Shamen’s back
After missing last season, Washington hopes to help Bison in ‘07 with agile moves and breakaway speed
Shamen Washington is 5-foot-6, 150-pound Division I football player. Despite his small size, his absence last season was large.
Washington returned to the field last Wednesday when NDSU began its spring football season.
The punt returner missed all of last season after he injured his knee early in fall camp.
“Little Buddy,” as some of his teammates call him, came to NDSU from Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg, Fla. in the fall of 2004.
Washington admitted it took him some time to adjust to the changes of college that fall, but it didn’t appear to affect his game on the field.
In his freshman season, Washington was twice named Great West Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his impressive kick and punt returns.
In an effort for NDSU to utilize his speed, Shamen also carried the ball 17 times and rushed for 217 yards.
He was off to a great start to his Bison football career, when his season ended prematurely, due to a torn meniscus.
Knee surgery corrected the problem, and Shamen returned to the field for his sophomore season.
Yet again, he dazzled the NDSU crowd and made opposing coaches second guess themselves with his kick and punt returns.
His sophomore year proved to be more successful than his freshmen season. He earned a spot on the All Great-West Conference First Team.
After much anticipation for his junior year, Washington hurt his knee again, this time requiring major surgery.
The coaching staff and Washington agreed to use a medical hardship, in hope Washington would recover in time for the next season.
The Bison finished 10-1 last year, but the Bison had several moments that Washington’s breakaway speed would have helped them.
“I’ve never had to sit out an entire season. It was very hard for me,” Washington said. “I loved watching my team win, but I wished I could have been a part of it.”
Senior receiver Travis White filled Washington’s role as the punt returner last season, and averaged 16 yards per return and scored two touchdowns. After a slow start, White improved at the position and returned a punt for a game-deciding touchdown in the team’s final game against SDSU.
Shamen is listed as a wide receiver, and that is one of the many ways that head coach Craig Bohl and his staff have used his quickness.
“Right now I know I will definitely be returning kicks and punts. I am playing a little bit of wide receiver, and they move me over to running back a little. But they keep me moving around a lot,” Washington said.
Washington said he is at 100 percent.
“Right now I am feeling good, my knee is feeling as good as it ever has,” Washington said. “No aches, no pains, just excited to get out there.”
Washington said he is ready to “do his thing” and that despite his injury-laden career and being undersized, he has no anxiety on the field.
“I have never been intimidated out on the field,” Washington said. “I have been this size all my life, I have always been the underdog, and this injury won’t change that.”