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Nebraska Football: Ex-Husker Maurice Washington explodes for Grambling

By Oliver Vandervoort

Jackson State linebacker Jeremiah Brown (42) gets ready to take down Grambling running back Maurice Washington (28) during an NCAA college football game against in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Tcl Grambling Jackson State
Jackson State linebacker Jeremiah Brown (42) gets ready to take down Grambling running back Maurice Washington (28) during an NCAA college football game against in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Tcl Grambling Jackson State /
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Former Nebraska football star Maurice Washington is back playing college ball for the first time since 2019, and it appears that he’s returning to form as the season wears on. The running back, who last played for the Huskers three years ago, caught on with the Grambling State Tigers and until yesterday was having a rather below-the-radar season.

It would appear after his game for the Tigers against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions that he isn’t going to be staying under the radar much longer. In fact, the former Nebraska football star announced his presence to the college world with some authority.

Against the Golden Lions, Maurice Washington rushed for 200 yards on just 10 carries. While this was easily the biggest game of the year for him, he’s been relatively productive for the FCS-level school.

After getting just three carries for 1 yard on September 3 against Arkansas State, he managed 95 yards on 5 carries the following week against Northwestern State. In fact, despite not appearing at all in three games, the former Husker back leads Grambling State in yards this season with 501, as well as rushing touchdowns with 7. This, despite the fact that he’s just third on the team in carries.

Of course, talent has never been the issue with Maurice Washington. In 2018 as a trust freshman, he was second on the team among running backs with 455 yards (a 5.9 yards per carry average) and 3 rushing touchdowns. He was also third on the team in receptions with 24 for 221 yards.

Washington’s Nebraska football career was cut short when legal troubles followed him from his native California. He was initially suspended for the start of the first game of the 2019 season and saw questions about whether he should be playing follow him all season long. He was eventually dismissed from the team by then-head coach Scott Frost in January of 2020.

After years in the wilderness, the running back still has another year after this one of eligibility. One has to wonder whether the former Nebraska football star will stick it out at the FCS level or might look to parlay what has been a successful return into a scholarship at an FBS school in 2023.

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