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Top running back Mike Washington Jr. to make pre-draft visit to Packers
- Story byPackers News
- Top running back Mike Washington Jr. to make pre-draft visit to Packers
Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding "local" prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
To see other players who visited the Packers , visit the draft tracker.
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GREEN BAY – In his third stop along his college journey, running back Mike Washington Jr. , became a prospect scouts couldn't ignore.
When he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and added a 39-inch vertical at the NFL scouting combine, the 6-foot-1, 223-pound Washington solidified himself as a second-day pick.
Washington will make a top-30 pre-draft visit to the Green Bay Packers , according to a league source, and may be a version of MarShawn Lloyd the club hasn't been able to tap into due to the latter's injury-filled first two seasons.
Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. rushes during the fourth quarter against Alabama A&M.
After transferring to Arkansas for his senior season, Washington had 167 carries for 1,070 yards (6.4 average) and eight touchdowns, and caught 28 passes for 226 yards (8.1 average) and a touchdown. In his senior season, the 5-9, 215-pound Lloyd averaged 7.1 yards per carry and 17.8 yards per reception.
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Washington is faster than Lloyd (4.45-second 40-yard dash), but the two have straight-line breakaway speed to go along with the size needed to run between the tackles. Both also had fumbling problems in college; Washington had 12 during his four seasons with Arkansas, New Mexico State and Buffalo.
In 51 career games, Washington had 587 carries for 2,914 yards (5.0 average) and 26 touchdowns. He had 73 catches for 470 yards (6.4 average) and three touchdowns.
Last season, he had 16 plays of 20 or more yards.
Washington's 40-yard dash was the fastest among running backs and ninth among all players. His interview with NFL Network went viral when he broke down as teammates and fellow prospects congratulated him for his accomplishment.
Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.
Washington could be among the first five backs taken in the draft and may not make it out of the second round.
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The Packers may not be looking for a back that high in the draft, especially with how disappointing Lloyd has been after taking him in the third round. But the Packers are thin at the position after not tendering Emanuel Wilson in restricted free agency and letting him sign with the Seattle Seahawks .
Mike Washington Jr.'s NFL scouting combine results
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4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
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39-inch vertical jump.
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10-foot-8 broad jump.
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17 reps on the bench press.
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Arms are 33½ inches
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Hands are 9¼ inches
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Top running back Mike Washington Jr. to make pre-draft visit to Packers
