Palmetto standout Washington happy with UM trajectory

CORAL GABLES — Robby Washington was one of the first players to join the Hurricanes’ 2023 recruiting class, committing to Miami with his brother Bobby on March 24.

Since then, Miami and coach Mario Cristobal have completed spring football, hosted a series of summer camps and gotten hot on the recruiting trail. Having seen all that, the Miami Palmetto star likes where the program is headed.

“[Cristobal has] been running it good the last few months,” Washington said at the Hurricanes’ Legends Camp on Saturday. “As you can see, we have a couple commits . ... He has to be doing something right. He’s changed everything around. The players love him, I love him, my family loves him.”

Although Washington did not participate in Miami’s Legends Camp, he hung around the camp and said he spoke to former Hurricanes stars Roscoe Parrish and Reggie Wayne.

“They gave me [advice]: just stay focused, keep working and stay home,” Washington said.

Washington, who has played both wide receiver and defensive back in high school, said Miami views him as a wide receiver, which is what he prefers. He put up prolific numbers at Miami Killian last year, racking up 42 catches for 868 yards and 16 touchdowns. He scored three rushing touchdowns and added four special-teams touchdowns.

Washington said he models his game after former UM great Devin Hester.

“I want to see more [of Miami] getting the players in space, getting the freshman guys involved ... I just want to see everybody play,” Washington said.

Washington, who is rated a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, said he has been in touch with several top players around South Florida and around the nation, trying to bring them to Miami.

He said he had been talking to quarterback Jaden Rashada and Nathaniel Joseph; Rashada committed to the Hurricanes the next day, while Joseph picked UM on Tuesday. Washington said he had also been speaking to Miami Gulliver Prep wide receiver Jalen Brown frequently.

“I’m trying to get a lot to play with me so we can win a [national championship],” Washington said.