Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington was among the standout performers at this year's East-West Shrine Bowl. Washington consistently separated from coverage and made plays on the ball. It was the continuation of a strong campaign for Washington, who recorded 110 receptions for 1,426 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his lone season at Virginia.
Washington recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Washington discussed his takeaways from the East-West Shrine Bowl, his favorite routes to run, his decision to transfer from Northwestern to Virginia, and more.
JM: You were a standout performer at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. You consistently made plays in the passing game. What was the overall experience like?
Malik Washington: It was an amazing experience from start to finish. Once we checked in, we had a chance to meet with the NFLPA. I saw Michael Vick and some other stand-up legends out there. Hall of Fame players were in attendance. We then had a chance to play with the kids at the Shriners Hospital. Every moment of the week felt very important, and a lot of fun.
JM: What do you think you proved to general managers and scouts in attendance?
Malik Washington: I was watching the Senior Bowl as I tried to keep up with what was going on. I was surprised to see that guys weren’t really pressing receivers in the slot. We were pressing receivers in the slot at the Shrine. Every single rep I took was a press-man rep. That gave me a chance to showcase my ability to get off of press coverage and separate down the field.
I can track the ball and make acrobatic catches. I was making the same big-time catches I made on film. I made those plays in front of NFL scouts.
JM: You sure did. You probably met with every team at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Did any of those team meetings particularly stand out? Did you spend time with more teams than others?
Malik Washington: The way the Shrine was set up, we had a chance to sit down in rooms with individual teams every single day. They pulled us aside and things of that nature. I had a lot of great conversations with a lot of teams. I especially enjoyed my conversations with the Browns, Raiders, Panthers, and Chiefs especially.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why on tape. You had a massive breakout season in 2023. You recorded single-season school records in receptions (110) and receiving yards (1,426) and scored nine touchdowns. What led to your uptick in production this season?
Malik Washington: I took advantage of my opportunity. Virginia gave me a chance to see all of the hard work I put into this come to fruition. Preparation finally met opportunity. It was a great situation for me. The coaching staff at Virginia really dialed into who I am as a person and athlete.
They allowed me to play freely within their system. They brought me into the program to make plays in the passing game. I became comfortable in that offense as its No. 1 receiver. I had the trust of my quarterback and coaching staff. Everybody supported me and vice versa. Good things happen when you have a team that’s working together.
JM: On that topic, now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Northwestern to Virginia? It obviously worked out for you.
Malik Washington: I took a leap of faith when I entered the portal. I knew what I wanted going into the process. I knew that I wanted to get another degree at a prestigious school. I knew that I wanted to catch 80 passes and go for 1,000 yards. I knew that I wanted these different experiences.
Looking back at it, I became an All-American on just about every platform. I was a Biletnikoff semifinalist. All of the accolades that came with it, I’m very appreciative for my time at UVA. When I was sitting down trying to make the decision, even my wildest dreams didn’t see it ending like that.
JM: You had an incredible season. Does Malik Washington have a favorite route to run?
Malik Washington: Yeah, I often tell people that the five-step slant is my favorite route. It’s a five-step glance route. I like that route because it gives me a chance to know if you’re going to get the ball or not (laughs). When you’re an advanced route-runner like I am, you have a pretty good idea of when the ball’s coming your way on each individual play.
If I make the first defender miss on that five-step glance route, it’s probably going to be a touchdown or a big gain. If the safety comes down and the defense is biting on a run, I’m going to get the ball against this nickel defender. If the safety stays back, I still have to be alert for the ball because I know I have the trust of my quarterback.
That five-step slant gives me a chance to make a pre-snap read and know exactly what I need to do in order to make this play work.
JM: How would you write your own scouting report? What’s Malik Washington’s approach to playing the wide receiver position?
Malik Washington: When you watch my tape, you see a competitor in all three phases of the game. You see a receiver that takes off post-snap by exploding into my routes. You see a receiver that competes for the ball with strength at the catch point.
I’m a savvy route-runner that finds ways to get open, whether that’s through physicality or good feet. Once I catch the ball, it’s a totally different game. I was one of the best in the country at breaking tackles and finding ways to move the chains. I made plays go way beyond the catch point.
You look at the kind of player that I am, if you take out the measurements, you see one of the best receivers in the nation.
JM: Speaking of, you’ve been called “undersized” your entire career. You’ve proved doubters wrong at every turn. How do you typically respond to the size questions?
Malik Washington: It’s always going to be a question, especially with how football is being played today. I understand that. But we’ve seen great receivers come in at under 6 feet. We’ve seen those smaller receivers do great things at the next level. Once it happens, everybody loves to pretend like they knew that would happen. But when that player is being recruited, everyone shies away from them.
When I get those size questions, I tell them to look at the tape, to look at my numbers. Just watch me play football. I don’t think you can place a measurement on a football player. There’s so much that goes into it. There’s the fight, fearlessness, and competitiveness. I bring all of those things to the table.
When a team asks about my size, maybe ask about why I had one of the highest contested catch rates in the country. It doesn’t really make sense. It’s always going to be a battle, something I have to fight through. I think if I just continue playing football the way I do, it’ll all work out.
JM: I love that answer. I’ve appreciated your time today. What kind of person and player is a team getting when they draft Malik Washington?
Malik Washington: You’re getting a great person and player that approaches everyday life differently. A lot of guys feel like they approach football in a unique manner, but I think I approach everyday life in a unique way.
I wake up and start my day with something motivational. I stay grounded. I stay the course throughout the day. I’m an excellent student that approached school work differently from most student-athletes. I wanted to get the best grades and graduate with the highest GPA.
I love competing. That’s my daily approach to football. I compete every single day to be the best. I try to be respectful of everyone I come across. If I make a mistake, I own up to it and become better.
My approach to everyday life is different. I think that’s what’s going to make me so valuable to an NFL franchise.
