4-star prospect Jett Washington, ESPN’s No. 1 security within the 2026 class, introduced his dedication to Oregon over Alabama and USC on Thursday evening.
Washington is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound defender from Las Vegas and the nation’s No. 22 prospect. The highest-ranked four-star recruit within the 2026 ESPN 300, he trails solely five-star tight finish Kendre’ Harrison (No. 11 general) among the many highest rated of the Geese’ six top-300 pledges within the present cycle.
Washington enters the autumn as a third-year starter at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman, the place he logged 38 tackles and 5 interceptions throughout his junior season in 2024. A nephew of the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Washington helped lead Bishop Gorman to a second consecutive Nevada Class 5A state basketball title earlier this yr.
Washington’s pledge arrives after a much-needed recruiting win for Geese coach Dan Lanning after a string of close to misses with top-end skills this spring.
Final month, Oregon whiffed as finalists for five-stars Jackson Cantwell (No. 3 general) and Jared Curtis (No. 5). As just lately as Thursday morning, five-star athlete Brandon Arrington (No. 14) picked Texas A&M after a hotly contested race between the Aggies and Geese.
However Oregon, alongside Alabama, was among the many first main packages to enter Washington’s recruitment final yr. By means of Washington’s reference to defensive backs coach Chris Hampton, this system held an edge heading into Washington’s slate of official visits with the Geese, Crimson Tide and USC.
“I’ve that nice time with [Hampton] and the teaching workers,” Washington instructed ESPN this month. “I cherished the way in which they handled me on the market. My relationship with them has been going the appropriate approach ever since I began speaking to them.”
Along with his pledge, Washington turns into the top-ranked defender in Oregon’s 2026 class. He is one among three ESPN 300 commits on protection for the Geese, becoming a member of defensive tackles Tony Cumberland (No. 89 general) and Viliami Moala (No. 262).