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SOUTH BEND —Arkansas graduate transfer Ty Washington smiled at the question after practice Friday Aug. 1 in his first media session as a Notre Dame football tight end.
What will it be like to return to 76,000-seat Razorback Stadium when Notre Dame visits for the first time on Sept. 27?
“It’s going to be very, very hectic,” Washington said. “They get loud. The fan base gets in there quick; the student section gets in there fast. But if you really shut them out quick, it’ll be done.”
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Central time. (noon, ET)
“Very hot,” Washington said. “The fan base will be quiet; everybody will go home. It’s too hot at Arkansas. Everybody wants to go home if they’re losing. They just go on. They just want to leave.”
Washington moved on after 2 ½ seasons. The 6-foot-4, 248-pounder from Leesburg, Ga. (pop. 3,480), was placed on permanent suspension after declining to re-enter an Oct. 26 game at Mississippi State, a 58-25 win for the Razorbacks.
Washington later explained he was dealing with his grandmother's terminal illness and wasn't in the right frame of mind to play football.
"To be honest I didn't think I needed to go in and fight through something and look bad or mess up the team in general when I'm already going through something mentally," Washington reportedly told "4th & 5" podcast host DJ Williams, a former Arkansas tight end.
Learned elder: What CJ Carr, Notre Dame football QBs learned from Ian Book this summer
When Arkansas dropped three of its last four regular-season games after Washington’s departure, his approval rating dropped even further.
It seems likely he’ll hear some boos upon his return, but his conscience is clear.
“If some want to call me the villain, they can call me the villain,” he said, “but I think mental health is a strong topic that many people don’t talk about. When my grandma was about to pass … that really hit me at home, and I tried to tell them that. For my dad (Donta), that was his only parent.”
Washington’s grandmother died a week later. Slogging through a .500 college football season, he determined, was not where he belonged.
“Some people have different views on how mental health affects people,” he said. “I was always raised to be there for somebody, try to be a shoulder to lean on. Some people believe strapping up the helmet or tying your shoelaces or strapping up shoulder pads is going to help you get over that, and that’s not the case with everybody.”
Since his arrival at Notre Dame in early June, the emphasis on the total person, including mental health, has made Washington feel right at home. Joey Ramaeker, sports psychologist for Notre Dame football, and his staff have given Washington the care he desired.
“Perfect. Perfect,” Washington said. “I already met with them and everything was great. They made sure I was OK as soon as I got here. It was perfect. I loved it.”
'Wild week:' Former Notre Dame football QBs recall their first career college starts
When Washington placed his name in the transfer portal at the start of December, the first text message he received was from an old friend: Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
“It was 7 a.m., and I was with my girlfriend, trying to help her study for a test,” Washington said. “(Denbrock) was like, ‘Is this still your number?’ I said, ‘Yeah, this is still my number, Big Den.’ And we went from there.”
Denbrock just missed out on signing Washington out of high school in the 2022 recruiting cycle. First, he tried to get him to Cincinnati, and then again after landing at LSU once Brian Kelly bolted Notre Dame.
Washington values his “strong relationship” with Denbrock, but former NFL assistant Dowell Loggains, now the head coach at Appalachian State, was able to convince Washington to sign with Arkansas.
On Christmas Day, Washington went public with his commitment to Notre Dame. He has two remaining years of eligibility.
“I love coach Denbrock,” Washington said. “We have a long, long, long, long history. I love that man. … It’s great to be here with him now.”
Better known for his blocking while in the SEC, Washington believes there’s more in the tank. He has 14 career receptions for 212 yards and four touchdowns, but just two of those came last season, when he missed spring practice while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
“I say I bring some energy to it,” he said. “I bring a little physicality to it. I might not look like I can knock you over and hit you hard, but I can. … And going down the field, I’m a deep ball threat, I feel like. I’m an all-around tight end who is hard to cover.”
Former Arkansas wide receiver Andrew Armstrong confirmed that scouting report when asked about Washington at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“Washington is a great tight end,” Armstrong said. “He’s a great blocker, but people don’t know that he’s sneaky fast. He can catch the ball. He can run great routes. He knows how to set up the defender. He’s just a great, all-around football player.”
With his mind clear and his grief receding, Washington vows to display all his talents this fall.
“Denbrock already knows what I can do,” he said. “That’s why he brought me here. … I don’t think many of you know what I can do yet. There’s a good amount of film on me from Arkansas, but y’all really don’t know the full package. I feel like the full package is not there yet, but y’all will see it.”
And come the last Saturday in September, when they call the hogs bright and early in the Ozarks, Washington hopes to show his old program and its fans what they’re missing.
“It’s going to be great,” he said. “I love the guys. I love the fan base. Even though it ended badly, I love the fan base and I loved everything that was there. Still love the players. Love a few of the coaches, but it’s going to be great.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football tight end Ty Washington feels at home now
Continue reading...
What will it be like to return to 76,000-seat Razorback Stadium when Notre Dame visits for the first time on Sept. 27?
“It’s going to be very, very hectic,” Washington said. “They get loud. The fan base gets in there quick; the student section gets in there fast. But if you really shut them out quick, it’ll be done.”
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Central time. (noon, ET)
“Very hot,” Washington said. “The fan base will be quiet; everybody will go home. It’s too hot at Arkansas. Everybody wants to go home if they’re losing. They just go on. They just want to leave.”
Washington moved on after 2 ½ seasons. The 6-foot-4, 248-pounder from Leesburg, Ga. (pop. 3,480), was placed on permanent suspension after declining to re-enter an Oct. 26 game at Mississippi State, a 58-25 win for the Razorbacks.
Washington later explained he was dealing with his grandmother's terminal illness and wasn't in the right frame of mind to play football.
"To be honest I didn't think I needed to go in and fight through something and look bad or mess up the team in general when I'm already going through something mentally," Washington reportedly told "4th & 5" podcast host DJ Williams, a former Arkansas tight end.
Learned elder: What CJ Carr, Notre Dame football QBs learned from Ian Book this summer
'They can call me the villain'
When Arkansas dropped three of its last four regular-season games after Washington’s departure, his approval rating dropped even further.
It seems likely he’ll hear some boos upon his return, but his conscience is clear.
“If some want to call me the villain, they can call me the villain,” he said, “but I think mental health is a strong topic that many people don’t talk about. When my grandma was about to pass … that really hit me at home, and I tried to tell them that. For my dad (Donta), that was his only parent.”
Washington’s grandmother died a week later. Slogging through a .500 college football season, he determined, was not where he belonged.
“Some people have different views on how mental health affects people,” he said. “I was always raised to be there for somebody, try to be a shoulder to lean on. Some people believe strapping up the helmet or tying your shoelaces or strapping up shoulder pads is going to help you get over that, and that’s not the case with everybody.”
Since his arrival at Notre Dame in early June, the emphasis on the total person, including mental health, has made Washington feel right at home. Joey Ramaeker, sports psychologist for Notre Dame football, and his staff have given Washington the care he desired.
“Perfect. Perfect,” Washington said. “I already met with them and everything was great. They made sure I was OK as soon as I got here. It was perfect. I loved it.”
'Wild week:' Former Notre Dame football QBs recall their first career college starts
'A long, long, long, long history' with Mike Denbrock
When Washington placed his name in the transfer portal at the start of December, the first text message he received was from an old friend: Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
“It was 7 a.m., and I was with my girlfriend, trying to help her study for a test,” Washington said. “(Denbrock) was like, ‘Is this still your number?’ I said, ‘Yeah, this is still my number, Big Den.’ And we went from there.”
Denbrock just missed out on signing Washington out of high school in the 2022 recruiting cycle. First, he tried to get him to Cincinnati, and then again after landing at LSU once Brian Kelly bolted Notre Dame.
Washington values his “strong relationship” with Denbrock, but former NFL assistant Dowell Loggains, now the head coach at Appalachian State, was able to convince Washington to sign with Arkansas.
On Christmas Day, Washington went public with his commitment to Notre Dame. He has two remaining years of eligibility.
“I love coach Denbrock,” Washington said. “We have a long, long, long, long history. I love that man. … It’s great to be here with him now.”
Better known for his blocking while in the SEC, Washington believes there’s more in the tank. He has 14 career receptions for 212 yards and four touchdowns, but just two of those came last season, when he missed spring practice while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
“I say I bring some energy to it,” he said. “I bring a little physicality to it. I might not look like I can knock you over and hit you hard, but I can. … And going down the field, I’m a deep ball threat, I feel like. I’m an all-around tight end who is hard to cover.”
Former Arkansas wide receiver Andrew Armstrong confirmed that scouting report when asked about Washington at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“Washington is a great tight end,” Armstrong said. “He’s a great blocker, but people don’t know that he’s sneaky fast. He can catch the ball. He can run great routes. He knows how to set up the defender. He’s just a great, all-around football player.”
With his mind clear and his grief receding, Washington vows to display all his talents this fall.
“Denbrock already knows what I can do,” he said. “That’s why he brought me here. … I don’t think many of you know what I can do yet. There’s a good amount of film on me from Arkansas, but y’all really don’t know the full package. I feel like the full package is not there yet, but y’all will see it.”
And come the last Saturday in September, when they call the hogs bright and early in the Ozarks, Washington hopes to show his old program and its fans what they’re missing.
“It’s going to be great,” he said. “I love the guys. I love the fan base. Even though it ended badly, I love the fan base and I loved everything that was there. Still love the players. Love a few of the coaches, but it’s going to be great.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football tight end Ty Washington feels at home now
Continue reading...
