WSU Football Recruiting: Drew Loftus, Preferred Walk-On
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 12:31 PM PST
in 2012 WSU Football Recruiting News
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PrintFormer Kennewick high school standout Drew Loftus has accepted an invitation to walk-on at Washington State University. Part of building any championship caliber team is bringing a handful of smart, hard working preferred walk-ons. Now, I know that "part of building any championship team is adding walk-ons" sounds silly, but I think it helps tremendously with depth and Special Teams. Walk-ons are zero risk, all reward type players. They're often a jack-of-all-trades, and don't necessarily have a true position. This lack of a position is a big reason they didn't get offered a scholarship out of high school. They play Special Teams, and are generally happy to do so. They know they have to work harder than the guys on scholarship, so they're willing to run through a wall for you.
Plus, they're the absolute textbook definition of an underdog. And who doesn't love rooting for the underdog?
Loftus played all over the field for Kennewick HS in his four year career including WR, DB, KR, QB, and even punted. If Loftus had stayed at WR -- he was asked to play QB his Senior year with no other viable options -- he probably would have had more offers than just New Mexico State.
Loftus accepted a preferred walk-on role at Hawai'i instead, and sat out 2011 as a redshirt. Drew was an un-recruited preferred walk on at Hawai'i, and WSU compliance expects him to be eligible to play next season. He should have 4 to play 4.
Loftus may not have had a ton of interest coming out of HS, but I'm not sure why. The kid has some pretty legitimate speed, and I'm not sure how schools like Idaho or Wyoming didn't attempt to scoop him up. Regardless, this is a pretty nice pick up for Mike Leach and staff. Loftus will most likely be relegated to Special Teams for the majority of his career, but it never hurts to have a bigger WR (6'3, 190) on the roster. Loftus is a super athlete, so it wouldn't surprise me if he wound up catching some passes before his career is up.
He was also a standout baseball player at Kennewick. When I asked his father if he would also be trying out for Donnie Marbut's squad, he told me,
"Drew has his baseball gear with him. I assume he’ll play baseball for the Cougs eventually but he says he’s focusing on football until he’s solidified his position on the team. He’s planning to stay in Pullman this summer for summer school and voluntary workouts."
So, Collin Henderson 2.0? I'll take it.
Loftus had a recent run in with local police, but it sounds like it was kind of wrong-place-wrong-time type of thing. I'm waiting to hear back from his father about the situation, so I'll keep everyone updated. I feel comfortable going forward, however. Leach has shown time and again that he's a great judge of character, and has very little tolerance for bad eggs. If he didn't think Loftus had his stuff together off the field, he wouldn't have asked him to walk-on.
I really like this addition. He comes from a family of Cougs, and his father was elated that he was "coming home". It's risk-free, and Loftus is a super athletic speedster who just wants to prove he belongs. I think, before it's all said and done, he'll have proved just that.
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Probably worth mentioning also
the vital role that walk-ons often have in playing on the scout teams. The ability that these kids have to give our first teams looks that approximate what they will see in a game is vital to our Saturday preparation.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Love this quote from the arrest article.
“Strange noises or unusual dog barking is usually an indicator of someone in your neighborhood who is up to no good,” Lattin said in a news release.
Ya my dog is an excellent judge of character.
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
by Coug999 on Jan 27, 2012 12:55 PM PST reply actions 5 recs
Our friend's dog barks when there's another dog on TV.
ARREST THE TV! ANIMAL PLANET IS UP TO NO GOOD
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 1:01 PM PST up reply actions
The squirrels living in the retaining wall outside are up to no good as well, apparently.
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
by Coug999 on Jan 27, 2012 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
...
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Jan 27, 2012 8:25 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
I really wanted one.
Then someone in my apartment complex in Seattle had one and it had the most god-awful screeching bark…and used it all the time.
CougCenter In Reid We Trust, Twitter!
by Craig Powers on Jan 28, 2012 6:56 AM PST up reply actions
Ah, the Shiba scream. Sounds like you're stabbing them in the face with pencils.
Yeah, some are worse than others. A friend of mine has 5 of them in a condo in Chicago with no issues.
I can't believe he didn't get a full ride any where he wanted.
The music on this recruiting video was specially formulated for football coaches. G-n-R, AC/DC then to top it off…Danger Zone. O’ no you didn’t!
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @TheSoCalCoug
This kid doesn't know who Kenny Loggins is
This video was made by someone over the age of 40.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
At least "Playin' With the Boys" wasn't on there.
I guess he’s saving that for the video of the football team oiling eachother up and playing volleybal in jeans.
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
Stupid question
But is there a difference between a walk-on and a “preferred” walk-on?
I think the "preferred" was a way of saying better than average or one that will receive more consideration for playing time
It is not an official status
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Preferred walk-ons can practice with the team at the beginning of fall camp.
NCAA limits how many players can practice before school starts. Non preferred walk-ons can’t practice until after the first day of classes which for some schools could mean after two or three games into the season.
by Mark Sandritter on Jan 27, 2012 1:06 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Yes.
A preferred walk-on is essentially treated the same as a scholarship athlete without receiving the financial support.
by Mark Sandritter on Jan 27, 2012 1:10 PM PST up reply actions
I think there actually is.
I’ll leave this for Kyle to answer, but I think there are benefits that preferred walk ons get that traditional walk ons do not.
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
Reply fail
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
Do walk ons ever play their way into a scholarship in football?
I know they can in basketball, ala David Stockton @ Gonzaga.
They do indeed. I would say one or two move up each year.
Tony Thompson is a recent example I can remember.
by Mark Sandritter on Jan 27, 2012 1:29 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe one of the scholarship players
will give up his own scholarship for Loftus.
I think I remember hearing once about a basketball player who did that. Can’t remember the details, it didn’t really get much publicity.
by WSU_Mike Reach on Jan 27, 2012 2:51 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I believe it was the venerable Taylor Rochestie
who gave up his scholie his senior year in order to give Wazzu the ability to give out one to someone else.
Sidenote, I knew a drunk guy who had gotten thrown out of the bars and was walking (read; destroying things) home. He decided to try and jump up and smack a stop sign with his palm. The stop sign got the better of him, and he ended up slamming on the pavement and smacking his head very hard, one of his probably numerous concussions. Rochestie pulled up in his BMW and asked if he needed a ride to the hospital.
In addition to giving me a high five as we rushed the field after Grasu hit that game winner in the Apple Cup and dishing me the ball at a blistering 10,000mph (estimate) in a pickup game at the rec, Taylor seemed like a pretty cool guy. That 3 over Harden against ASU was pretty badass too.
Thizz or die.
The same reason he drives a BMW is the same reason he was able to give up the scholie
Maybe with the excpetion fo Klay Thompson and others I am unaware of, there probably are very few athletes that would be able to do that. Still it was a huge gesture of kindness that allowed us to have a player for three years beyond Taylor’s career. the Rochesties were very good people. Also, the fact that he would have been at the Apple Cup and rushed the field makes me like him all the more. He had to be a Coug through and through to care about that game.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Clay Matthews was a walk on at USC
But I think in that case, he could have had scholarships from other schools, but preferred to walk on at USC until they could offer him one.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
His entire family went to USC, too.
That’s a big reason.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
True story
It wasn;t just because they were good. What was the story though behind Casey being at Oregon?
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Not sure.
Looks like USC didn’t offer, but he had a bunch of other offers.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 3:58 PM PST up reply actions
Looks like Cougs picked up Destiny Vaeao, too.
Post coming shortly.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 4:09 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
You are obliged to post the 60 Minutes American Samoa feature
This is awesome.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
LEACH DOES IT AGAIN! WOOHOO
but what possesses a parent to name their son Destiny?…Anyway another good pickup
Because he was destined to be a Coug
What better fate could you want out of life?
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
At least it isn't a girl named Destiny
We all know where she’d end up.
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
I'm confused. What do you mean by "LEACH DOES IT AGAIN!"?
That he gets another player to commit? Every coach in America does this.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 5:09 PM PST up reply actions
Ouch
Maybe he’s excited that WSU beat out other Pac-12 teams for a player, and not Weber State/Southern Utah. Old habits die hard.
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
SAMOAN PIPELINE Y'ALL!!
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
I have a bit of inside...
on why Drew wasn’t too heavily recruited. He was getting a lot of interest but he said that he wanted to play Baseball in college so everyone backed off of him. He was set to go to UW to play baseball at one point. It wasn’t until after his senior year of football was over that he changed his mind and wanted to play football in college. Boise offered him a preferred walk on at safety and Hawai’i at receiver and he took the spot on offense. My brother is a varsity coach at Kennewick so I’ve been hearing about this kid for years. He did everything at Kennewick including cleaning the stadium after games. I was frustrated WSU didn’t go after him before but am glad he’s coming “home”.
As for the legal issues if it happened in Kennewick i’d dismiss it. Kennewick cops are worse than Pullman cops when it comes to underage drinking.
Re: Pullman PD
I think the WSU Police are the worst offenders when it comes to handing out MIPs. I found generally the cops who walked a beat on College Hill Friday/Saturday nights were pretty lenient because they understood it was college. They only really got mad and started handing out tickets if someone pissed them off. Maybe that was just in my experience.
Two in the cake, one in the puddin'! -Kevin Calabro, Twitter: MichaelTheCoug
by Michael The Coug on Jan 27, 2012 7:30 PM PST up reply actions
Kind of a nobrainer
But what else do Pullman police have to look for?
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
They don
Two in the cake, one in the puddin'! -Kevin Calabro, Twitter: MichaelTheCoug
by Michael The Coug on Jan 27, 2012 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
Wow, hit enter at the wrong time.
They don’t really. But I think they try to be as fair as possible. At least the guys who went to school there do.
Two in the cake, one in the puddin'! -Kevin Calabro, Twitter: MichaelTheCoug
by Michael The Coug on Jan 27, 2012 8:05 PM PST up reply actions
I've lived in other college towns (grew up in one) and I can say..........
Pullman and WSU PD are very, very tolerant on the whole. I’ve seen multiple occasion in which they gave somebody a verbal warning for something that usually gets a person a night in jail and a pretty good sized fine. I have also seen them let people off for public urination (around Grand and Maine), which, in the case of Washington, is deemed a sex offense.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Favorite scene I ever saw:
Cop and partner walk up on girl sobbing near tree (can’t remember where as I’d had a bit to drink as well) and he asks what’s wrong, why are you alone? She responds with something akin to my boyfriend of 2 years cheated on me and broke up with me, told me he never loved me, etc. Cop kneels down, gets out tissues, helps her wipe her eyes and ushers her inside her sorority.
Two in the cake, one in the puddin'! -Kevin Calabro, Twitter: MichaelTheCoug
by Michael The Coug on Jan 27, 2012 8:20 PM PST up reply actions
Exactly, where else are the cops goingt to arm themselves with tissues?
That is another type thing they do well hear because college kids act irrationally from relationship stress and school pressure. there are a lot of suicide attempts and people that kind fly off the handle over stuff like that. Like I said, they aren’t perfect, but a much much worse type of PD is possible.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Agreed.
A few bad apples generally ruin the bunch.
Two in the cake, one in the puddin'! -Kevin Calabro, Twitter: MichaelTheCoug
by Michael The Coug on Jan 27, 2012 8:42 PM PST up reply actions
maybe somebody can help me
I have been amazed at how quickly Leach has found players, both players who are uncommitted and will be receiving scholarships, and walk-on types. There haven’t been many open recruiting periods since he started. How does he find players out there? Recruiting services? Word of mouth? HS coaches? Already we are in the mix for players we never would have gotten under previous coaches.
—I like this Loftus pick-up. I think he can help us, and it gives us a foot in the door in the state of Washington.
by bpcoug53 on Jan 28, 2012 8:58 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Wait
asking a kid to walk on gives us a foot in the door in Washington? When have we never not had our foot in the door in our own state?
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 28, 2012 12:47 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly what Kyle said
But for someone who is from the Tri-Cities I can attest to this area being Cougar Country. Probably more then Spokane. A lot of kids grow up being WSU fans and end up going to WSU. I think this is the reason why you saw Loftus willing to come to WSU as a walk-on. I’m sure most of his friends already attend WSU and the only reason he or most from this area would go somewhere else is because they are recruited elsewhere.
by WazzuCrew11 on Jan 29, 2012 11:12 AM PST up reply actions
Re: Finding guys - His staff, most likely
These guys are coming from all over the country and would know a lot about who might still be available and who might be swayed. Plus, there is more info than ever out there in terms of videos and such.
by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2012 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
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