Clemson Cornerback Collects National Honor
By: Gavin Oliver November 4, 2026

A Clemson defensive back collected a national honor this week.

Senior cornerback Elliot Washington II was named the national Defensive Player of the Week for the Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl.

Washington earned the honor thanks to his performance in the Tigers’ 36-24 victory at Florida State last Saturday, when he posted two tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup.

Clemson cornerback Elliot Washington II (3) intercepts a Florida State pass to seal the Tigers’ win during the fourth quarter at Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday, October 31, 2026. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder became the first Clemson player to record two multi-interception games in a season since 2009, when DeAndre McDaniel did so against Georgia Tech and Miami.

Earlier this season, Washington earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors after he recorded two interceptions at Cal, becoming the first Clemson player to record a pick in back-to-back games and record multiple interceptions in a single game since Ricardo Jones accomplished both in 2025.

Prior to starring at Cal, Washington also came up with a game-sealing interception — his first pick as a Tiger — in Clemson’s comeback win over North Carolina.

Washington has started all eight games for the Tigers this season, tallying 25 total tackles, a forced fumble, five pass breakups and five interceptions. He is tied for first among all FBS players with his five interceptions and is tied for fifth nationally in passes defended with 10.

The 2026 campaign is Washington’s first at Clemson. He transferred to Tigertown after spending his first three seasons at Penn State, where he played under former Nittany Lions and current Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen in 2024.

As a junior last season, he appeared in 12 games, totaling 18 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups, in addition to scoring on a 35-yard return of a blocked field goal at Iowa.

Overall, in his three seasons at Penn State, Washington collected 53 tackles (1.5 for loss), two interceptions and nine pass breakups over 36 games, including one start.

He was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class out of Venice (Fla.) High School, and was touted as the No. 54 overall prospect in the country for his recruiting class by ESPN.

Washington and the Tigers (5-3, 3-2 ACC) are preparing for a road matchup at Syracuse (4-4, 2-4) this Saturday (12 p.m., ESPN2).