Re’Aire Washington picks North Dakota after early offer and two-way production

North Dakota did not wait for Re’Aire Washington to become a headline-grabbing senior. The Fighting Hawks identified the Omaha North athlete early, offered him on January 26 after he met with head coach Eric Schmidt and linebackers coach Ben Watkins, and turned that first Division I opportunity into a commitment that beat out North Dakota State, South Dakota State, South Dakota and others.

That timing matters because Washington’s decision tracked directly with the trust the UND staff built over the spring. He pointed to the consistency and loyalty shown by North Dakota’s coaches, then followed the offer with a Junior Day visit that gave him a closer look at Grand Forks and the program’s pitch. For a class of 2027 player, that is a quick path from first contact to commit, and it says North Dakota was not chasing a late riser so much as locking in a fit it valued from the start.

Washington’s junior-season numbers explain why the offer arrived so fast. Prep Redzone listed him as a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back and said he finished 2025 with 25 tackles, three interceptions, two pick-sixes and a tackle for loss. On offense, he added eight catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns, giving Omaha North a two-way weapon who changed games in more than one phase.

That versatility is the real takeaway for North Dakota. Washington brought production as a cover player and as a receiver, and that combination gives the Fighting Hawks a flexible athlete who could eventually help in special teams, defensive packages or offensive situations depending on how the staff develops him. In an FCS recruiting race where multiple programs are trying to find young players who can fill more than one role, Washington fit the profile of a roster piece with range, not just a one-position prospect.

His measurements vary by outlet, with On3 listing him at 5-foot-11 and 164 pounds, which only reinforces that he is still growing into his frame. Omaha North, meanwhile, continues to operate as an active Nebraska Class A program that has produced Division I interest, and Washington’s commitment adds another notable name to that pipeline. For North Dakota, it was a clean win in the Midwest and another sign that Schmidt and his staff can still pull away from established regional FCS powers when they move early and stay steady.