Tuesday, August 20, 2002 Updated: August 22, 2:01 PM ET
X Men
By By Bruce Feldman
Creating mismatches is easy when you have a player who can do it all.
The movie Ultimate X wasn't about Kelley Washington, but if you ask the Tennessee receiver, he'll say it should have been. After all, Washington is the ultimate X-receiver, a chiseled 6'4", 225-pound sophomore who can work underneath, maul DBs who try to jam him and, with 4.3 speed and a 40-inch vertical, go deep and high.
Washington is the Vols X-Man.
"People will look at me and say, 'He's a mix of David Boston and Terrell Owens -- a big, tall, rangy, physical receiver who can change the game,'" says Washington. "I'm what receivers are gonna look like in the future." Which explains why he's dubbed himself The Future.
Vols coach Phil Fulmer might prefer The Franchise: "He relied on natural ability last season, and you could see him getting better. Now he understands route-running and coverages, and we're expecting big things."
In 2001, after four years of minor league baseball, Washington, a 22-year-old freshman, caught 64 passes (45 for first downs) for 1,010 yards. By moving to X, he's now the Vols' go-to guy and will shift all over the field (Fulmer huddled with Bucs coach Jon Gruden to devise creative matchups). With a little creativity, Washington -- a former QB -- really could be the ultimate weapon: "I got a great arm, too."
Marques Harris, Colorado Jr. DE/LB
Former prep wrestler too quick for OTs, too powerful for TEs
Terrence Holt, NC State Sr. FS
All over the field; blocked 4 FGs and made 104 tackles in '01
Teyo Johnson, Stanford So. WR
At 6'7", impossible to defend on fade -- unless Shaq plays CB
Andrew Pinnock, South Carolina Sr. FB/RB
Standing six feet, 255, looks, runs and catches like Jerome Bettis
Shaud Williams Alabama Jr. RB/WR
New position, A-back, isolates Williams (5'8", 189) vs. 'backers
