Luke Falk talks recruitment

Although National Signing Day isn't until February, the early signing period got underway on Wednesday and few of WSU's teams got in the act. The men's basketball team signed four players, the baseball team added a few new recruits, even the golf teams got in on the act.

One player who never went through the signing day process is WSU starting quarterback Luke Falk. If you've paid even minimal attention in recent weeks, you likely know the basics of Falk's story. He added some depth to that story recently, going into detail about the offer from Florida State and more. Kyle Bonagura of the ESPN Pac-12 has the story.

According to Falk, Florida State offered him while he was visiting the school prior to his junior season of high school. After being forced to sit out most of his junior season, Falk hadn't received any other offers, but still thought he had the FSU offer. The proved to not be the case.

"I went down for the camp thinking I still had the offer and they pretty much said, ‘No, you don't have the offer anymore. You didn't have junior year film,'" Falk said, via ESPN. "It was kind of surprising. It was a bad plane ride for me back home, but it only motivated me more."

He did pick up some interest during his senior season, but not from power five schools. Idaho offered at one point, but Falk opted to pledge to Cornell instead. When the Cornell coach left for the CFL, he weighed his options and Idaho no longer was one.

"I kind of got my offer pulled from Idaho with the new staff, so that's kind of embarrassing," Falk said. "Recruiting was real rough."

Mike Leach might need to send Paul Petrino a gift basket for pulling the Idaho offer. I'm guessing there aren't very many players who had scholarship offers pulled by Florida State and Idaho in the same recruiting cycle. Talk about a wild ride. WSU won't play Florida State during Falk's career -- unless it's in a bowl game -- but the Cougars will play Idaho in 2016. If Falk continues to play like he did against Oregon State, he may get a chance to show Idaho what it missed out on.

*****

Football:

Washington State QB Luke Falk took circuitous road to success - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Luke Falk will always be referred to as a former walk-on. It's accurate, but deceiving, and after the redshirt freshman threw for 471 yards and five touchdowns in his debut as Washington State's starting quarterback, there are probably plenty of coaches around the country wondering how they missed on him.

Coen Named Burlsworth Trophy Nominee - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State senior linebacker Cyrus Coen was named a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, the Springdale Rotary Club announced Wednesday.

Men's basketball:

Fall singing period: WSU men’s coach Ernie Kent signs versatile quartet - Spokesman.com - Nov. 13, 2014
The fashion these days is for college recruits to make the act of choosing a school as showy as possible. Television cameras are called to watch players select a hat from a table and even simply signing the national letter of intent long after the decision has been made is treated as an event.

Cougar Basketball Signs Four to NLIs - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Robert Franks, Derrien King, Jeff Pollard and Renard Suggs have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Washington State University, head coach Ernie Kent announced Wednesday.

Cougars Open Kent Era in Lone Star State - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
COUGARS OPEN KENT ERA AT THE LONE STAR STATE: Washington State University first-year men’s basketball head coach, Ernie Kent, will take his Cougars on the road to open the 2014-15 season, beginning with a trip to El Paso, Texas to take on UTEP, Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT.

Women's basketball:

Cougars Open Season Friday Hosting No. 22/22 Dayton - Washington State University Official Athletic Site

Washington State tips off the 2014-15 season hosting No. 22/22 University of Dayton Friday at 7 p.m. in Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars continue their season-opening four-game homestand Sunday against Idaho State University.

Soccer:

Postseason Soccer Returns to Pullman - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
The Washington State soccer team (10-4-4, 5-4-2 Pac-12) hosts an NCAA Championship match for the second-consecutive season…Cougars welcome Seattle (14-4-2, 8-1-1 WAC) to Lower Soccer Field, Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. for first round match-up

Golf:

Men’s Golf Signs Duo - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
A.J. Armstrong and Aaron Whalen have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play men’s golf at Washington State University, beginning next fall, Cougar Head Coach Garrett Clegg announced, Wednesday.

Women’s Golf Signs Madison Odiorne - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Madison Odiorne has signed a National Letter of Intent to play women’s golf at Washington State University, beginning next fall, Cougar Head Coach Kelli Kamimura announced, Wednesday.