Texas football adds potent receiving threat in 3-Star TE Jordan Washington

Texas football reached a dozen commitments in the 2024 recruiting class on July 4 with the addition of the rising three-star Houston (TX) Langham Creek tight end Jordan Washington. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks landed their first tight end commit in the 2024 class during the July 4 holiday in Washington.

Banks and the Longhorns made Washington their top priority at the tight end position in the 2024 class in the last few weeks. After missing on the touted four-star Laguna Beach (CA) tight end target Ryner Swanson, who committed to the BYU Cougars roughly one month ago, Washington became the top priority at the position in the 2024 class.

Washington chose the school that was his childhood favorite over other offers, such as the Arizona State Sun Devils, Texas A&M Aggies, Utah Utes, Alabama Crimson Tide, and UTSA Roadrunners. He committed to Texas a few weeks after he officially visited Austin from June 16-18.

Since Texas offered Washington on May 2, 2023, the Longhorns were a major player in this recruitment. The Texas offer made an immediate impression on Washington. Banks established consistent communication with Washington and sold him what the Longhorns could bring to the table to help develop him on and off the field in just a couple of months before committing.

Texas football gets potent receiving TE in 3-Star Langham Creek product Jordan Washington

Adding Washington to the 2024 class continues this insane run on the recruiting trail for Sark and the Longhorns staff this summer. Texas has added double-digit commitments to the 2024 class since the start of official visit season on June 16.

Washington fills up one of two tight end spots in the 2024 class

Banks and the Longhorns are likely looking to fill two tight end spots in the 2024 class, with one potentially being reserved for the transfer portal (but that is yet to be confirmed). Washington gives the Longhorns the pure receiving tight end mold for the future.

Now, Banks and the Longhorns can look to the high school ranks heading into the fall or the transfer portal early next offseason to get a blocking tight end in the class.

Texas gets an athletic and skilled receiving tight end in Washington

The 6-foot-4 and 225-pound receiving tight end out of the Houston-area Washington is a high-level athlete at the position with a lot of long-term upside at the collegiate level. Washington is fast and agile by the usual considerations for a tight end.

You rarely get a non-blue-chip tight end recruit that is as fluid and strong of an athlete as Washington in the receiving game. He’s also a good vertical athlete who brings a large catch radius. Washington will be a quick and potent flex tight end that can be a threat stretching the field, in the flats, and down the seams.

Ball tracking and in-route adjustments stand out for Washington on film. He has good football IQ, allowing him to make the necessary adjustments in the middle of the play to find more space to operate and give his quarterback an easier throw to make.

Combining Washington’s diverse route tree, ball tracking, strong hands, and vertical ability adds up to someone who can threaten opposing defenses at multiple levels of the field. He also can bring down those tough contested 50/50 balls on the outside and in traffic between the numbers.

Regarding Washington’s scheme versatility, there are many different ways he can be lined up pre-snap to run different routes. He runs mostly any route you could ask him at any level of the field well.

Once Washington gets the ball in his hands, he’s pretty dangerous in space. He’s got good field vision and elusiveness in space, allowing him to pick up those valuable yards after the catch, especially when he’s matched up against linebackers and slower safeties in coverage.

Oftentimes, though, Washington doesn’t have to make any opposing defenders miss in space. He can be utilized as a deep threat to take the top off opposing defenses or bust through the seams to get downfield and catch the ball for explosive passing plays.

Washington is a capable run blocker

While this isn’t his most pronounced strength, Washington is still a capable run blocker who can get down the field and take the right approach to opening up space for the ball carrier. Washington takes the right pad-level approach and uses his strong frame and quick feet to get the best of the defender in blocking matchups.

Areas of improvement

Washington can run routes to multiple levels of the field from different pre-snap looks and schemes. But he needs more refinement for his technique to become a more precise route runner, especially when working out of the slot and between the numbers.

Creating separation when facing physical defensive backs one-on-one is also a question mark for Washington. He hasn’t been put in many situations where he has to separate from physical defensive backs in one-on-one man coverage, which he’ll often face in the SEC.

Lastly, Washington needs to add five or 10 more pounds of muscle mass to become a more effective pass blocker and run blocker against bigger defenders.

Projection and fit at Texas

In a couple of years, Washington will be viewed as someone that can develop into a pure receiving tight end role on the Forty Acres. Washington isn’t an immediate impact tight end in the 2024 class, as he needs to refine his technique and add some weight.

But Washington should be a multi-year contributor as a productive tight end in the receiving game for Sark and the Longhorns. He could be the next productive standout at receiving tight end upon the departure of junior All-Big 12 tight end JT Sanders.

Texas has more than quadrupled the size of the 2024 recruiting class in the last few weeks. According to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings, the 2024 Texas recruiting class ranks No. 28 in the nation and second in the Big 12 behind the Texas Tech Red Raiders.