Syracuse, N.Y. — Now that the dust has settled after his commitment, four-star running back Robert Washington has turned his focus toward summer plans as well as continuing to recruit future teammates to Syracuse’s 2016 and 2017 classes.
Washington said he’s in the process of setting up an unofficial visit to SU in late June with his girlfriend. He’s looking forward to seeing more of campus and building his relationship with head coach Scott Shafer.
“Just talk with him, walk around the campus and enjoy the life of Syracuse,” Washington said during an interview Tuesday night. “It’ll be nice because in the summer the students aren’t there and it’s calmer.”
Washington also plans on using all five of his official visits, including one to Syracuse, and that he’s been hearing from other schools including Alabama, Pittsburgh and USC.
“I’m definitely 100 percent committed to Syracuse,” Washington said. “It’s nothing against Syracuse. You just want to use your official visits because you only get to go through the recruiting process once.”
Washing said he’s spoken with Shafer, running backs coach DeAndre Smith and director of recruiting Eric White at length since committing.
The discussions haven’t hit on the possibility of giving him No. 44, though, Washington said. Rather, they’ve focused on how the program can build elite recruiting classes over the next two years.
“It’s less about the No. 44 and more about trying to deal with the recruiting class,” Washington said. “We’ve got to build a class around me and the other recruits that are committed. You’ve got to try to build a Top 25 class that can change the face of the program.”
For the most part, Washington’s top targets remain the ones he outlined after initially committing.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Robert Washington (left), Aapri Washington (middle), Moe Neal (right) on their unofficial visit to Syracuse for the Florida State game last season.
- 2016 CB Jared Mayden: One of the top corners in the country, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Sachse (Texas) High School junior is interested in visiting Syracuse and has known Washington for about four years through USA Football. He plans on announcing a commitment at The Opening, which runs from July 7-10 at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.
- 2016 DT Christian Colon: The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Colon has known Washington since middle school and played with him on USA Football in eight grade and at SouthLake Christian (Huntersville, N.C.) Academy as a freshman before transferring to Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) High School. He plans to release his Top 5 on Friday.
- 2016 ATH Moe Neal: The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Neal is a speedy athlete who could play hybrid back or slot receiver in SU offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s new offense. He’s known Washington since the summer going into eighth grade and the pair has teamed up for USA Football with Washington lining up in the backfield and Neal in the slot. Neal named the Orange to his Top 5 on May 3.
- 2017 CB Aapri Washington: The 5-foot-8, 160-pound Washington is Robert’s cousin and said he’s being recruited primarily as a cornerback or nickleback. Aapri Washington said he’s developed relationships with Smith and White — the same pair that helped reel in Robert — and that the allure of teaming up with his cousin in college is strong.
- 2017 LB/S TJ Sanders: The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Sanders is the brother of Washington’s girlfriend and has known Robert for about five years. A linebacker/safety, Sanders called Washington a “brother” and explained that the two have known each other for about five years after meeting at a football camp. Next season, they’ll be teammates as Washington is transferring to East Gaston (Mt. Holly, N.C.) High School in order to graduate early. Sanders does not have an SU offer.
- 2018 QB Jalen Mayden: Mayden is the younger brother of Jared Mayden and is also involved with USA Football. He was offered by the Orange the same night as Jared.
Washington was also pursuing four-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who recently committed to Maryland. But Washington said Haskins was always a long shot. The rest, he believes, are more attainable.
“I’m definitely going after Jared because I know Jared’s closing in (on a decision),” Washington said. “He’s committing at The Opening. If I go to The Opening and get invited, I’ll keep talking to him. I just tell him, ‘You know where to go. Just say it.'”
In time, Washington hopes the 2016 and 2017 classes can help turn the Syracuse program around. He wants the Orange to have the pull of a national power in the recruiting community and Shafer to have the name recognition of a Nick Saban or Jim Harbaugh.
“Alabama’s the hot school right now,” Washington said. “That’s why Alabama gets the No. 1 recruiting class every year. That’s what you want Syracuse to be. When someone gets a Syracuse offer, you want them to be like, ‘Damn, I got a Syracuse offer. That’s great.'”
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