MANSFIELD — It didn’t take long for Mansfield Senior’s Chek Washington to make up his mind.
A Division II All-Ohio first-team selection at wide receiver, Washington verbally committed to Ohio University on Sunday. The athletic 6-foot, 200-pound senior took his official visit to the Athens campus in southeast Ohio over the weekend before casting his lot with former Nebraska coach Frank Solich and the Bobcats.
“I talked to my parents after my visit and we decided Ohio University was the best fit for me,” said Washington, who was considering offers from Toledo, Kent State, Buffalo and Miami of Ohio. “My visit was great and I just felt comfortable there.”
Defensive coordinators who had to game plan against Washington were anything but comfortable last fall. The three-year starter rewrote Senior High’s record books, becoming the first player in program history to top 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. In 12 games he caught 67 passes for 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Tygers were unbeaten in the regular season and advanced to the second round of the Division II playoffs before falling to New Albany. Playing with a separated shoulder, Washington caught six passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff loss.
“He had a great career for us and I have no doubt he can compete at the next level,” said Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley, a former Senior High All-Ohioan and four-year starter for Bowling Green State University (an Ohio University rival in the Mid-American Conference East Division). “He has everything they are looking for. He is fast and athletic and he has great hips and footwork.”
Those characteristics will serve him well no matter what position he ends up playing. The Bobcats have left that up to Washington.
“They told Chek they were bringing him with the idea that he could compete immediately for a job on the defensive side of the ball,” Bradley said. “At the same time, he will have the chance to try out on offense if that is what he wants to do.
“He will have every opportunity to play as a freshman.”
Defensively, Washington made 48 tackles and had three interceptions from his safety spot. He broke up six passes, had three tackles for loss and forced a fumble.
“They want me to play defense right away, but they also want me to play where I’m most comfortable,” Washington said. “I just want to help out wherever I can.”
The Bobcats were 7-7 last season and tied for third with Akron in the MAC East standings at 4-4. OU played in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Dec. 23, falling to East Carolina 37-20.
Ohio University has been invited to bowl games each of the past five seasons and six times since 2007. Solich, who was the head coach at Nebraska from 1998 to 2003, is 66-50 since taking over at OU in 2005. The Bobcats have two MAC East championships and two bowl game wins under Solich, who was 58-19 at Nebraska.
“It is a great program and they have enjoyed a lot of success the last few years,” Bradley said. “They participate at a high level and I feel like Chek will fit in nicely as long as he keeps a level head.
“I see him as a pro-style cornerback because he has great size. As a nickelback, he can play man coverage on a slot receiver.”
So what does he need to improve upon before arriving in Athens?
“Chek needs to work on his overall speed and strength, but you can say that about every incoming freshman,” Bradley said. “It’s a major adjustment for anyone, but anyone who accepts a full Division I scholarship understands that. He will become invested in a top-notch strength and conditioning program.”
Washington, who has yet to take his ACT test, said there is plenty of work to do. Signing day is Feb. 5.
“I need to improve on my speed and my footwork can still be better,” he said. “I know I need to get better at everything, but I can’t wait to get started.”
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
