Ole Miss senior safety Trey Washington , last year’s leading tackler on the team, has a very concise and matter of fact creed when it comes to his approach to football.
“I just want to be a consistent player, a great teammate, an efficient player and a player who makes plays,” he encapsulates. “I felt I did that last year and I want to do it again this year.”
Trey is a quiet sort, but he’s trying to break out of that per the request of the Ole Miss coaches.
“They want me to be more vocal, which is not natural to me, but I’m working on it,” he assessed. “This year, it’s more about vocal leadership and speaking my mind as a senior leader. I think I have earned the respect of my teammates so it’s time to take the reins of leadership in the secondary and on the defense.”
Washington is excited about the transfer safeties the Ole Miss staff have brought in – Yam Banks , Key Lawrence and Louis Moore .
“Competition breeds excellence,” Washington said. “The guys coach (Lane) Kiffin has brought in here are very good and they will only make us stronger. Competing with those guys is going to make me better, make them better and ultimately the defense and the team better.
“ Jadon (Canady) , a transfer from a year ago who was injured most of last year, is also a competitor and a playmaker. He’s also very vocal and brings a lot of energy to the table. If we need a kick in the butt, so to speak, he’s there to give it.”
And, of course, Trey and fellow senior safety John Saunders, Jr. are tight, both having started a year ago.
“That’s my brother in arms,” Trey smiled. “We push each other and expect the best from each other. It’s all good with me and John.”
Trey said all the safeties are going to benefit from what he believes will be an outstanding defensive front.
“I love those guys. They take a lot of pressure off the back end of the defense because they are going to be able to force quarterbacks to make mistakes and when they make mistakes, the safeties and corners will be waiting to make plays.
“Quarterbacks simply are not going to have as much time to stand in the pocket and pat the ball. Our D-line is going to be too good for that. “
Washington, who had 83 tackles and 3 interceptions last season, would like to put up better numbers in pass defense this year.
“With our front, I doubt I will get the opportunity to make that many tackles because I don’t look for runners to get to the safeties that often, but I’d really like to have more passes defended and I think I will because a lot of the run support pressure will be off due to our front and linebackers,” he closed.
Trey Washington was one of the stalwarts of the Ole Miss defense a year ago and certainly expects to be one in 2024.
Maybe this year he will be recognized for his consistent playmaking ability.
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