We here at Sons of Montezuma are putting into focus our top San Diego State Aztecs football players for you to to know in the upcoming 2025 season. Next up is RB Christian Washington.
- Name: Christian Washington
- Position: Running Back/Kick Returner
- Class: Junior
- Height/Weight: 5’10″, 200 lbs
- Hometown: San Diego, California
- Previous School: Coastal Carolina/New Mexico
Some of you may remember Christan Washington from his days at Helix High in San Diego. In his time there Christian helped Helix win a pair of Section Open Division titles in 2019 and 2021 in addition to being named a Silver Pigskin finalist.
From there it was to New Mexico for two seasons and then last year at Coastal Caroina.
Now Christian is back home in San Diego and he enters the 2025 season as a key offensive weapon in the Aztecs’ retooled and reenergized attack. After patiently waiting behind a deep backfield and flashing his abilities in spot duty, the redshirt junior now finds himself poised for a breakout campaign. With his versatile skill set and renewed confidence, Washington could become one of the Mountain West’s most productive playmakers this fall.
Washington’s a runner with top-end acceleration and lateral agility that set him apart. He has an ability to cut and plant with precision, allowing him to create separation at the second level and break off those chunk yards the Aztecs are in need of. Whether in zone schemes or screen plays, he thrives when given room to operate.
Unlike some traditional backs, Washington offers strong hands out of the backfield. His background as a receiver in high school shows in his route-running and catching technique. This should give the SDSU offensive staff opportunities to line him up in various formations this year, giving the Aztecs a modern dual-threat presence in their backfield.
Though not the biggest or most powerful runner, Washington’s ability to read blocks and let plays develop can make him effective in SDSU’s offense similar to last year’s starter Marquez Cooper. Washington doesn’t rush into traffic, but finds lanes that others might miss.
At roughly 5’10” and 190 pounds, Washington lacks the bruising frame of a traditional between-the-tackles runner. It’s yet to be seen if he can move piles and regularly gain extra yardage in short-yardage situations, which may limit his role in goal-line scenarios.
While relatively healthy throughout his collegiate career, Washington has yet to carry a full starter’s workload for an entire season. So as naturally goes hand-in-hand with the running back position, to maintain production through the grind of conference play will be something to take note of.
The bug-a-boo with every runner in the backfield is the area of pass blocking. Picking up blitzes and helping in pass pro will also determine what packages Washington will compete for. With new quarterbacks Jayden Denegal and Bert Emanual Jr. under center, the coaching staff will expect Washington to show aptitude in this phase of the game to stay on the field on third downs.
Last season Coach Lewis showed he was just fine dedicating all rushing duties to one bell cow back. But this season we don’t think that will be the complete story. Splitting lead duties with Lucky Sutton is likely, but Washington does have the potential in becoming a dynamic 1B option — if not 1A. His versatility may allow him to contribute on outside zone runs, option looks, and quick passing concepts might make him vital to a scheme that thrives on pace and mismatches.
With SDSU aiming for a more Aztecs Fast tempo, Washington’s speed and versatility should shine, especially on early downs and in space. The coaching staff is likely to maximize his open-field abilities. Think, if Coach Lewis had a healthy Kenan Christon to utilize last year type of opportunity for Washington.
Expect Washington to be used similarly to how Power 5 programs utilize their hybrid backs — someone who may not carry the ball 25 times per game but could touch it 12–15 times with a mix of rushes, catches, and returns.
If Washington stays healthy and can embrace his role within SDSU’s uptempo offense—or perhaps in the kick return game—he could finish as one of the most impactful all-purpose backs in the Mountain West. His explosive traits, versatility, and hunger to prove himself make him a true X-factor for a San Diego State team seeking a return to offensive relevance in 2025.
Stay tuned as we list more crucial Aztec Warriors that will be looking to make a big impact this 2025 season. The list isn’t in any specific order—but let us know in the comments what you think of each player as the list unfolds.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
19 Responses