As Malik Washington continues to put his name on NFL Draft boards, there’s probably a fair question to ask about his team back in Charlottesville, That question: will the Virginia football program be able to show that Washington wasn’t just a fluke within the system?

It’s pretty clear how he contributed last fall. Washington, after all, set single-season school records with 110 receptions and 1,426 receiving yards. Those catches and his 9.17 receptions per game both set the single-season ACC record too. He grabbed 9 touchdown catches too.

While that didn’t translate into a winning record overall, Washington certainly contributed to the wins Virginia did get. After all, he had a touchdown catch in all three victories. That included 2 touchdowns in the win against Duke, the go-ahead touchdown at UNC, and the put-it-away touchdown against William & Mary. You can argue he helped make at least three other games close too with at least one touchdown reception in each of the losses to JMU, NC State, and Boston College, which all were decided by 3 points or less.

The Hoos now must replace that production and clutch competitor piece, though. Washington had at least a little bit of in impact there in the transfer portal this offseason. Virginia brought in multiple receivers with solid credentials or upside. At least two players, Chris Tyree and Andre Greene Jr., noted that Washington’s season in orange and blue played a part in their decision.

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