Former OSU Star James Washington Spending Offseason Working Out on Farm

If you’re like most people, quarantining looks a lot like this: ordering takeout, walking (often) around the block and watching way too much Tiger King. (Guilty.) But by now we should know: James Washington is not like most people.

So the former OSU star has spent his quarantine by social distancing the only way you would figure James Washington would spend his quarantine: by working out and farming.

According to Steelers.com, he’s been on his 26-acre farm in Texas amid the pandemic dragging arenas, fixing wells, running sprints. You know, exactly what an NFL starting receiver would do during the down time.

“I am always out running sprints in front of the house. I have a big yard and it’s pretty flat,” said Washington. “Usually I will just run the sprints and then run some routes. I don’t have anyone throwing to me. I am ordering a Jugs machine so I will have an accurate ball every time.

“As far as lifting, the other day I was trimming trees around here and I don’t know if I ever felt my lats burn as much as they did when I was trimming trees and moving big old logs and stuff. For sure nature is giving me the best workouts.

“They may not think I am working on football, but I think some of it translates. I am still running. I am out in the country, so I go on bike rides too. I am getting conditioning, working on the legs at the same time. I ride seven or eight miles. You may have one or two cars pass you, but you may see more cattle than people.” [Steelers]

Nature is giving me the best workouts. That quote is 100% something he probably heard Mike Gundy say during a practice during his OSU years.

It seems to be working for him despite the non-traditional approach. He says he’s down to about 205 pounds after ending the season at 213, and the long days of farm work and exercise are helping him feel confident in his body.

“I am lighter than last year,” he said. “I’m feeling pretty light. I feel like it will help with the quick twitch. Especially that second gear when the ball is in the air.”

You can read the whole story here — it’s pretty great.

Washington’s going into his third year with the Pittsburgh Steelers and should be a trendy breakout pick with Big Ben returning as the starter after a lost season due to injury. Last year he caught 44 passes for 735 yards and came on strong at the end of the year, finishing as the team’s leader in yards receiving and yards per reception.