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Bishop Gorman (Nevada) five-star safety Jett Washington is rated the nation's No. 18 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the class of 2026.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound defensive back has a freakish blend of size, length and mobility that makes him a genetic wonder. Of course, given his genetics, perhaps that's not a surprise.
Washington is the nephew of the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
And he's more than lived up to the hype.
As a junior, Washington was the MaxPreps Nevada Player of the Year, leading the Gaels' defense to a dominant season in which they limited eight of 12 opponents to fewer than 10 points and won their fourth consecutive state title.
On the recruiting trail, Washington racked up a staggering 33 scholarship offers.
But now he's down to just three.
On Tuesday, the Nevada bluechip safety trimmed his list to Alabama, Oregon and USC, all programs known for churning out NFL defensive backs in the modern era.
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 18, 2025MORE: Overall MVPs and breakout performances from the Northwest Showcase
The list is far from a surprise, as Washington has taken official visits to all three programs in recent weeks. However, one program has clearly emerged as the leader.
According to On3, the Ducks have an overwhelming 94.6 percent chance of landing the long, fluid athlete.
He certainly fits Lanning's recent target at defensive back.
In the class of 2025, Oregon landed 6-foot-1 Parker (Alabama) five-star cornerback Na'eem Offord, 6-foot-2 McDonough (Maryland) four-star cornerback Brandon Finney, 6-foot Shaker Heights (Ohio) safety Trey McNutt and 6-foot Conroe (Texas) four-star cornerback Dorian Brew.
What do they all have in common? All four are 6-feet or more and have profiles that highlight their length, ability to cover a lot of ground and versatility.
Those are Washington calling cards.
Here's what 247Sports had to say about Washington as a prospect:
"A physical specimen with rare size and rare range that could be positioned over the top, in the box or in the slot. Tipped the scales at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds spring before senior year and posted exceptional testing numbers for a player of his stature. Spent much of the 11th-grade campaign serving as a backstop for one of America’s top prep defenses. Constantly found ways to impact games as he chewed up turf and got to the catch point.
"Has continued to improve as an open-field tackler since he first arrived on the national recruiting scene as a freshman and will hit like a missile if the opportunity presents itself. Might not always be the most fluid with his transitions, but can recover from false steps with excellent deep speed and use his length to blanket target windows like few others. Should be viewed as a potential defensive chameleon that can prevent touchdowns in a single or two-high look while also matching up with large slot and in-line weapons when needed.
"Must avoid setbacks and keep improving play recognition skills, but looks like the next can’t-miss talent to come out of Bishop Gorman with his game tape and athletic markers. Sunday upside in an era where position lines continue to blur on defense."
Oregon has had an uneven spring on the recruiting trail, but is expected to begin a hot streak very soon.
Washington could very well be a part of that, but Alabama and USC won't go away quietly.
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