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Luke Falk set just about every Washington State Cougars and Pac-12 Conference record for a quarterback by coming back to Pullman for his senior season. Whether that dramatically improved his draft stock compared to leaving after 2016, we’ll never know for sure but we do know where he’ll start his professional career: Falk was just selected in the 6th round of the NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
The redshirt senior came crashing onto the scene his redshirt sophomore year, lighting up Pac-12 defenses for more than 4,500 yards, 38 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. That year was, by far, his best statistical season, though 2016 would prove to be nearly as good.
Falk had a choice of whether to stay in school and decided to come back to Pullman for one more run at a Rose Bowl. He led the team to another nine-win season and the brink of a Pac-12 North title, and there were moments of absolute brilliance — a win over the USC Trojans in which he completed 34-of-51 passes for 340 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But he also struggled mightily at times, being benched on two occasions.
We found out after the season that part of the reason for Falk’s lackluster final season may have been a broken left wrist he played all or part of the year with. Falk’s ability to play through injury is well known to Cougar fans as the signal caller got through numerous ailments that he absolutely didn’t have according to his coach.
What Falk was best known for at WSU though was how he played with his back against the wall. Some of Falk’s best performances came when his team needed him most, including a 90-plus-yard drive to take the lead for good from the Stanford Cardinal this past season and dramatic, heart-stopping final minute wins against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and UCLA Bruins in 2016.
Falk ends his career as the most prolific passer in Washington State history and at least comes close to, if he doesn’t enter the debate for top-5 all-time at QB U. We’re all very excited to see where his career goes from here. On top of that, his idol, Tom Brady was also taken in the 6th round ... also with pick 199. Best of luck to Luke in the professional ranks!