4-star defensive back flips commitment from Alabama to Penn State

After receiving bad news on two fronts Thursday, the Penn State football team received good recruiting news Friday when Elliot Washington, a four-star defensive back from Venice High School in Florida, flipped his commitment from Alabama to the Nittany Lions.

Washington is listed by 247Sports and and Rivals as a safety and by On3 as a cornerback, which is where he is expected to suit up for the Nittany Lions, according to Penn State recruiting insider Sean Fitz.

Washington is listed as the No. 7 cornerback in the nation and the No. 66 player overall by On3. He checks in as the No. 12 safety and No. 161 player overall by 247Sports and is unranked by Rivals.

Washington committed to Alabama in January but took visits to Michigan State and Penn State in June, which suggested a potential change of heart.

Penn State won the Big Ten battle with the Spartans and landed a promising, versatile defensive back with the coverage skills to stick at cornerback at the next level. Washington has fast feet and ball skills that should serve him well regardless of his ultimate position at Penn State.

In landing Washington, Penn State went back into SEC territory to continue building its defense. The Lions also have commitments from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) safeties Conrad Hussey and King Mack and from the Alabama tandem of edge rusher Tomarrion Parker and safety DaKaari Nelson. Penn State also has three commits from Virginia in a class that sits at 16 members.

Penn State’s class took a hit on Thursday when four-star quarterback Marcus Stokes de-committed and flipped to Florida. The Lions also lost a key running back target in Trinity Christian Academy (Fla.) four-star Treyaun Webb, who also picked the Gators.

The addition of Washington on Friday sends Penn State into the weekend on a high note with a class ranked among the top 10 nationally by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals.