Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1492675
4 8 M A R C H 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 3 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / B efore this year, there were few, if any, examples of Penn State flip- ping a prospect who had previously been committed to Alabama. Yet, that's ex- actly how the Nittany Lions ended up landing cornerback Elliot Washington II, a four-star prospect in the On3 Consen- sus from Venice (Fla.) High. Washington didn't talk much about his recruitment, giving few interviews. But news surfaced last summer that the 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back planned to take official visits to Michigan State and Penn State, the first indication that James Franklin and assistants Terry Smith and Ja'Juan Seider were making progress in their attempts to sway him to State College. Their efforts culminated with Elliot flipping his pledge from the Crimson Tide to the Nittany Lions last July after an official visit to PSU. "Penn State checked all the boxes for me and my family, on and off the field," Washington said. "The PSU staff has recruited me from Day 1. Coach Terry Smith has been in to visit me at Ven- ice High School more than any college coach. "I was able to evaluate and compare during my time with college coaches. I felt most comfortable with the Penn State coaches. Their entire staff re- cruited me, not just a position coach. They're just real genuine people, and my family felt the same as well. Me and my family are on the same page. That's why we decided to be a part of the Penn State family." There was no additional drama once the cornerback pledged to Penn State. He signed in December and enrolled in January. If he can add weight and impress the coaches during spring practice, he could find his way to the field early. But even if he needs a redshirt year to adapt to the college game, he's confident he made the right choice by trusting PSU's staff, which included recruiting as- sistants Alan Zemaitis and Ra- shad Elby. "Coach Franklin and Coach Smith were genuine from Day 1 with me," Washington said. "They made me and my family feel comfortable throughout the process. They all were im- portant in helping us under- stand what it was like to be a part of the Penn State family. All of the staff was involved, not just one coach. My family loved how open and detailed they were about PSU. "Coach Franklin is a player's coach and someone you can talk to openly. … The entire staff made me feel a part of the Penn State family." ■ Washington had been committed to Alabama from January to early July, but he ultimately decided that Penn State was a better match. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER Elliot Washington II A quiet recruitment could have big repercussions for PSU's secondary G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G. P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M CB | 5-11 | 190 Venice High Venice, Fla. Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Consensus HHHH 163 19 36 On3 HHHH 194 21 37 ESPN HHHH 54 4 13 Rivals HHH — 37 47 247Sports HHHH 173 13 41 Statistics • Recorded 36 tackles, 8 pass breakups and 4 interceptions as a senior while also contribut- ing 888 all-purpose yards on offense • As a junior, totaled 58 tackles to go along with 8 pass breakups and 4 interceptions • Had 51 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 3 inter- ceptions as a sophomore Notable • Was a team captain as a senior • Helped Venice High win the Class 8A state championship in 2021 • Participated in the Under Armour All-Ameri- can Game on Jan. 3 in Orlando, Fla. • Twice earned first-team all-area honors Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on July 8, 2022 • Recruited by cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider • Picked PSU after decommitting from Ala- bama in July 2022 • Officially visited on June 10, 2022 • Enrolled at Penn State in January 2023 2023 Projection Washington has blazing speed but may need to add some weight during winter workouts. Expect a redshirt season, but he might be one of those freshmen who approach the four- game threshold. They Said It On3 senior national recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton: "Washington's versatility sets him apart from many other defensive backs in the cycle. He has the ability to play anywhere in the secondary due to a blend of size, speed and ball skills." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "His skills and physical talents put him on a level with rising junior Kalen King and the NFL-bound Joey Porter Jr., even if he's slightly behind those players in his final evaluation. Nevertheless, he's a worthy addition to an impressive haul for Penn State this cycle." T H E W A S H I N G T O N F I L E