Oregon Ducks Make Strong Impression On 5-Star Safety Recruit Jett Washington

EUGENE– As the offseason continues, the Oregon Ducks football program is continuing to make strides on the recruiting trail. The Oregon Ducks already have the No. 13 class in the 2026 cycle, per 247 Sports, and are looking to add to their list of commits with safety Jett Washington.

Oregon is emerging for elite safety Jett Washington after his latest trip to Eugene, @ChadSimmons_ reports🦆

Jett ranks No. 37 NATL. (No. 3 safety) in the 2026 class.

Read: https://t.co/LonaS9Nrlg pic.twitter.com/odgr55vcPg
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) April 21, 2025

Standing at 6-5, 200 pounds, Washington is listed as a five-star prospect and is the No. 2 safety in his recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. He is also the nephew of late basketball star Kobe Bryant.

Washington was in Eugene last fall when the Ducks upset Ohio State, and he returned for a visit with his family this weekend.

“It was a very good visit and overall experience for me and my family,” Washington told On3. “I got to watch practice, see the scrimmage, meet with the coaches and see the campus. Talking with coach Hamp (Chris Hampton), watching the team scrimmage, and just getting a feel for the environment were things that stood out to me.”

New co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chris Hampton, right, joins the first practice of spring for Oregon football as they prepare for the 2023 season. Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 06 | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chris Hampton is Washington’s lead recruiter and has been nothing less than dominant in the recruiting world. 247Sports named him National Recruiter of the Year after Hampton helped Oregon land arguably the best 2025 defensive back recruiting class.

Now, Hampton is working to bring in another elite defensive back room that could potentially include Washington.

Washington is one of the most coveted players in the 2026 cycle, and his commitment could shift the national recruiting landscape. With his length, athleticism, and ability to cover ground in the secondary, he has the tools to make an immediate impact wherever he lands.

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs against Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) and defensive back Jabbar Muhammad (7) in the first quarter in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The five-star prospect holds 30 offers from top programs around the nation. Last month, Washington told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he is down to 11 schools, with Oregon being one of them. The other 10 programs Washington has narrowed his choices down to are Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and UNLV.

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Washington is planning an official visit to Oregon, though a date hasn’t been locked in yet. The Ducks are considered one of the top contenders in his recruitment. Alabama and USC are also firmly in the mix, and Washington continues to weigh interest from several other programs.

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning watches from the sideline during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“This visit was big for sure,” Washington told On3 of his most recent visit to Oregon. “They did move up and they are still high on my list. What makes them different is the culture they are building and how they are getting better each year.”

Under coach Dan Lanning, the Ducks have brought in three consecutive top-10 recruiting classes. A commitment from Washington could make that four.

Washington plans to make a decision ahead of the 2025 football season, per On3.