South Carolina State CB Jarod Washington Earns 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Jarod Washington built one of the most productive cornerback careers in recent FCS history at South Carolina State, and a detailed scouting report published March 12 by Gerald J. Huggins II on FCS Football Central framed the 6-foot, 186-pound Bulldogs defender as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Huggins, who serves as the official NFL Draft analyst for FCS Football Central, a national scout for the East-West Shrine Bowl and DraftHBCU, and an official voter for both the Aeneas Williams and Jim Thorpe Awards, described Washington in the scouting report as "a cornerback with good size, strong instincts in zone coverage, and competitiveness." The report noted that Washington "shows a good closing burst, paired with adequate anticipation, to drive on underneath routes in zone coverage."

The numbers back it up. Washington led the entire FCS in passes defended with 23 and pass breakups with 21 in his final season alone. Over his full FCS career spanning 25 games, he finished with 75 tackles including 63 solo stops, 4 interceptions, 3 interception return touchdowns, 33 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 forced fumble.

Washington's accolades match that production. He earned First-Team All-MEAC honors in both 2024 and 2025, won MEAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, and took home the Aeneas Williams Award in 2025, which recognizes the top defensive back in FCS football. He also earned First-Team recognition from both FCS Football Central and Stats Perform in 2025, along with a Second-Team selection from the Associated Press.

The story behind Washington's arrival at South Carolina State adds another layer. He followed head coach Chennis Berry from Benedict College to the Bulldogs program, and the loyalty paid dividends for both player and program. Washington delivered back-to-back All-MEAC seasons while helping South Carolina State earn back-to-back Celebration Bowl appearances and the 2025 HBCU National Championship.

TheAnalyst ranked Washington 10th among its top FCS prospects for the 2026 draft cycle, slotting him between South Dakota State offensive tackle Sam Hagen at No. 8 and North Dakota State running back Barika Kpeenu at No. 9. TheAnalyst labeled Washington the top-rated HBCU prospect in the class.

Washington is now chasing a piece of South Carolina State history. Should an NFL team select him in April, he would become the first Bulldog drafted since Cobie Bryant went in 2022, a four-year gap that underscores what the program has been building under Berry.