Penn State Sports Magazine
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 5 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M E lliot Washington had been commit- ted to Alabama for a little over five months, but when Penn State got the four-star cornerback prospect on campus in June, the situation changed. Just how dramatically it had changed became apparent on July 8 when Wash- ington, the No. 93 overall prospect in the country according to On3's proprietary rankings, announced that he was switch- ing his commitment from the Crimson Tide to the Nittany Lions. "The campus tour was a highlight," Washington said following his visit. "The layout and views with the mountains were awesome. "Another highlight was walking out on the field from the tunnel with Coach [James] Franklin. It was a goosebump mo- ment for sure. Being inside Beaver Sta- dium, music bumping — it was cool. An- other highlight was speaking with players and learning more from the experience at PSU." Washington, a native of Venice, Fla., emerged as a serious option for PSU after taking an official visit June 10-12. Michi- gan State was also a contender, with coach Mel Tucker and his staff getting him on campus for an official visit June 24-26. In the end, the Spartans weren't able to persuade Washington to play his col- lege football in East Lansing. He said that the Penn State staff's straightforward approach resonated during his recruit- ment. "What stood out is how down-to-earth Coach Franklin and his staff were with everyone," Washington said. "They seem real and upfront about what their expec- tations are for you as a student-athlete. They want to win championships and continue to be an elite program. Coach Terry Smith, the [cornerbacks] coach, was good at explaining how I'll fit in their defense. Coach Manny Diaz went over his success as a defensive coordinator, too. Seeing the film and numbers, it will be an aggressive style they play at PSU." One of the nation's top prospects, Washington is ranked 10th at the corner- back position in the On3 Consensus, and he's also the No. 25 player in Florida. Listed at 6-foot, 195 pounds, Washing- ton will be trading the beaches of Florida's Gulf Coast for the mountains of central Pennsylvania when he gets to college, but he said that the change in scenery ap- pealed to him. "The campus was beautiful. I can see why they call it Happy Valley," he said. "Mountain views are everywhere on cam- pus. It's a true college town feel, which I like as a student. The players were cool, and they spoke highly of the coaches." As much as he liked the campus, it was the relationships that mattered most in his decision to announce for the Lions. "Coach Franklin is a player's coach and someone you can talk to openly," Wash- ington said. "The entire staff made me feel a part of the Penn State family." ■ Penn State got a surprise commitment when cornerback Elliot Washington flipped from Alabama to the Nittany Lions. Here's a look at what he offers: STRENGTHS Speed: Washington is an elite mover. He's fast, fluid, and makes running look easy. The Florida sprinter has track times to back up his film as well. He has consistently run a sub-11-second 100-meter dash, with his best time coming in May when he clocked a 10.69. Downhill trigger: There are so many facets of the game tied up in this particu- lar skill. It starts with Washington's ability to transition his weight quickly and explode out of his backpedal. The momentum that he's able to generate quickly creates opportunities to make plays on the ball. Ball skills: On his film, Washington has several impressive interceptions on which he boxes out bigger receivers to go up and get the ball. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Length: The problem isn't Washington's height. Plenty of 6-foot cornerbacks are able to excel at the college level. The problem is that he has relatively short arms. When he's going up for a deflection, he can get outjumped by longer players. Positional fundamentals: Venice High's coaches employ a shuffle technique in which the corners' backs are to the sideline. That means they never actually have to turn and run while in coverage, and it allows them to break with author- ity on in-breaking routes. When done correctly, this technique accentuates Washington's explosive transition speed. However, there are two problems. The first is that Washington can be sloppy with it. He clicks his heels and bounces too high, bringing up his center of gravity and wasting momentum. The second problem is that we never actually see him turn and run, so his hip fluidity and mobility are hard to gauge. PROJECTION Field cornerback: Washington's speed and explosiveness are a great combina- tion. Any concerns about this agility or transitions are more of an unknown than a real issue. Also, his length is notable but not something that should prevent him from becoming a high-quality college football player. His skills and physical talents put him on a level with current Nittany Lion cornerbacks Kalen King and Joey Porter Jr. Washington might be slightly behind those players in his final evaluation, but he's a worthy addition to this class. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Elite Cornerback Trades Crimson Tide For Lions RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE ELLIOT WASHINGTON Washington committed to Alabama in late January before reopening his recruitment and choosing the Lions over Michigan State. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER