KFBCA Top 11: Lem Wash

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams December 6th and 7th, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Derby quarterback Lem Wash's capsule below and check back for more capsules throughout the week.

Lem Wash, QB, 6-0, 205, Derby, Sr.

The quarterback position is one of the most fascinating in all of sport, filled with pressure, popularity, and blame. Arguably the most exciting aspect of the position is the way quarterbacks can impact the game, whether they be pure-pocket passers, game managers, gunslingers or great runners.

Derby High School quarterback Lem Wash falls into one of the most intimidating categories of all for opposing defenses: the dual-threat. Looking for proof? Just check the statistics. 

In the 11 games this season he passed for 1,313 yards and with 18 touchdowns with just six interceptions, while tallying 1,292 yards on the ground and crossing the goal line 20 more times. Wash ended his career with 2,161 passing yards and 2,504 rushing yards with 84 total touchdowns.

Think Wash sacrificed efficiency for such an impressive statline? Not at all!

He completed just under 72 percent of his passes this season with a stellar 124.1 QB rating. He averaged just over 10 yards per passing attempt while averaging 6.7 yards per carry when running the ball.

As is true with most top-notch quarterbacks, Lem is familiar with his strengths on the football field.

“My biggest strength as a QB is my ability to do whatever is necessary to win the game,” Wash said. “For example, one game I might need to be more of a runner. Then the next game I’ll need to be more of a passer. So my ability to do both is my best strength.”

Wash is one of a modern breed of quarterbacks that doesn’t fit the traditional tall, long-armed, stand in the pocket stereotype. With the taboo of the shorter signal-caller erased by the Russell Wilsons and Kyler Murrays of the world, the 6-foot, 205 pound Wash knew his value at the position and refused to be seen as anything other than the man behind center when it came to the recruiting process, signing with FCS Tennessee Tech earlier this month.

“What helped me make the decision was them being adamant about me being a QB,” Wash said. “I always wanted to be a college QB, and Tennessee Tech was one of the only schools to give me that opportunity.”

Wash’s performance this season not only earned him the scholarship from Tech, it also helped the Panthers to their third consecutive Class 6A state championship and earned Wash a nod on the KFBCA Top 11 team.

The KFBCA Top 11* and All-State selections consist of seniors from the Class of 2021 nominated and voted on by members of the Kansas Football Coaches Association. For more info about the KFBCA find them online at www.kfbca.com. 

*There are actually 12 Top 11 selections this year because of a tie in voting.