Meet Byron Washington, the Texas-sized offensive lineman whose profile is on the rise

DESOTO, Texas — Byron Washington grew 6 inches in a month while he was in the sixth grade. You may not believe that because, well, it’s practically unbelievable. But this wasn’t just a natural growth spurt for the DeSoto High offensive lineman who now stands 6-foot-8, 380 pounds. It turned out to be a serious medical issue.

At one point, the pain was so unbearable that Washington went to the hospital, where doctors informed him he had to undergo emergency surgery within the next five days or he’d be at risk of his growth plates collapsing. Had that happened, Washington might never have walked normally again.

“My growth plates were stretching so much, I had to get metal rods put in my legs to straighten them out for more support on my body,” said Washington, a three-star prospect in the Class of 2025. “For two years, I had to do physical therapy. I had to learn how to trust my body again. Getting to this point wasn’t easy.”

It’s hard to imagine that phase of Washington’s life given what we know about him now. When he walked from the practice field into the indoor facility at DeSoto, he had to duck through the doorway to avoid hitting his head. He squeezed into the office chair and his knees were still above his waist. His hands swallow another grown man’s hand during a handshake, and his shoe size is 18.

Washington is one of the largest human beings you’ll ever meet. But one thing that makes him special is how he moves. He’s athletic and agile. He plays left guard for the undefeated Eagles, who are pursuing their second consecutive state title. That position is usually reserved for smaller offensive linemen, but he’s a proficient blocker who pulls effectively and plays violently.

People that big aren’t supposed to move that well.

He already has offers from Texas, Oregon, TCU and Arizona State, and many more will likely follow.

“He doesn’t lose reps,” DeSoto head coach Claude Mathis said. “He just doesn’t lose them. Ever.”

How could he? Washington looks like an NFL left tackle going against a high schooler. Even the most physically advanced defensive linemen in Texas high school football don’t stand a chance. When DeSoto played — and defeated — Dallas-area powerhouse Duncanville, the Eagles handed the ball off to their running back 25 times and let Washington do the dirty work in the trenches. The best part? Washington plays with swagger. He talks trash. He gets in the opposition’s face and exudes confidence.

Could you imagine being a defensive end and seeing Washington sprinting full speed toward you? What is a normal-sized human supposed to do?

“Some of them run away,” Washington said. “For the people who do stand in there, that’s not smart. I don’t blame the ones who move. That’s a business decision.”

A business decision?

“Yeah,” he responded. “Not wanting to get pancaked. Nobody wants a 6-foot-8, 380-pound lineman laying on them and going viral for what happened.”

Washington is a nice young man, but he has an edge to him when he gets on the field. He is driven by the opportunity to attend college for free and knows every single rep he puts on tape is another step toward reaching that goal.

It’s been a slow process. When he attended recruiting camps earlier in his high school career, Washington impressed coaches with his size, but they told him he lacked agility and would have to work on that aspect of his game if he wanted to play at the next level. What coaches failed to realize was that Washington was still recovering from a traumatic surgery and learning to trust his body.

“Once he got the rods out of his legs, he could move better,” Mathis said. “His flexibility has been a big, big plus. He has been working on that and his knee movement a lot with (assistant) coaches (Charles) Williams and (Colton) Bowen. Athletically, he’s been going through all the drills well. … Our coaching staff has done wonders with his ability to access his athleticism and also him being sound with his technique.”

Washington’s recruitment is just starting. He’s only a junior and still getting his (giant) feet under him.

But four Power 5 programs have already taken the leap. Those schools know where this is headed. Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood offered him during the Longhorns’ end-of-summer pool party recruiting event in late July. You guessed it, Washington did a cannonball.

Washington is a Texas priority — head coach Steve Sarkisian called him at 12:01 a.m. the first day he was permitted to speak to juniors — which is saying something given how difficult it can be for in-state prospects to get the Longhorns to go all-in this early in their careers.

Sarkisian wants big, athletic linemen as Texas makes the transition to the SEC. Washington fits that bill perfectly.

And while Washington does react positively when Texas is brought up in conversation, he’s also mature enough to know what’s around the corner. More offers are going to pour in, and his recruiting ranking — he’s No. 678 overall in the 247Sports Composite — is sure to improve. On3 lists him as a guard, and 247Sports has him ranked as an offensive tackle. Washington prefers to play on the interior.

“I’m a big guard,” he said. “In pass pro, it actually helps me because I can push people off my chest from bull-rushing me.”

Attention is growing. Washington has heard from Georgia and Alabama. When those programs get involved, others follow. Also, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal reached out to Washington after seeing his highlights on the internet. The two speak on the phone and FaceTime regularly. Washington hopes to meet the man he refers to as “uncle” soon.

“He gave me a call and was obsessed by how well I can move,” Washington said. “When he was my age and this big, he really couldn’t move. I get calls from him and Charles Barkley. He always calls before big games. I was just on the phone with him two days ago. … He is known for helping big kids like me who couldn’t find clothes and stuff.”

Washington doesn’t love attention in public. It’s not fun when everyone points out his size or wants to ask questions about it. But he wants attention for his football prowess and the accolades that come with it. He wants the typical high-profile recruitment that comes with being an elite-level prospect.

“I want to finish my high school career as a five-star prospect and be a player at DeSoto who leaves with a legacy,” Washington said. “I want to leave with three state championships. I want people to remember we dominated Duncanville my junior year, and I want to go to an All-American game and announce there.”

Washington is a larger-than-life player who will end up with a larger-than-life recruitment.

He deserves it for more reasons than just his size.

(Photo: Ari Wasserman / The Athletic)