Woof: Huskies Land Another Highly Rated Star Cornerback
Happy Friday, Husky fans! Washington received some great news today as three-star cornerback C.J. Lavender from Mater Dei High School (CA) announced his commitment to UW during an On3 live stream on YouTube.
After an unofficial visit for the Huskies’ junior day, Washington emerged as the frontrunner in his recruitment. Despite offers from top programs like Miami, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and USC, Lavender ultimately chose UW. Ranked as the 81st cornerback nationally by 247 Sports, he recorded 26 tackles and two interceptions last season on a stacked Mater Dei roster. Standing at 5’11” and approximately 177 pounds, he’s a versatile defensive back capable of playing multiple positions.
2026 DB CJ Lavender just announced his commitment to Washington! https://t.co/CT9MfDaYYP pic.twitter.com/aemwmlI5qp
— UW Dawg Pound (@UWonSBN) March 21, 2025
Washington has been making strides in recruiting at Mater Dei in recent cycles, securing commitments from QB Dash Beierly and WR Marcus Harris last year. Given Mater Dei’s reputation as a premier pipeline for Division I talent, consistently landing one or two recruits from the program each year would be a huge win for the Huskies’ coaching staff.