Washington football adds high-end CB from prestigious IMG Academy

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The Washington Huskies have earned one of their biggest wins on the recruiting trail with the commitment of four-star cornerback Censere Gaylord.

The 6-foot, 170-pound product of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, who began his high school career at Bishop Alemany in Southern California, chose Jedd Fisch’s program over 31 other offers, including a top four that included Auburn, Georgia, and Georgia Tech. Gaylord took official visits to see the Yellow Jackets on May 29 and the Bulldogs on June 12, with a trip to Seattle on June 5 sandwiched in between.

Coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs appeared to make a big push for Gaylord ahead of his pledge, giving Fisch and secondary coach John Richardson an impressive win as the Huskies look to continue establishing a national recruiting footprint.

“Coach JRich is from Los Angeles, I’ve known him since I was in eighth grade,” Gaylord told 247Sports’ Tom Loy of why he picked the Huskies. “How to approach the game, be a pro, a lot of NFL guys come from there.”

Ranked as the No. 113 overall prospect and No. 13 cornerback in the 2027 class by 247Sports, Gaylord becomes the highest-ranked recruit in UW’s class—per the recruiting site’s rankings—and has the skill set to quickly become an impact player in defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ scheme.

One of Gaylord’s most impressive traits on film is his ability in press coverage, which Walters loves to call, and has become secondary coach John Richardson’s favorite thing to teach. He also possesses the athleticism and versatility to move all over the formation, and while he has the size and aggressiveness needed to play on the outside in the Big Ten, he could also thrive in the nickel.

Not only does Gaylord, who compiled 5 pass breakups and 4 interceptions at IMG during his junior year, possess high-end ball skills, but he’s also an extremely physical tackler both in coverage and against the run. As he continues to add weight to his frame, he could become an important piece in run support for Walters.

With his commitment, Gaylord becomes the fourth defensive back to make his pledge to Richardson, joining four-star safeties Jaden Walk-Green and Isala Aisa Wily-Ava, along with three-star cornerback Maurice Williams.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington football adds high-end CB from prestigious IMG Academy

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