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Over the last two off-seasons, the Oregon Ducks have added the top-ranked transfer portal safety. Dillon Thieneman came first in 2025, catapulting his draft stock in his lone season with the Ducks. Koi Perich arrived just a few months ago and is expected to do the same as Thieneman: make plays and set himself up for an NFL future.
A trend has begun to form for standout safeties to come to Oregon via the transfer portal. But next offseason, the Ducks very well may not be in the running for another safety with true freshman Jett Washington already turning heads early in spring practices.
Expectations are high for Washington, as he was the No. 1 safety in the 2027 class according to 247 Sports and competed for Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV. He's also the nephew of the late Kobe Bryant, as Washington will don Bryant's #24 for the Ducks this season.
Washington's frame is part of what makes him so dominant, as he stands 6-foot-5 while patrolling from his safety position. But, according to defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, it's not just his size that's sticking out during his brief time in the program.
“He’s obviously got a rare size-speed combination," Hampton said on Saturday. "He's a guy who is every bit of 6’5”, you know, and he looks the part, for sure. Anyone that comes out there and see him is like, ‘God, that guy's huge.’ You know, he's got the right mindset. He really does, man, I love this guy's mental makeup. He is infatuated with the details. I mean, he watches a lot of film on his own, asks a lot of great questions. He's a fast learner."
Hampton has spent the last three seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oregon, orchestrating some of the best coverage units in all of college football. He knows the skills and makeup of a star safety — which is what makes his final comment on Washington both an early stamp of approval and extremely promising for what lies ahead in his career.
"I think he's gonna have a very bright future here."
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Freshman S Jett Washington turning heads early in spring practices
Continue reading...
A trend has begun to form for standout safeties to come to Oregon via the transfer portal. But next offseason, the Ducks very well may not be in the running for another safety with true freshman Jett Washington already turning heads early in spring practices.
Expectations are high for Washington, as he was the No. 1 safety in the 2027 class according to 247 Sports and competed for Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV. He's also the nephew of the late Kobe Bryant, as Washington will don Bryant's #24 for the Ducks this season.
Washington's frame is part of what makes him so dominant, as he stands 6-foot-5 while patrolling from his safety position. But, according to defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, it's not just his size that's sticking out during his brief time in the program.
“He’s obviously got a rare size-speed combination," Hampton said on Saturday. "He's a guy who is every bit of 6’5”, you know, and he looks the part, for sure. Anyone that comes out there and see him is like, ‘God, that guy's huge.’ You know, he's got the right mindset. He really does, man, I love this guy's mental makeup. He is infatuated with the details. I mean, he watches a lot of film on his own, asks a lot of great questions. He's a fast learner."
Hampton has spent the last three seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oregon, orchestrating some of the best coverage units in all of college football. He knows the skills and makeup of a star safety — which is what makes his final comment on Washington both an early stamp of approval and extremely promising for what lies ahead in his career.
"I think he's gonna have a very bright future here."
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Freshman S Jett Washington turning heads early in spring practices
Continue reading...
