Photographs courtesy Washington Commanders
Photographs courtesy Washington Commanders
The NFL rookie cornerback is ready to help his team achieve success on the football field
In early 2025, football analysts projected Trey Amos to be a first-round pick in April’s NFL Draft. Unexpectedly, Amos was still available by the end of the second round and the Washington Commanders snatched up the Ole Miss cornerback at pick No. 61.
The Commanders feel like they got a steal. The rookie is proving them right, so far. He garnered a lot of praise during training camp from Commanders’ coaches and the media. Now, Amos has put himself in a position to be strongly considered for the starting lineup.
“We were elated that he was available in the second round,” Commanders’ Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Jason Simmons says. “We really like his size, speed, and length.”
One of the best things about Amos: he is good at limiting big plays down the field. That’s due to his excellent size (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), speed (4.43 in 40-yard dash), and the ability to make contested catches. Amos also plays well in either man or zone coverage.
The 23-year-old Amos received good training by competing in, arguably, college football’s best conference, the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Amos played two years in the conference, suiting up for Old Miss in 2024 and Alabama in 2023. Before that, he spent three seasons at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Overall, Amos played in 61 college football games across five seasons.
We spoke to Amos, a native of Louisiana, about learning from Commanders’ veterans and the iconic Nick Saban (former coach at Alabama), along with his future on and off-the-field.
How do you see your role this season? Do you feel you will spend more time on the field or sideline? I feel I can make an impact, but it takes time. I have to earn playing time. I have to put the work in and get better each and every day. I have to find ways to grow mentally and physically. I’ll always be learning something new. I am just going to go out there and be the best I can be on the field.
Has four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore helped you acclimate to the NFL? Yes. I have learned so much from him during minicamp, the break in between, and training camp. I ask him questions and am like a sponge to build that chemistry with him. I have to take advantage of the study time with him. He helped me learn the playbook—to get a handle on the system and make sure I utilize the study time. He has taught me to not wait on the receiver. Attack them.
Talk about the time you have spent with defensive backs Coach Tommy Donatell and Coach Simmons. (Simmons) has given me a good understanding of the keys of what a wide receiver will do, and what formation they will put me in to combat that. He’s shown me how to have a plan before the play even happens. Coach Tommy is pretty straight forward. He is really heavy on game film and learning the tendencies of the receiver and trying to get the plays to where they are second nature for me.
It must have been a treat to play at Alabama and learn under Saban, whom many consider to be college’s best all-time coach. He is known as a secondary guru. What did you pick up from him? Did his retirement lead you to Old Miss? It was such a great experience with Coach Saban. I had to learn how to tackle and play man-to-man coverage. I made sure I took notes carefully and I felt I have brought that knowledge to the NFL. It was just crazy to be there for his last year and around so many great players. With him retiring, I really didn’t know what was to come. It was confusing, but I went with my gut, and I felt the best option was to go to Old Miss.
What was the biggest benefit of playing football at three different colleges, including two SEC schools? I’m glad about the experience. It made transitioning to the NFL smoother. Playing in the SEC will definitely help me in the NFL. Every week is a hard week, and it is tough to win in the SEC. It taught me how to grind things out and work very hard every day.
What was your reaction to being drafted by Washington? It was special. I have been having that NFL dream since I was a little kid. It’s finally here. I don’t want to be too high or too low. I want to keep producing and being myself. I want to keep doing what got me here. I just want to keep evolving and everything will take care of itself.
What are your impressions of the very strong Commanders’ community of fans? I am looking forward to getting to know a lot of fans. I have watched some games, especially the playoffs. They are showing a lot of love to me. I want to show love back to them. I really appreciate them.
What was the first thing you bought with your signing bonus? I haven’t bought anything extravagant yet. I am thinking about getting a house next year. I am renting now. I want to help my family. My mom is my rock. I want to show that I love and appreciate her. I just want to help her out and be there for her.
