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LSU football earns commitment from 2026 Louisiana defensive back Isaiah Washington

LSU football earns commitment from 2026 Louisiana defensive back Isaiah Washington

Yahoo6 hours ago
LSU football received a commitment from another top prospect in its backyard. 2026 safety Isaiah Washington will stay home to play for the Tigers.
The No. 3 safety out of Louisiana, Washington gained traction in his recruiting process over the last several weeks. He garnered eight offers towards the end of his junior year at Haynesville High School, including Arkansas and Tulane.
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Washington is the state's No. 23 prospect and No. 67 at his position nationally. The six-foot-one, 170-pounder received a visit from LSU safeties coach Jake Olsen in his hometown before making two trips to Baton Rouge mid-June, which sealed the deal.
The Haynesville, LA native is the eighth in-state prospect to choose LSU and the fifth defensive back. Washington joins a class ranked sixth nationally and third in the SEC.
Washington is LSU's second commitment of the day, following offensive tackle Bryson Cooley. Brian Kelly and staff are gaining momentum as LSU looks to make a run at the No. 1 overall recruiting class.
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LSU's 2026 class has 14 commits, including two five-stars and nine four-stars.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football gains commitment from 2026 Louisiana defensive back
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We have a complete, strong group that can count on everyone. No one is irreplaceable: that's one of our strengths.' Mbock's injury forces Bonadei to start, most probably, 21-year-old Alice Sombath of Lyonnes who is at her first major tournament and has just four caps. Alongside Lakrar, who played at the 2023 World Cup, they form a completely new centre-back partnership. Bonadei was particularly impressed by Sombath's performance against Arsenal, and notably England's No 9 Alessia Russo, in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal — Lyon won 2-1 before losing 5-3 on aggregate. On Friday he praised her 'emotional control', and precise passes. 'She is a source of great satisfaction, and her performance against Arsenal was a benchmark,' he said. Sombath, however, has lacked gametime this season, starting just seven league games. However, she has learned from the best, including Mbock and Renard at Lyonnes. Should she start, Saturday's game will be one of, if not, the most important game of her career. Another option could be Paris Saint-Germain's Thiniba Samoura, 21, with seven caps, also playing in her first major tournament. But Bonadei is not concerned about a lack of experience in defence. He admitted Mbock's injury could be 'detrimental' but has 'complete confidence' in her potential replacements. Despite missing familiar faces, France's strength remains in the technical and physical quality of their individual players, especially offensively. Their options in attack are frightening: Sandy Baltimore, Kadidiatou Diani, Delphine Cascarino, Clara Mateo and Katoto. 'I am not here to take unconsidered risks,' said Bonadei. 'This team is perfectly capable of doing just as well without them (the missing players).' Advertisement Recent results against Switzerland (4-0), Iceland (2-0), Belgium (5-0) and Brazil (3-2) proved that. 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Barring Euro 2022, when France progressed to the semi-finals, they have failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals for eight consecutive major tournaments. In October, Bonadei brought in psychologist Thomas Sammut, who has worked with Olympians such as four-time gold medal-winning swimmer Leon Marchand. This is not the first time they have had a team psychologist but Sammut is part of everything, sits on the bench at matches, attends team meetings, conducts individual sessions and also visits players at their clubs. Ironically, it is partially thanks to former captain Renard, who temporarily withdrew from the squad in March 2023 until changes were made at the top, that the FFF bolstered the team's resources in the lead-up to that year's World Cup. Georges, who describes the team as 'talented', 'technical' and 'united' does not know why France have never been able to reach a major tournament final. Advertisement 'It's hard to explain,' she says. 'Even the players… What we expect from them is to be more consistent in their performance. Why they can't do it in major moments, I cannot tell you. Some people say it's about mentality. 'I think this team can win it. It's a big statement from the coach. He took the decision to change it. This is new and it's going to be interesting to watch.' (Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Getty Images)

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