"The culture was second to none at Michigan": Top 100 WR signee Jacob Washington shares candid thoughts about commitment to the Wolverines

Four-star prospect Jacob Washington is one of the most promising wide receivers in the nation. The standout from Archbishop Shaw High School in Louisiana committed to Michigan in June and stayed true to his pledge by signing on Wednesday, despite a late push from Missouri.

In an interview with On3's EJ Holland on Saturday, Washington shared the moment when he realized Michigan would have a significant role in his recruitment:

"I'd say coming off my first unofficial visit in the springtime, I knew Michigan was a spot that would hold a heavy spot in my heart. I developed a great relationship with the staff and the culture was second to none at Michigan. So it meant everything in my recruitment. Awesome."

Washington is ranked as the No. 25 wide receiver in the 2025 class, the No. 213 prospect and the No. 8 recruit in Louisiana, according to the On3.

Jacob Washington was the first wide receiver commit in Michigan's 2025 class. The cycle later added four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh and three-star wide receiver Jamar Browder.

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Jacob Washington shares Michigan WR coach Ron Bellamy's pitch in his recruitment

Michigan wide receiver coach Ron Bellamy played a great role in Jacob Washington's recruitment. Both are Louisiana natives, and Bellamy also played for Washington's high school coach, Hank Tierney.

Washington saw Bellamy's presence at Michigan as a key factor in his choice, as he told On3's EJ Holland:

"Just knowing that coach Ron Bellamy would be up there and he'd be looking after me as I developed my three to four years at Michigan and just knowing that he played for Coach Hank and he played with Seaver at a high level, that was definitely key. ... Knowing I have someone up there who's looking after me and developing me."

Washington isn’t the only player with Louisiana ties headed to Michigan. His high school teammate, three-star running back Jasper Parker, also committed to the Wolverines.

"(Parker and Washington) never wavered,” Tierney told Nola.com on Friday. “(Michigan) is where they wanted to go, and they’ve been happy about it. Of course Bellamy having a Shaw connection is huge. I couldn’t think of a better guy for them to play for.”

Jacob Washington is a strong all-around player, with his route running and ball skills being areas of focus for continued development. He excels in a run-heavy offense, similar to what he will encounter at Michigan.