Montrell Washington brings a backyard football mentality to the Broncos' return game

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Montrell Washington has always lived life on the edge when it’s come to returning punts and kicks.

“I’ll catch it on the one [yard line], the two, I don’t fair catch. There’s no fair catch in me,” the explosive returner said during his time at Samford University.

In college, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound speeder proved there was no reason to waive the white flag when a kick was in the air. As a senior, Washington combined for nearly 1,000 return yards, including topping 100 yards in four different games.

Despite being drafted in the fifth round to be Denver’s next dynamic returner, Washington’s never-fair-catch mentality won’t carry over to the NFL.

“Oh no sir, no sir. Not at all,” Washington said moments after being drafted, when asked if he’ll keep that same mentality in the NFL.

“In college, you just say stuff. This is professional football, so this is completely different,” Washington added. “This is business, so I will do my job. If I need to fair catch, I will fair catch, for sure.”

Just because Washington will throw his hand in the air to fair catch in the NFL doesn’t mean he’ll approach returning kicks any different.

“I’m fearless,” Washington said in the offseason when asked what makes him a dynamic returner. “I just think I’m fearless back there. Just catch it and go. It’s like a game, I guess.”

Despite 11 super-human athletes flying down the field at full speed looking to take him down, the smallest player on the Broncos’ roster doesn’t worry about getting hurt.

Instead, he treats it like being in the backyard with his friends.

“I would say it’s just like backyard football,” he said, describing what returning punts is like. “As kids, you throw the football in the air, and you catch it, and all your friends try to get you. That’s kind of how punt return is for me when I’m back there. I feel like it’s a game and I’m in the backyard. I just have to go score.”

Washington models his game after one of, if not the best, returners of all time.

“I watch all of the old Devin Hester returns. Punt returns, kick returns—everything Devin Hester I watch for sure,” Washington said. “Of course, Tyreek [Hill], guys like that.”

Along with his mindset, one of the reasons Washington is a dangerous returner is due to his track background, where he competed in nearly every event, including the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter and long jump.

Entering training camp, the return job is the rookie’s to lose.

If Washington’s approach to competing for the starting job is anything like his mentality returning kicks, he’ll approach the summer competition without a single fear as if he’s just in the backyard with his friends.