It is always good to have the inside track on a recruiting prospect. It is even better when that recruiting prospect is a 4-star safety ranked as the No. 194 player in his class, the No. 35 player in the state of Florida, and the No. 18 safety in the country per the 247Sports Composite.
By Steve Wright
That is exactly the case here, with Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide securing the commitment of class of 2023 safety Elliot Washington II this week.
Washington – a 6-foot-1, 188 pounder out of Venice (Venice, FL) High School – is an Alabama legacy recruit. Elliot Sr., his father, played basketball at Alabama. While the younger Washington said that family ties would play no role in a decision that was made with the likes of Ohio State, Georgia, and Penn State all in the frame, it certainly couldn’t have hurt to have a close connection to the Tuscaloosa school.
Washington is a dual-sport star who also runs track in high school and has a verified 100-meter dash time of 10.64 seconds. As a junior last year, Washington totaled 58 tackles, four interceptions, and four pass breakups on a team that won a state title. One of the leading reasons for his commitment was the ability to win championships, something Alabama has done regularly under Saban.
In the video below you can see what Washington will bring to the table. The first play is an easy pick on an overthrow, but the second is an impressive look at the straight-line speed (and cutting ability) of Washington in the return game. He is a player that will upgrade the ‘Bama special teams unit quickly after entering the fold. Washington finishes his tackles with authority – an important trait in a safety – and his second interception on the video showcases his ability to read a quarterback, how he can stick with a receiver, and his speed change to undercut a route and make a pick in a crucial part of the field.
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