Understanding J.T. Washington's skill set requires a video-game console, a copy of Madden NFL '13 and a rudimentary knowledge of which buttons you push to make a player juke and jive all over the field.
Coach Rich Rodriguez said the Arizona Wildcats' freshman running back "likes to push that circle button on the PlayStation and spin every time."
If Washington disagrees, it's only because he's an Xbox 360 man - and the controllers are different.
"I'm more like the R2 and R1 buttons," Washington said with a laugh. "I gotta get Coach on XBox."
This much is certain. Following a stellar summer, Washington seems to have carved out a role in an already crowded backfield.
The 19-year-old figures to play on offense and special teams when the UA opens its season Sept. 1 against Toledo. He gained 31 yards on four carries in the Wildcats' Fort Huachuca scrimmage two weeks ago; Saturday, he carried the ball four times for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Here's a look at Washington's hometown, history and projected role at the UA:
Full name: Joetavious Washington. He went by Joe, Jay and J.T. as a kid and has never been known by his full name. Upon discovering his first name earlier this summer, Washington's teammates turned it into a song. Borrowing the hook from Notorious B.I.G.'s eponymous 1997 hit, the Wildcats now howl "Joe-joe-joe-joe-TAVE-ious."
"That's cool," he said. "We gotta get the whole student section singing that."
Hometown: Indialantic, Fla. Washington grew up feet from the beach in Indialantic, which is located on a barrier island just south of Cape Canaveral. The space program dominates that part of coastal Florida. Washington attended the aptly named Satellite High School for his final two seasons. Before that, he spent two seasons at nearby Melbourne Catholic.
Arizona and Florida "don't really compare," Washington said.
"We've got more grass in Florida. Out here in Tucson, I see the cactuses and the rocks and the mountains, and it's just different," he said. "You know, I like it. I wanted to go somewhere different."
High school stats: Washington rushed for 679 yards and three touchdowns as a senior, and caught 20 passes for 192 yards and a score. The Scout.com recruiting service listed Washington as a two-star recruit, in part because of his 5-foot-7-inch, 156-pound frame. He graduated last spring as the nation's No. 131 running back recruit.
Recruited by: Washington verbally committed to West Virginia in June 2011, choosing the Mountaineers over offers from Florida Atlantic, Indiana and Maryland. He changed his mind when the UA offered a scholarship Jan. 29, less than a week before national signing day. The Wildcats landed two Floridians, Washington and Key West wide receiver Clive Georges, on the same day.
"Coach Rod told told me that it was going to be worth it, and it is," Washington said. "I'm glad he came and got me."
Coaches love him because: He's fast - and athletic enough to overcome his lack of size. Washington competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the long jump in high school. Running the 4x100 relay as a sophomore, Washington finished second in the Florida state meet. He also placed fifth statewide in the long jump.
Washington won't be asked to sprint or jump much at the UA. The speedy tailback will spend the next 10 days working on his north-south running.
As anyone who plays Madden knows, you can only hit the circle button so often.
"Coach puts me in there as a little jukester, a little quick and speedy guy," he said. "I try to get there quick. I don't know how fast I am, but I think I'm fast enough to outrun a safety."
On StarNet: See an interactive timeline of the Wildcats' 2012 season from current developments to post season. It will be updated as the season progresses at timeline.azstarnet.com/uafb2012
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