Washington enters race for Husker quarterback

When Latravis Washington finished last year at linebacker, he sported the number seven across both sides of his jersey.

Seven holds a special place in many Husker hearts as memories of Eric Crouch and Scott Frost flash through like movies in their mental theater. With Washington moving to quarterback for the first time Wednesday, NU's number seven on defense ran into a dilemma – there was already a number seven on offense in sophomore quarterback Kody Spano.

The new number handed to Washington – 15, and it's more ironic than what is shown on the cover.

"Before I came out to practice I was like ‘Oh God, Tommy Frazier, hometown,'" Washington said. "I know Frazier really good. I talked to him when I was recruited by Nebraska. He basically told me how much tradition Nebraska brings."

Having the number 15 across his jersey tied him not only to a friend, but a friend who grew up in the same town he did. Both Frazier and Washington were raised in Bradenton, Fla. before coming to wear Nebraska red.

Although a decade separates the two Florida-natives, Washington is hoping some of Frazier's NU aura can rub off on him as he tries his hand at being the Nebraska signal-caller.

"Those are some big shoes to fill," Washington said. "He grew up in my hometown, man. I used to watch film of him because his coach was a good friend of my dad."

Washington may not be filling Frazier's shoes directly in Lincoln, but filling the shoes of former NU quarterback Joe Ganz still isn't an easy task. Washington is sitting down on the bottom of the quarterback totem pole, and the decision to jump didn't come too long ago.

It was just Monday when Washington officially let both NU coach Bo Pelini and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson that he was ready to be another NU quarterback this spring.
Watson said his thought process on having Washington under center started a few weeks before spring break came.

"He comes in my office and says to put a play in for him every now and then, and I said how about we put in a lot of plays for you," Watson said. "He had been a quarterback, and we obviously needed an arm with Cody's injury and he was the best arm talent."

Washington started at quarterback for Bayshore High School in Bradenton while also finding time on the field at defensive end and in the defensive secondary. NU obviously went for his defensive skills, putting Washington at linebacker, and he became a needed member of that unit near the end of last season.

Washington can now make the jump to quarterback as NU returns several experienced linebackers along with a brand new crop of redshirt freshmen who Pelini openly said could have played and contributed greatly last season. With the recent jump, the learning curve will have to be a sharp one for him to see any time in 2009.

"Two days ago was my first time ever looking at the playbook and when I looked at it, I was like ‘Wow,'" Washington said. "It's a lot of stuff thrown at you."

Comparing the NU junior to a Husker legend might be a little steep to do on March 25 according to Washington, but he said he can hopefully bring memories to Lincoln like Frazier did in the 1990s. Watson said it's hard to tell what to expect out of the junior after just one day, but he isn't ruling him out.

"Who knows, but it's spring," Watson said. "Let's be fair to him. He went home over break and thought about it, and he came back from break and said, ‘You know what, I want to do this thing.' He came out here (Wednesday) and did a good job."

spencerschubert@dailynebraskan.com