Joe Washington

Joe Washington was born in Crockett, Texas, and graduated from Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, where his father coached. At Oklahoma he was a three-time first-team All-Big Eight pick and a unanimous All-American in 1974. He finished third in the Heisman voting in 1974 and fifth in 1975, won national titles both years, and ran for 4,071 career yards. San Diego drafted him fourth overall in 1976, but a knee injury cost him his rookie season. Traded to Baltimore for Lydell Mitchell, he ran for 958 yards in 1978, then led the NFL with 82 catches in 1979 and made the Pro Bowl. He won Super Bowl XVII with Washington and is on the team's list of 70 greatest Redskins. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame. The Daily Oklahoman wrote on April 9, 1976 (NewsBank page 81): "Also going in the first round, as expected, were two other OU players, defensive lineman Leroy Selmon, draft's first pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and halfback Joe Washington, No. 4 by the San Diego Chargers."