Cavaliers Now

Washington Breaks Single-Season Receiving Records in Virginia's Win Over Duke

Malik Washington broke the UVA football program records for most receiving yards and most receptions in a single season

Matt Newton

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Moments after receiving a special game ball commemorating his record-breaking performance, Malik Washington kept that ball tucked under his arm as he went into the postgame press conference to answer questions from the media. 

It didn't seem like Washington had plans to let go of that ball anytime soon. 

“I'm probably gonna sleep with this thing tonight. I probably won't let go of it for a little bit. It means a lot to me," Washington said after he delivered yet another brilliant performance, breaking Virginia's single-season receiving and receptions records, and leading the Cavaliers to a hard-earned 30-27 victory over Duke. "We talked about a lot of things like - did I imagine this? And I really didn't imagine things like this happening. The work that I put in and the work that we put in all offseason, all throughout the winter, it's paying off and I love to see that.”

For all of the struggles this team has endured this year, the 2023 season has been nothing short of sensational for Malik Washington, who transferred to Virginia from Northwestern for his final year of eligibility and proceeded to have the greatest single season by a receiver in the long history of the UVA football program. 

On Saturday night, Washington posted his sixth-consecutive game with over 100 receiving yards and ninth in the last ten games, which is also a program record. Washington was targeted 10 times and caught eight of those passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. His first score, a 34-yard catch and run, allowed him to surpass Dontayvion Wicks for most receiving yards in a single season in UVA history. 

Wicks set the record just two seasons ago with 1,203 yards in 2021. Washington now has 1,311 receiving yards this season with one game still to play. 

The second touchdown was a jump ball in the back left corner of the end zone that Washington went up and snatched over a Duke defender to put Virginia ahead 24-10. By then, Washington had already taken down another record, surpassing Olamide Zaccheaus for most receptions in a single season. Zaccheaus set the previous record with 93 catches in 2018 and Washington is now up to 96 receptions this season. 

Washington's production this season has been especially impressive for two reasons: one, he never once had a game with 100 or more receiving yards in 40 career games at Northwestern; two, he's managed this level of production with two different quarterbacks throwing to him with senior transfer Tony Muskett starting six games and true freshman Anthony Colandrea starting in five games due to Muskett's injuries. Washington's chemistry with both Muskett and Colandrea is one of his more underrated qualities. 

“It's awesome. Like I said last week, it's like having a safety blanket," Anthony Colandrea said of throwing to Malik Washington. "Like how Aaron Rodgers had Davante Adams. If I throw it anywhere near [Malik Washington], he is going come down with it.”

Virginia won't be playing in the postseason this year, but there's no doubt that the Cavaliers have been playing and will continue to play with effort and focus in this back stretch of the season. With one game left to play - the Commonwealth Clash against Virginia Tech next Saturday in Charlottesville - there's little question that Washington and company are still as motivated as ever to end the season on a high note. 

“I talk about it almost every week; what motivates us isn't the record. What motivates us isn't the external things. It's the internal things. It's the brotherhood. It's our relationships inside that locker room," Washington said. "We know we have a lot to play for no matter what's going on with our record. We have a lot to play for. We have a lot of people to play for. Each and every Saturday, we're coming to ball out and coming to give everything we have.”

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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