WESTLAKE — Nothing about Westlake star senior wide receiver Jacory Washington says small.

Not the size. Not the profile of the player and certainly not his role in the Rams’ offense.

At 6-foot-5 and weighing about 220 pounds, Washington possesses dominant size for the high school level and is a hot name within recruiting circles.

The four-star receiver — who projects to be a tight end at the college level — quieted most of the speculation about his future on the next level when he committed in January to play for LSU.

Recruiting hype aside, the senior is focusing on helping leading the Rams to greater heights this season.

“The goal here is to win a district championship and get my team to state,” Washington said.

He’s made four catches for 40 yards through the first two games.

“He’s got an enormous role in the offense,” Westlake head coach Shawn Demeritt said. “(In Week 1) he had five (catches) for 40 (yards), but he had several other balls that were thrown his way. He caught a pass that was ruled out of bounds that would’ve been a touchdown. We threw him several other passes. We just have to work the timing out. That’s why we practice.”

What’s clear is that no team plans on giving Washington a pass because of his high profile.

“DeRidder threw some things at us (in Week 1), and they’re pretty good on defense,” Demeritt said. “That front four is one of the best I’ve seen in quite a while. I thought they did a good job of scheming up our players. They started doing some different things with Jacory.”

But it’s that focus on him that draws attention, both on the field and off.

SDLqSometimes it can get a little (frustrating) with the double coverage,” Washington said, “but it puts my teammates in a position to make big plays. It’s all about putting my team in a position to get the (win.)”

However, what you see isn’t exactly what you get with Washington.

While he is already a barrel-chested athlete, there seems to be room to put on a few pounds on the next level.

“Look at his size. He’s 6-5, 220 pounds. He runs pretty well for a big kid,” Demeritt said. “He’s not a 4.4 kid, but he runs well for someone his size. One of the things is you look at his shoulders and there’s room for growth. He can probably pack on another 15 or 20 pounds his freshman year, which I can easily see happening. I can easily see him at 240 (pounds) going into his freshman season at whatever school he chooses. I think that’s one of the big draws. His height and his size, plus the upside with the frame.

Washington is committed to LSU, but commitments are non-binding until players sign letters of intent. National Signing Day is set for Feb. 5.

But focusing only on the field would be a mistake. Despite the larger-than-life frame and on-field bravado, Demeritt praises Washington for the things he does off the field.

“He’s a good young man,” he said. “He does the right thing in the community. He’s a good role model for young kids. He’s had several younger kids here on campus that he’s tried to mentor and help. He’s tried to put a smile on their faces.

“Those are things that really stand out. When you look at the all-around student-athlete, it’s not just about what goes on on the field. What are they like in the community? That’s where I think Jacory stands out is that he’s a good kid.”

It’s another aspect of a young man whose profile has been raised because of extraordinary gifts.

Westlake receiver Jacory Washington is a role model on and off the field. Washington

Rick Hickman

a 6-foot-5 senior