Washington’s trust, talent fuel early impact at NSU

  • Northwestern State teammates on both sides of the ball are looking to a newcomer, junior college transfer Fernando Washington (10), for leadership. Photo by Brad Welborn, NSU Athletics
    Northwestern State teammates on both sides of the ball are looking to a newcomer, junior college transfer Fernando Washington (10), for leadership. Photo by Brad Welborn, NSU Athletics

    When Fernando Washington arrived at Northwestern State in the spring of 2025, he wasn’t sure what to expect, a not uncommon feeling for any transfer stepping into a new locker room.

    While he braced for the usual period of adjustment to a new chapter in his life and football career, he was met with something far more meaningful.

    “When I first got here, they (his teammates) let me in with open arms,” …