Washington football makes top five for coveted four-star California CB

Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies' coaching staff are looking to bring in a crop of elite defensive backs from the high school ranks in the 2027 class and have made the cut for yet another promising cornerback in four-star Jailen Hill.

Over the weekend, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound product of St. John Bosco High School in Southern California released his top five schools, placing the Huskies alongside Florida State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Secondary coach John Richardson and safeties coach Taylor Mays have also lined up an official visit with Hill to get him on campus on May 29.

Ranked as the No. 251 overall prospect and No. 22 safety in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite, Hill is expected to play outside cornerback at the college level, where he's drawn comparisons to one of Richardson's top products.

"Hill is one of the more versatile defensive backs out West and could end up at corner or safety in college," former 247Sports analyst Greg Biggins wrote in his evaluation. "He has tremendous length at 6-2 and a 78” wingspan and can smother opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage and down the field in coverage. He has a corner skill set, but has the range to play safety, and athletically, that might be his best college position."

"He’s not a super twitchy athlete right now in terms of change of direction and long speed, and that’s another reason we think safety could be his ultimate meal ticket. Saying that, he has two more years to continue to develop athletically, and it won’t surprise us at all if he can stay at corner. He reminds us a little of current Washington defensive back Ephesians Prysock in terms of his frame and playing style. He’s among the most highly coveted defensive backs in the ’27 class and brings a lot to the table on and off the field."

As Hill's recruitment shapes up, it appears that the Huskies have a battle with another Big Ten program on their hands. Coach Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who are slated to host him for an official visit on June 5, hold a pair of crystal balls from Rivals to reel in his commitment.

The Huskies currently hold one commitment in the secondary, from three-star cornerback Maurice Williams, and appear to be looking to add at least two more cornerbacks. Washington has also locked in official visits with four-star cornerback Censere Gaylord and three-star prospects Kamil Loud and Jeovanni Henley.