Where Are They Now? L’Damian Washington
Mizzou Made wide receiver L’Damian Washington has kept himself plenty busy since graduation last year.
Life in the NFL
Washington recently signed a future/reserve contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ensuring he’ll enter next year’s training camp in black and gold. Practice squad members and free agents are eligible to sign futures contract once the regular season is over, but the contract won’t officially take effect until March 10, the start of the upcoming league year. These “future contracts” are a way to lock down talented players on a team’s own practice squad or, in like in Washington’s case, players on another team’s practice squad.
“I’m so excited to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Washington said. “This is the year and the right team for me.”
The Steelers contract comes on the heels of a busy regular season, which found Washington on practice squads in Dallas, Cleveland, and New York before ending the season with Miami. Bouncing around the NFL can be disheartening, but Washington says his experiences so far have helped him grow.
“Last year was quite the journey, and I thank my true fans for sticking with me,” Washington said. “Patience is something that we all preach but we all seem not to have. My patience is being tested right now, but my faith has gotten stronger.”
LDamian.com
Washington has been making an impact off the field as well. His website LDamian.com officially launched on January 14, 2015, showcasing his life and personal stories. The site features an in-depth section about Washington’s loved ones and how they have contributed to his success, as well as photo galleries, a blog for the latest news, and information about Washington himself.
“What amazing reviews I’ve gotten from the website,” Washington said. “The feedback I’ve gotten from fans was nothing short of awesome. I’m so amazed at the blessing of support I’ve gotten back.”
Fans of Washington can also sign up on LDamian.com to receive email updates about his NFL career, speaking engagements, and upcoming events.
Mizzou Made
Coming out of high school, Rivals.com rated Washington the No. 51 overall prospect from the state of Louisiana. A native of Shreveport, Washington played both offense and defense in high school, notching 53 passes for 12 touchdowns on offense and four interceptions on defense his senior year.
In an effort to stay close to his three brothers, Washington initially committed to Louisiana Tech. He took his first plane ride to come visit Mizzou and Minnesota, and something about Mizzou really stuck with him.
“I didn’t pick Mizzou,” Washington said. “Mizzou picked me.”
With the support and encouragement of his brothers, Washington set his sights on Mizzou and never looked back. Washington made a name for himself as a big-time receiver at Mizzou, recording 100 receptions for 1,735 yards and 15 touchdowns in his 51-game collegiate career. He played two seasons in the Big 12 before transitioning to the SEC; his senior year, he was a major contributor for the SEC East Champion squad, propelling the Tigers to a stellar 12-win season.
“Mizzou is who I am,” Washington said. “My heart is probably shaped like a tiger or the letter M. I bleed black and gold. I am a Tiger.”
Follow more of Washington’s journey on LDamian.com
