Washington Metro College Player of the Year: Jaret Patterson, University at Buffalo

Jaret Patterson had limited choices to play college football. Even after deciding to enroll at the University at Buffalo and play on the same team as his twin brother, James, Patterson was asked to grayshirt and delay his enrollment until the spring semester because the team had other options at running back.

In the three years since, though, few running backs – if any – have rivaled Patterson’s success on the field.

Even though Patterson was limited to six games this past season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he still enjoyed his third consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards rushing.

Against Bowling Green, Patterson rushed for 301 yards and four touchdowns. The next time out, Patterson had a game for the ages, rushing 36 times for 409 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-41 win over Kent State. It was the second-highest rushing total in Football Bowl Subdivision history and tied the FBS record for most touchdowns in a game.

The following Monday, as Buffalo returned to the practice field, Patterson worked his way into the kickoff coverage drills at the beginning of practice.

“And he’s not even on the kickoff team,” then-Buffalo Coach Lance Leipold said. “That’s just the type of guy he is. He wants to go and get some work.”

It is similar to Patterson’s approach at Pallotti High in Laurel. Overlooked by many of the region’s top high school programs and considered undersized – he is now 5 feet 8 and 195 pounds – all Patterson did was chew up yardage and find his way to the end zone. As a senior, he rushed for 2,045 yards and scored 23 touchdowns – including a game against Riverdale Baptist where he gained 558 all-purpose yards.

After three standout seasons at Buffalo where his accolades included being named the 2020 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Patterson opted to turn professional. He was not selected in the NFL Draft and signed as a free agent with the Washington Football Team.

“I feel like my game definitely translates to the next level and I haven’t even scratched the surface yet,” Patterson said in a recent radio interview. “I feel like I can be that versatile running back. At Buffalo, I wasn’t really required in the passing game, but I can do that. I can run routes, catch, return kicks, punts. I feel like I’m a hidden gem in this draft, but I wouldn’t want it any other way, because that’s how it’s always been.”