school career record by the time he graduates.

 

"One moment, he's on the defensive line and is lined up against a guard and a tackle; the next, he's already blitzed passed them and gotten to the quarterback. That's what the Knights' defense been since he's started as a sophomore.

 

Washington is known for hyping up sidelines when the offense takes the field. When on the field, he's quiet, and focused.

 

"There's two games that go on during football night -- the first is when you're on the field, the second is when you're on the sidelines. Every time the offense takes the field I make sure we're rooting for them and that they're getting everything they got. Because that's what they do for us when we take the field after a drive."

 

The Knights have only made the playoffs in Washington's junior year, but are determined to make it to the State tournament by this October. As for Washington, his hopes aren't on making it to the state championship -- scouts are now recruiting him for College Football.

 

"I've never crossed the Delaware before but knowing that Penn State, Ohio State, and Virginia have reached out to me about what my plans are for college means so much. I want to study well and sack more quarterbacks."