Washington's John Richardson Adds to DB Riches With New 4-Star Commit

For the third consecutive recruiting class, Washington Huskies secondary coach John Richardson has secured one of the country's premier defensive backs.

On Saturday, four-star IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) cornerback Censere Gaylord chose UW over Georgia and Georgia Tech, adding the former California native to a growing list of signed, developed, and drafted defensive backs over the past three years.

Washington freshman cornerback and former IMG Academy product Ksani Jiles with a message to Husky fans when it comes to four-star 2027 targets Osani Gayles and Censere Gaylord pic.twitter.com/07Ut3ghkLk

— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) June 8, 2026

Gaylord, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior, is ranked as the No. 112 overall recruit and the No. 13 cornerback in the 2027 class, based on 247Sports' rankings. The IMG product is the highest-ranked Huskies' pledge, ahead of four-star wide receiver Tre Moore in this year's cycle and the third-highest ranked corner to commit to Richardson in the past three classes, including 2027.

Gaylord follows four-star McClymonds High School standout Rahsjon Duncan--the highest-ranked cornerback to sign with UW and Richardson since he came to Montlake with Jedd Fisch from Arizona in January 2024--and four-star Dylan Robinson in 2025, who projects as one of two starters for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters this fall as one of two outside cornerbacks opposite Virginia transfer Emmanuel Karnley.

As a junior, the dynamic cornerback forced five interceptions and multiple tackles for loss, more than holding up as a run defender and tackler in open space while also proving to be one of the best players at his position when the ball is thrown his way.

Gaylord could follow in the path of Robinson, a sophomore who played in 12 of 13 games for the Huskies as a true freshman in 2025 behind veteran starters Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock, both taken in the 2026 NFL draft, and continuing the tradition of Huskies landing in the league.

Regardless of whether the IMG Academy product proves to be a day one starter or contributor, it's another in the long line of talented cornerbacks secured and set to be coached by Fisch's standout assistant coach.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington's John Richardson Adds to DB Riches With New 4-Star Commit