Here is a question-and-answer interview with newly signed edge rusher Jerry Washington as he prepares for life at SDSU.

Jerry Washington has had an interesting path to SDSU.

The edge rusher from Arizona initially did not have a roster spot with the Aztecs. However, the transfers of Dominic Oliver (Western Kentucky) and Ezekiel Larry (Yale) from San Diego State leave room for the young lineman.

Washington totaled 143 tackles and 20 sacks during his sophomore and junior seasons. A total of 47.5 of those tackles were for loss. He won the regional Defensive Player of the Year award during his junior season at Independence High School. However, Washington played for a smaller high school and was not getting the traction he deserved regarding collegiate offers.

The 6-foot-2 defensive end transferred to Desert Edge for his senior year but was forced to miss the first five games because of the transfer. Desert Edge is a larger school, and he would surely get noticed there. The sad reality is that Washington had to sit out the first handful of games in a vital season as his transfer was finalized. But that did not slow him down.

In eight games during his senior year, he produced 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, along with 61 total tackles. He helped lead his team to the AIA 5A State Championship over Cactus High School despite the fact Desert Edge was not a top-ranked team heading into the playoffs.

His showing was impressive, and the recruits started to flock to Arizona to see him play. Air Force, Army, and Navy all showed immediate interest.

San Diego State also showed interest as the two sides began to talk seriously about Washington coming to The Mesa. They kept in touch with the defensive player. It took some time, but the two sides came to an agreement, and Washington will be at SDSU this fall with the intent of competing for a starting edge job for the coming season.

In communicating with Washington, you understand how important family is to him.

He is a hard worker. Washington has multiple jobs and does so to help take care of his family. His mom means everything to the young player, and he will do whatever it takes to take the burden off her shoulders. He describes her as a huge motivational factor. She pushes her son to be great.

Jerry Washington is coachable. He is willing to do whatever it takes to improve. That goes a long way for the SDSU coaching staff as they attempt to groom him into being an NFL-type prospect.

Here is a little more from Washington as we get to know the lineman.

Why SDSU? What is it about the city and the school that made you choose them?

“It was the school and the city that made me come. It is so beautiful. I am not used to leaving Arizona, but Cali seems like a very amazing experience.”

Did any of the SDSU coaches create a bond with you? 

“The coaches did more than just bond with me. They made me believe that I am going to do great things at SDSU, and that is what I’m going to prove.”

You just won a championship in high school. How exciting was that for your future?

“Winning a state championship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m so thankful for the coaches who got me there and my teammates because of all the blood, sweat, and tears we put into the game every day. We really, truly deserved it.”

You recorded back-to-back sacks in the 4th quarter of that championship game. Describe your emotions as that happened.

“During the interstate championship game, when I got those back-to-back sacks, I was really excited. I had the crowd chanting my name, and I was consistently making plays for my team, especially in the clutch moment, so it made me feel really special.”

How was your experience at the Fiesta Bowl skills camp?

“When I went to the Fiesta Bowl (skills camp), I loved it so much. I really didn’t want to go at first, but my head coaches (at the time) basically forced me to go.  I had a wonderful time, and I had fun competing with everybody.”

What is your greatest motivation in the game? 

“My mom is my greatest motivation. She pushes me every day on and off the field. She always tells me to show no mercy and leave it all on the field, and that’s what I do every time I get out there.”

Describe your earliest memories of playing the game of football.

“One of my oldest memories was me in middle school playing in our championship game. I put everything I had on the line but came up short. There was nothing I could do. Watching all my teammates cry. I knew I needed to get better, so we don’t got to cry anymore.”

How do you prepare on game day? Do you calm yourself before you play, or do you get hyped up?

“Before games, I don’t like to waste a lot of energy. But if my team is getting hyped around me, I’m also going to be a hype man for my team and players who look nervous.”

Describe your style of play to someone who has never seen you play

“My game style is to play aggressive, fast, and strong while using my hands. I feel like if you do all of these, you’ll be undefeated, and nobody can beat you.”

You are an excellent student. How important is education to you?

“To me, education is really important. I grew up in a strict family where grades are always expected from me because football is never just your main source. Education always comes first; if you don’t have an education, you don’t have anything. That’s what my mom always told me growing up. She is my biggest motivator.”

What are your goals once you reach SDSU?

“My goals at SDSU are to get to the top and make a name for myself. I want to be known by everyone as someone to watch out for.”

What do you feel is your biggest strength in the game? How can you improve?

“I feel my biggest strength is my skill. I need to work on getting even stronger and translate my skills from high school to the collegiate level.”

Here is a video of Jerry Washington during his senior season.

There is a lot to like about what he brings to the table.

His first step is incredible, but Washinton also possesses a remarkable ability to fight off blocks and make tackles. His hands are active upon contact with an opposing player, as Washington simply blows up his blocker with tenacity. It’s not just getting through the block but also the fact that he displays a high motor skill when pursuing the ball.

There is room to grow, and as Washington gets stronger, he will be a force at the defensive end position. Being at SDSU will improve his strength as he works with collegiate coaches. There is no doubt that Jerry Washington will get better the more he steps on the football field. The only question is- how good will he be?

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.