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BREAKING: Lousiana's Isaiah Washington commits to LSU

Jerit Roser Twitterby: Jerit Roser07/04/25JeritRoser
Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington, Photo: Jerit Roser

From the Golden Tornado to the Purple and Gold, Haynesville star Isaiah Washington has decided to represent home-state Louisiana in college.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound standout, a projected safety at the next level, announced his commitment to LSU on Friday as part of the annual Fourth of July recruiting fireworks show.

Washington quickly picked up eight notable offers in less than eight weeks at the end of his junior year of school and heavily zeroed in on the Tigers, fellow SEC program Arkansas and fellow in-state program Tulane to start the summer.

And he said he kept finding himself circling back to the same program and an opportunity to play at college football’s highest level in the SEC.

“It’s really the place I’ve been having my mind on, and I’ve been feeling really invited and ready to actually get there — have a great last year of high school and get ready to get there,” Washington said. “I mean, it was kind of tough to make the decision, but when you just sit down and put your mind to it and think about all the details, it all comes together.”

Washington said teammates and community members in Haynesville were enthusiastic about the potential of one of their stars going to play for the Tigers.

When he signs with LSU in December, he will become the first Golden Tornado standout to do so since two-way lineman Joseph Evans in 2019 and just the second since Kenny Jackson in 1974.

Washington wanted to see and weight his options and not jump the gun on a decision, but was consistently blown away by the program, its facilities, its track record for development and the opportunity to play for the home-state program.

“They don’t lie when they say you have to go there to, you know, actually see about LSU, because I mean it was amazing,” he said. “Everything is amazing. I mean from the outside, you may think that a building on the inside wouldn’t look so good. But once you go in, I mean your eyes will be wide. I mean, the place, everything there is what I feel like a young student should need.

“I mean, anything you want, they have. The recovery process, I mean, great, the best thing I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even think that would be at a college. All of it is just great… Everybody should have a chance to go to a college exactly like that.”

And LSU safeties coach Jake Olsen was among the steadiest presences during Washington’s somewhat whirlwind recruitment from showing interest in early May, to making the trip to Haynesville at the end of spring practices, to hosting unofficial and official visits in a one-week span in mid-June.

“Just the consistent communication and actually, instead of just telling you, coach Olsen, he’s gonna show you the facts and things like that. And he’s not just gonna boost your head up. He’s gonna really show you what it’s about and give you the 100% honest thing every day, and he’s just a real genuine person, man.”

Washington is LSU’s second commitment of the day, joining West Jones (Laurel, Miss.) offensive tackle Bryson Cooley‘s announcement in the morning.

The duo now gives the Tigers a total of 14 pledges for the cycle, including eight in-state prospects and five defensive backs.

Washington joins fellow safeties Aiden Hall (Edna Karr) and Dylan Purter (Tuskegee, Ala.) and cornerbacks Dezyrian “Pook” Ellis (Franklin Parish) and Havon Finney Jr. (Los Angeles) in Olsen’s and secondary coach Corey Raymond’s haul for the cycle.

While Washington may be a newer name for many fans, he had a straightforward message for those still learning more about him.

“I’m gonna ball out and be striving for a championship for sure,” he said. “You’re gonna eventually be watching this kid on Sundays, man.”

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