HCA: Phil Steele's 2013 preseason Pac-12 teams

If you were going to map out mile markers for the marathon that is the college football offseason, the release of Phil Steele's preseason all-conference rankings would probably be around mile 18. We've hit that point as Steele's Pac-12 preseason All-Pac-12 teams were released on Thursday.

So how did WSU fare? The Cougars had a total of seven players named to the four all-conference teams. That is two more than the five players who made the lists last year. The Cougars had two first-teamers last season, but none this season. Here is where the Cougars checked in.

Gabe Marks -- third team WR

Dominique Williams -- fourth team WR

John Fullington -- third team guard

Darryl Monroe -- third team linebacker

Deone Bucannon -- second team safety

Andrew Furney -- second team kicker

Leon Brooks -- fourth team punt returner

Marks edges out Williams by one team as Steele apparently favors Marks in the coin-flip for who will be WSU's leading receiver. Fullington may not start as a senior, but he still makes Steele's third team. While on the surface that may seem odd, Steele has always been very high on Fullington -- he was second team last season -- so take that for what it's worth.

Monroe makes the third team and I would almost guarantee he moves up in the postseason rankings, assuming he stays healthy. Bucannon goes from a third-teamer in 2012 to the second team this season. Furney was edged out of first team by Oregon State's Trevor Romaine while Leon Brooks makes the list because Steele is apparently a big fan of fair catches.

I would have put Ioane Gauta somewhere on the list, but it's a little different because Steele lists just defensive linemen and doesn't distinguish between ends and tackles. Xavier Cooper and Cyrus Coen are two other players I could see contending for postseason honors.

Football:

Pac-12's 1,000-yard receivers - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Washington State: That list with likely new 1,000-yard receivers? Colorado's Richardson, UCLA's Evans and Washington's Williams would be on it. But atop the list would be Washington State's Gabe Marks. If he stays healthy, he's almost a sure thing, considering how much coach Mike Leach likes to throw the ball.

Recruiting:

Northeast RB Keith Harrington picks Washington State | Bay News 9
Harrington chose the Cougars over offers from Arizona, Ball State, Indiana, Boise State and Wake Forest, among others. He received his offer from Wazzu on May 9.

Florida high school sports | Northeast running back Keith Harrington commits to Washington State
"I just got a good feeling about the coaching staff and their style of play,’’ Harrington said. "They run the same style we do here, so I’ll be able to catch the ball and run it. It’s nice to get the decision over with.’’

Baseball:

Monda and Slaybaugh Receive Conference Honor - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Washington State baseball juniors Jason Monda and Collin Slaybaugh received All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention.