Who is Dwayne Haskins Jr.?

OPINION:

There’s something not quite right with the Dwayne Haskins Jr. backstory.

The bio for the former “starting” quarterback for the Washington Football Team never seemed, well, to square with his pre-2019 NFL draft story.

A reported native of Highland Park, New Jersey, young Dwayne Jr. left the New York City ’burb and moved to upscale Potomac, Maryland, attended the prestigious and private Bullis School and landed with the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University.

A couple of burps preceded that last move, including Dwayne Jr.’s initial interest in the University of Maryland and Rutgers, and his membership in the New York Giants fan club. Oh, well. Dan Snyder, who signs the WFT’s paychecks expressed interest in the young man, so this diehard fan cleared her throat and crossed her fingers.

But what’s happened with Haskins since he signed on the dotted lines makes me wonder: Who is Dwayne Haskins Jr. and what does he really want?

The pandemic struck in early 2020, forcing the NFL to reconfigure its football programs, and learn and follow new COVID-19 protocols. In addition, WFT players had to adapt to the absence of new coach Ron Rivera, who was battling cancer.

The adjustments weren’t easy for Haskins, who, now 23 years old, had become a man-child. Haskins never lived up to his own potential and never quite adjusted to leading downfield for touchdowns, either.

It’s like there was always more than one singular voice in his head when the offense was on the field — family, friends, mentors, ghosts of QBs past, perhaps even Joe Theismann, whose No. 7 jersey he asked to wear. The sweeties he sneaked into a hotel and broke COVID-19 protocols for.

Now he doesn’t have a job.

That’s the high price he had to pay in 2020, and in professional sports the price of fame is often steeper than the paycheck (think Pete Rose and Michael Vick, to name but two).

Perhaps a couple of teams will give Haskins a second or third chance. Perhaps he’s already blacklisted because of the poor choices he’s already made, and some we are unaware of.

For sure, if he goes the autobiography route, he’s going to have to fill in some blanks and answer some tough questions.

Who is Dwayne Haskins Jr. and who does he want to be when he grows up?

Even after being plucked in the first round of the draft and reading his stats, no one really and truly knows.

Stats never reveal an athlete’s complete backstory.

And if there’s anyone who knows the real deal, it’s Dwayne Haskins Jr., formerly of Highland Park, right?

⦁ Deborah Simmons can be contacted at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.