Oregon's Chris Hampton Raves About 5-Star Ducks Safety Jett Washington

Defensive coordinator calls incoming freshman a 'unicorn' due to his elite size, speed and athleticism.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 8:47pm

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Oregon defensive coordinator Chris Hampton praised 5-star safety recruit Jett Washington, calling him a 'unicorn' due to his outstanding physical attributes and potential to make an immediate impact for the Ducks in 2026. Washington, the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, is ranked as the top safety in the 2026 recruiting class and is expected to challenge for playing time as a true freshman.

Why it matters

The addition of Washington comes at a crucial time for Oregon's secondary, as the Ducks look to replace standout safety Dillon Thieneman, who declared for the NFL Draft. Washington's arrival provides depth and competition at the position, and the coaching staff believes he has the talent to potentially earn a starting role right away.

The details

At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Washington possesses an elite size-speed-athleticism combination that has the Oregon staff extremely excited. Hampton highlighted Washington's violent hitting ability, great ball skills, and basketball background as key attributes that make him a 'unicorn' prospect. Washington recorded 48 tackles and four interceptions as a senior at Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada.

  • Washington will join the Oregon program in the fall of 2026.

The players

Chris Hampton

Oregon's defensive coordinator who raved about the potential of 5-star safety recruit Jett Washington.

Jett Washington

A 5-star safety recruit who is ranked as the top player at his position in the 2026 class and is expected to challenge for playing time as a true freshman at Oregon.

Dillon Thieneman

The standout Oregon safety who declared for the NFL Draft, leaving a void in the Ducks' secondary that Washington could help fill.

Koi Perich

A top transfer safety who joined Oregon in the offseason and will have two years of eligibility remaining, similar to Thieneman when he arrived.

Dan Lanning

The Oregon head coach who has shown a willingness to play true freshmen in significant roles, as evidenced by cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“He's got the best height-weight-speed combination in all of high school football. This is obviously Kobe Bryant's nephew. His dad was actually a running back who played in the NFL. Violent hitter, great ball skills, great basketball player, great athlete. This guy has a big-time future. He's a unicorn.”

— Chris Hampton, Oregon Defensive Coordinator

“There's always gonna be that opportunity. And I think every guy that walks in this room, they say, okay, I just want to know, am I gonna have the opportunity to go make an impact? And it's up to you, and then us as coaches, it's we have to take ownership of that as well.”

— Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach

What’s next

Washington will join the Oregon program in the fall of 2026 and compete for playing time in the Ducks' secondary.

The takeaway

Oregon's coaching staff is extremely high on the potential of 5-star safety recruit Jett Washington, who they believe has the elite physical tools and talent to make an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2026. His arrival comes at a crucial time for the Ducks' secondary, as they look to replace a standout starter, and Washington could challenge for a starting role right away.