A'Mauri Washington

The Player

Washington is an inconsistent but versatile interior defensive lineman who can be dominant at times. He primarily plays inside but has the versatility to line up across the defensive front.

He’s difficult to block with one man and can free up teammates by occupying multiple blockers. Washington stacks blockers, locates the ball, and gets off blocks while also possessing the quickness to slip blocks and shoot gaps. He’s explosive enough to split double-teams, and his mass makes him difficult to move when he keeps his pads down.

It’s all about pad level for Washington. He frequently plays high despite his low center of gravity, allowing double-teams and combo blocks to move him. He can also get washed down the line on zone runs.

His lack of sack production is misleading, as Washington is a disruptive pass rusher with rare upside. He’s a powerful bull rusher capable of driving blockers into the quarterback’s lap, and he has the length and active hands to get off blocks. He closes exceptionally well for his size and excels at getting his hands into passing lanes, tying for sixth in the Big Ten with eight pass breakups in 2025. He needs to play lower and do a better job of breaking down and finishing when he reaches the quarterback.

Washington’s athletic profile is exceptional for a 319-pounder. He reportedly has reached 20.89 mph on the field, posted a 36-inch vertical, squatted 755 pounds, bench-pressed 475, and power-cleaned 385. He has even lined up at tight end and fullback.

A true senior, Washington has played 37 games and started 15, with all 15 starts coming in 2025. He earned third-team All–Big Ten honors after posting career highs of 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and eight pass breakups in 2025.