Alabama is hosting an elite group of official visitors this weekend to kick off the summer OV season. The biggest name on the list of visitors is 5-star safety Jett Washington from Las Vegas. Washington is a consensus 5-star prospect and is ranked as the No. 3 safety in the country for 2026 according to the industry composite.
Most consider the race for Washington's services to be among three teams: Alabama, Oregon, and Ohio State. He has official visits lined up for all three, with the Crimson Tide getting the first swing this weekend.
Industry experts have believed that Oregon is the frontrunner for Washington. However, according to On3's Steve Wiltfong, Alabama is near the top of the list and will have a big opportunity to make a compelling pitch this weekend.
In the video, Wiltfong comments that it's "always good vibes" for Washington when he visits Tuscaloosa, and that he and his family have developed a strong relationship with Tide DB coach Maurice Linguist.
Washington has made two unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa. He was in attendance last year for Alabama's win over Georgia in late September. He returned to Alabama for an unofficial visit in April.
Washington will have some familiarity with the current roster as Kalen DeBoer and company landed WR Derek Meadows in the 2025 class, a high school teammate of Washington.
Washington's recruitment is another opportunity for Maurice Linguist to flex
When DeBoer pulled Linguist from his spot as the head coach at Buffalo, he unearthed a gem. Linguist has been a godsend for the Crimson Tide's coaching staff both as a developer and recruiter.
Despite the youth in the secondary last season, Linguist spearheaded the development of the Tide's young corners. Zabien Brown was an instant impact player as a freshman. Linguist is now coaching the entire secondary - not just corners. That's going to be a big thing working in Alabama's favor in the recruitment of Washington.
Pulling him across the country won't be easy. Oregon has done well recruiting in the Sin City, and they will undoubtedly put together a compelling NIL package.
But this staff has proven to be adept at knocking it out of the park on official visits. We've seen time and time again how quickly things can change when a prospect gets on campus.
It's an uphill battle for Alabama at this point, but we'll have a much better indication of where things stand for Washington after this weekend.