Washington Football Team signs Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson as undrafted free agent

A running back that stuffed the NCAA stat-sheet with historical numbers will now have the opportunity to replicate that success in the National Football League.

Minutes after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team signed Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson as an undrafted free agent, as first reported by Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.

The 2020 All-American and reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year led the FBS in rushing yards per game last season, accumulating 178.7 per contest. He attained the 300-yard rushing mark twice in 2020, including a 409-yard outburst against Kent State for the second most single-game rushing yards in college football history.

Patterson set several historical achievements in a monstrous junior campaign. He tied Howard Griffith and Kalen Ballage for the FBS record for most touchdowns scored in a game with eight scores in the 70-41 victory over Kent State. Additionally, Patterson is now the record holder for most rushing yards in a two-game span (710) and tied the record for fewest games needed to reach 1,000 yards in a season (5).

The Glenn Dale, MD native eclipsed the 180-yard rushing mark seven times in his collegiate career. Patterson rose onto the scene as a freshman, quickly rising upward on Buffalo’s depth chart en route to 1,013 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished his sophomore campaign with six consecutive 140-yard showings, capping it off with 173 yards and two touchdowns as the MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl — Buffalo’s first bowl victory in program history. Patterson attained a career-high 1,799 rushing yards in that spectacular season, complemented with 19 touchdowns.

As a junior, Patterson played six games of a COVID-19-shortened MAC season. He shattered the century mark four times in the season while posting 1,072 rushing yards, and he scored a touchdown in every outing — finishing third in the FBS in rushing touchdowns with 19.

Patterson joins the Football Team’s running back room which includes second-year starter Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and Peyton Barber. His new NFL home in Landover, Maryland, lies approximately 15 minutes down the road from his hometown in Glenn Dale.

For our full draft profile on Jaret Patterson, click here.