Texas Tech University Athletics
Washington & Grant Selected On Day 3 Of NFL Draft
April 30, 2016 | Football
April 30, 2016
CHICAGO --Two more Texas Tech Red Raiders heard their names called on day three of the NFL Draft on Saturday, as the Oakland Raiders selected DeAndre Washington and the Miami Dolphins picked Jakeem Grant.
Paired with Le'Raven Clark's selection on Friday, the 2016 draft marks the first time since 2009 that at least three Red Raiders have been picked in a single draft.
Washington, taken by the Raiders in the fifth round as the 143rd overall pick, finished the season ranked second in the Big 12 Conference with 1,492 rushing yards, which ranks fifth in the Texas Tech single-season record book, where he is also fifth with 3,411 career rushing yards as well.
With the 143rd overall pick in the NFL Draft, we've selected DeAndre Washington, RB from Texas Tech!https://t.co/Y453jO5R5F
-- OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) April 30, 2016
"It's huge," Washington said, after being selected. "The Raiders are a rich-tradition organization -- tradition runs deep. I know they have some die-hard fans out there, so I'm looking forward to getting out there and competing and having some fun and doing some big things for the Raider Nation."
He will join fellow former Red Raider Michael Crabtree in Oakland, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft.
"I just know that he's [one of] the most talked about guys when you come through Lubbock," Washington said about Crabtree. "He's that guy, one of the first names that rolls off anybody's tongue. I've actually never met him personally, but definitely look forward to being with another Red Raider up there in Oakland."
In 2015, Washington ranked 15th nationally for rushing yards (1,492), 17th for rushing yards per game (114.8), 14th in all-purpose yards per game (144.4), 20th in rush yards per carry (6.40) and 20th for rushing touchdowns (14).
Washington punctuated his final regular season with the best rushing performance by a Texas Tech running back against Texas since 1998. He totaled 173 yards and two touchdowns off 28 carries against the Longhorns, becoming the first Red Raider since Ricky Williams in 1998 to rush for over 100 yards against Texas. He concluded the regular season with a 100-yard rushing performance in each of Texas Tech's final three games.
He also had a career performance on senior day against Kansas State, carrying the ball 27 times for 248 yards in the victory, marking the seventh-most rushing yards in a game in program history. It was also only the 27th time in school history a Red Raider has rushed for 200 yards.
Jakeem Grant: Human Highlight Reelhttps://t.co/PbLcNlM3Z2
-- Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 30, 2016
Grant, the sixth-round, 186th overall selection, comes off a senior campaign in which he was among the top all-purpose players in the country. He was Texas Tech's leading receiver and all-purpose threat in 2015, ending his career as Texas Tech's all-time leader in several receiving categories. He became the first Texas Tech receiver to break the 1,000 yard mark in a season since Jace Amaro did so in 2013.
He is Texas Tech's all-time leader in career receiving yards (3,164), passing Michael Crabtree during the Texas game. He averaged 181 all-purpose yards per game which ranked fourth nationally, ranked fourth nationally with 1,017 kickoff return yards and fifth with two kickoff return touchdowns. He was also 11th in the country for receptions per game (6.9), 16th for receiving yards (1,038) and 15th in receiving yards per game (97.5).
"I have faith in myself that I feel like once you get the ball in my hands there's nobody that can stop me," Grant said. "I haven't had any injuries off the field, so I'm as healthy as a horse and fast, quick. Yes, I don't have the size, by you can't hit what you can't catch."
Grant had the most electrifying performance of his career against Oklahoma State on Oct. 31, racking up an incredible 323 all-purpose yards, totaling 210 all-purpose yards in the first quarter alone. His 323 yards ranked fourth in Texas Tech single-game history and were the most in a game since Wes Welker had 327 against Texas A&M in 2002. He turned a short out route into an amazing 90-yard gain by reversing field twice and evading a handful of tackles, setting up an eventual touchdown on Tech's second drive. It marked the longest reception by a Red Raider since Rodney Blackshear went 95 yards against Houston in 1991. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown later in the quarter--the fourth kickoff return touchdown of his career. Just in that game he set career highs in receptions (13), receiving yards (178), all-purpose yards (323), long reception (90) and long kick return (100).
"I definitely want to come in there and show them my personality and show them I'm just an outgoing guy," Grant said. "I'm confident, self-motivated and that's the type of guy I am. I want to show people that and how I don't wish that I'm bigger than what I am. I commend my size. I love my size. I feel like I'm not blessed with the height, but I'm blessed in other areas that some guys do not have."
The Red Raiders boasted one of the top offenses in college football this past season as Texas Tech ranked second nationally in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense. Tech also ranked among the top 40 teams in the country in rushing offense.
Fans can follow Texas Tech football on Twitter and Instagram for updates on Red Raiders signing with NFL teams in the coming days.
Thank you Mr. Davis, Coach Del Rio, Mr. McKenzie and the entire @RAIDERS organization!! Let's get to work ???? #RaiderNation #DaRaiders
-- DeAndre Washington (@dwa5hington) April 30, 2016
Just want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love. Miami here I come! #Blessed
-- Jakeem Deone Grant (@_TheDreamIsHere) May 1, 2016
