Maya Green Director of Recruiting Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Maya Green Director of Recruiting Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois wide receiver Casey Washington has been selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, holding the 187th overall pick. Washington is notable for being the first Fighting Illini wide receiver drafted since A.J. Jenkins, who was a first-round pick in 2012. His selection marks the 256th time an Illinois player has been chosen in the NFL Draft, a tradition that dates back to 1937.
During his tenure with Illinois, Washington accumulated 122 receptions for 1,508 yards and scored four touchdowns over five years. He experienced a standout senior season in 2023, achieving career highs with 49 receptions, 670 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Notably, he concluded his college career with an impressive performance against Northwestern, recording 218 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
In the Big Ten conference during the regular season of 2023, Washington ranked ninth in receptions with a total of 49. He was sixth in receiving yards during Big Ten games with a total of 589 and ninth in receiving touchdowns with four.
Washington's draft by Atlanta makes him the seventh Illini player to join the Falcons' ranks and the first since quarterback Kurt Kittner was picked by them in 2002. Additionally, he is noted as being the 55th NFL Draft pick under Bret Bielema's leadership as head coach over his fifteen seasons.
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