



By Lauren McMillin

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Change can be difficult, but it can also be rewarding. For wide receiver Nate Washington, change over the course of his football career has allowed him to experience the game on different levels and embrace new opportunities every step of the way.

It was Nashville's good fortune that change brought Washington to the Titans in 2009, after he spent his first four NFL years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After he graduated from Scott High School in Toledo, Ohio, Washington's football story got serious in the sleepy town of Tiffin, Ohio, at the historic school bearing the same name. To say that Tiffin University is on a smaller scale than some of the college football powerhouses is an understatement, but Washington appreciates his time spent as a Dragon.

"Of course, there are stages that are bigger than ours," he said. "What I will say is, at smaller colleges, no matter who you were playing, guys were giving everything they had. Looking back at it, I really appreciate it more so than going to a big school because I don't know if I would be here today if I didn't go to Tiffin."

Although he had a stellar career at Tiffin and still holds eight individual receiving records, Washington didn't begin to pursue a professional career until his senior year when a scout from the Buffalo Bills paid Tiffin a visit.

When he signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005, Washington became the first player out of Tiffin University to play in the NFL. Once he signed with the Steelers, Washington was met with the drastic transition from Division II football to the NFL.

"It was a huge jump," he said. "The competition was so much different. It's an eye opener. I had to learn how to become a perfectionist at the techniques. It wasn't just about my physical ability anymore. I had to make sure I was doing everything technically sound to win."

Despite the difficulty of adjusting to a higher level of play, Washington was able to develop both on and off the field, learning from his Steelers teammates and coaches. Players such as Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis and Joey Porter taught him the importance of having a strong drive toward the game. His coaches echoed this notion, showing him how to be hungry as a player while remaining humble.