South Carolina State defensive back Jarod Washington is turning heads at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
And this time it is the stopwatch doing most of the talking.
The Bulldogs star has been officially identified as the fastest player at the prestigious all-star event, posting the week’s top verified tracking number in Frisco, Texas.
Using Zebra MotionWorks performance tracking technology, Washington was clocked at a top speed of 21.33 miles per hour during Shrine Bowl practices, a mark that currently sits atop the event’s leaderboard. That figure places him ahead of prospects from national powers such as LSU, NC State, Texas A&M and Toledo, all measured under the same conditions and with the same technology.
Data shared by event organizers on social media highlighted Washington as the week’s top burner, cementing his status as the fastest man in Frisco.
For Washington, the distinction adds a quantifiable exclamation point to a draft audition that was already gaining traction with NFL personnel.
The fastest players from Day 3 at the East-West Shrine Bowl per @ZebraTechnology
1⃣ @jaro0d_, @SCState_Fb
2⃣ @ftfzayy_, @LSUfootball
3⃣ @AverySmith2022, @ToledoFBCheck out all the data from practice here
https://t.co/k4DCt5ACRE pic.twitter.com/9weTheWXpQ
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 26, 2026
The East-West Shrine Bowl, one of the longest-running postseason showcases in college football, is heavily attended by scouts and executives looking for prospects who can both run and play. Washington’s ability to hit a gear north of 21 miles per hour reinforces what his tape has shown throughout his career: recovery speed, closing burst and the ability to erase mistakes with raw acceleration.
HBCU star on a big stage
Washington arrived in Texas as the lone HBCU representative on this year’s Shrine Bowl roster and a centerpiece of South Carolina State’s recent resurgence. The Fredericksburg, Virginia native was named the 2025 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and an HBCU All-American after anchoring a Bulldogs secondary that helped deliver back-to-back MEAC titles and a Cricket Celebration Bowl championship last season. He led the FCS in passes defended at 1.83 per game, finishing with 20 pass breakups, 32 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns.
Those numbers, combined with his postseason all-star invitations—including the inaugural American Bowl and now the Shrine Bowl—have already put him firmly on the NFL radar. This week’s tracking data only amplifies his profile, giving teams a verified metric to pair with his production and film. In a league where front offices relentlessly chase speed on the back end, an HBCU defensive back sitting atop the Shrine Bowl speed charts is the kind of detail that tends to stick in scouting reports.
What it means for Jarod Washington and HBCUs
For Washington, owning the label of “fastest player at the Shrine Bowl” could be a pivotal line on his pre-draft résumé as he moves toward the combine and individual workouts. NFL teams covet defensive backs who can match vertical threats, drive on routes and recover when the ball is in the air, and his tracking numbers serve as a tangible confirmation that he checks that box.
