Former Baylor running back Bryson Washington brings familiar face to Auburn matchup

WACO, Texas (FOX 44) -- Baylor is preparing to face a new Auburn team, with a new head coach and in a new venue. But the Bears will also see a familiar face on the other sideline.

Franklin High School alum Bryson Washington was one of Baylor’s standout players last season before entering the transfer portal this spring and choosing to continue his career at Auburn.

Washington helped lead Franklin High School to 32 consecutive wins and back-to-back Class 3A Division I state championships.

At Baylor, Washington battled through several injuries but still put together a strong season. He finished with 788 rushing yards on 154 carries and six rushing touchdowns.

Now, the Bears will have to prepare to face Washington.

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said he and the Bears still want to see Washington succeed, even though they will have to find a way to stop him Saturday.

“Any time that you're going against a former teammate, you want the best for them, outside of that event that you're both in. And so that's very true,” Aranda said. “I know for speaking for a lot of the guys and myself, I want to see him have success. I want to see him win that job.”

But once the game begins, Aranda said the Bears’ focus will shift.

“But in this game, we're going to have to build to try to stop him. And he's tough to stop,” Aranda said.

Washington’s ability to run the football will present a significant challenge for Baylor, which knows what it will have to do to contain its former teammate.

“I was interested in seeing the breakdown of him he's tough run or false forward, all those things,” Aranda said. “And so we know what he's going to bring and so we know what we have to be in order to meet that.”