ESPN Names James Washington No. 4 Player In Big 12

James Washington is apparently good enough to be the No. 4 player in the Big 12 but not one of the top 100 players in the country. ESPN’s Big 12 blog has The President ranked as the No. 4 player behind Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes and Samaje Perine. I don’t love Mahomes, but I understand why those three players are ahead of The Prez.

Here’s what Jake Trotter wrote about him.

Alongside Rashaun Woods, Dez Bryant and Justin Blackmon, Washington has emerged as the next in a recent line of All-American-caliber Cowboys receivers. With terrific ball skills and tremendous agility, Washington is a nightmare matchup for opposing defensive backs downfield. The league’s only returning 1,000-yard receiver, Washington is a true contender for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to college football’s top wideout.

Strangely though, Washington was not voted as one of the 100 best college football players in the country by ESPN. Mason Rudolph checked in at No. 74. Trotter, by the way, is not the only person to compare Washington to Rashaun.

“Nobody really compares to Hart Lee Dykes,” said Mike Gundy last week. “He was such a physical presence at 6’4″ and 225 pounds. I don’t know that anybody has ever gotten to his level. Dez was a great player we all know, Blackmon was a great player, Rashaun Woods was a great player.”

“James falls more into the Rashaun Woods category in my opinion. Very quiet, he’s a terrific route runner. He has a burst that is a little more deceptive than what defensive players think. That’s what makes him a good player. All of them are ultra-competitive. And he is more of the Rashaun Woods mold than the other guys.”

If he has a Rashaun Woods-like junior and senior season then OSU will be all set.