AUBURN FOOTBALL: Washington may be playing himself into job as kick returner

By Michael A. Cummings The Cullman Times

ADDISON — The road to success has been long for Demond Washington.

Just about as long as his big return last weekend against Georgia.

With his Auburn Tigers trailing 24-17 in the fourth quarter this past Saturday, Washington took a Bulldogs kickoff at his own 1-yard line, weaved in and out of traffic and sped all the way to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown.

The big return gave Auburn (7-4, 3-4 in Southeastern Conference) a glimmer of hope before falling 31-24. But more importantly, it may have also solved one of the Tigers’ biggest problems of the season: The identity of their kickoff-return man.

“I’m really proud of the kid,” first-year Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. “He wasn’t here in the summer. He came in late and just kept working and working and working. It didn’t matter where we put him. He just wanted to play football.”

Chizik isn’t kidding.

Until two weeks ago, Washington — a 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior from Tallassee — was a backup cornerback. But when starting safety Zac Etheridge went down with a season-ending neck injury during Auburn’s win over Ole Miss, Washington moved into the vacant spot.

During the Tigers’ last two games, Washington also started returning punts and kickoffs. And the dividends showed last week, as the junior-college transfer collected 202 kick-return yards and 229 total return yards and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Both of Washington’s return totals were school records, and his 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown was Auburn’s longest since Tim Carter’s 100-yard touchdown return against LSU in 2001.

“Think about all the new roles he’s assumed in the last two weeks,” Chizik said. “That being said, I’m very proud of him and he’s a good football player. There’s no doubt.”

But the road to this point has been a long one for Washington.

After missing much of his senior year in high school due to injuries, Washington moved on to Mississippi Coast Community College, where he helped win a national championship.

But even though he tasted success in Mississippi, Washington was in a different position. As a freshman, Washington played running back, amassing 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns on 172 carries. He also returned two punts for touchdowns.

It wasn’t until his sophomore year that Washington moved across the line of scrimmage. There, he showed the same athletic ability that made him a success in the backfield, recording 55 tackles and three interceptions — all of which he returned for touchdowns — to go along with four more punt-return scores.

And now, that same athleticism has helped make him Auburn’s go-to return guy.

“He’s one of the fastest kids on our football team,” Chizik said. “We’ve got to have a guy that can make a difference back there. He’s capable of doing that.”

Washington wasn’t so sure about his performance Saturday night — citing Georgia’s success against Auburn’s offense in the fourth quarter.

“I did all right but I can do better,” said Washington, who recorded four tackles. “We didn’t win, so I didn’t do too good.”

Washington will have an extra week to brush up on his new position. The Tigers face No. 2 Alabama (10-0, 7-0) next Friday in each team’s regular-season finale.

As for next season, Washington knows his position is up in the air. Etheridge has said he wants to play after he recovers, while former starters Aairon Save and McNeil should return after missing the 2009 season through injuries.

But one position will open up in the defensive backfield when senior cornerback Walt McFadden graduates.

“Our safety position is a carousel,” Chizik said. “It’s a revolving door. I don’t know how that position is going to play out just health-wise with two or three of our guys.

“So if (Washington) has to go back there, we feel good about him doing that. We’d prefer him to be a corner because I think he was making great strides there, but it’s obvious with more practice he can be good at both.”

Michael Cummings can be reached by email at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 734-2131, ext. 258.