WSU football recruiting: QB Gunner Cruz gives verbal commitment to Cougs

With early signing day for the 2019 class still half a year away, the Washington State Cougars have already wrapped up their quarterback commit. Gunner Cruz, a three-star recruit from Queen Creek, Arizona and All-Name Team candidate, gave his verbal to the Cougar coaches today, according to a CougCenter source.

Cruz confirmed it on Twitter a short time later.

The righty is listed at 6’4”, 210 pounds on 247Sports, an exact Luke Falk clone in that regard. Cruz picked the Cougs over offers from numerous other teams, including the Arizona State Sun Devils, Baylor Bears, Syracuse Orangemen, SMU Mustangs, and a host of Ivy League institutions.

The first thing you’ll notice about his Hudl tape is that Cruz can throw the ball over them there mountains. His first pass sails 55 yards in the air for a touchdown; the second one a just as impressive drop through an elevator shaft for a long scoring pass. He shows a little mobility in the pocket and is also taking every snap out of the shotgun, a good sign for Mike Leach who never has his signal callers under center.

Cruz will be up against it when it comes to cracking the depth chart for the starting job. Cammon Cooper will, in all likelihood, redshirt this season with transfer Gardner Minshew, Trey Tinsley, or Anthony Gordon getting the starting job but Cooper is likely the guy for 2019 and for the remainder of his eligibility. If that all goes according to plan, Cruz would only get his shot for his redshirt senior year, something that would be perfectly fine for Mike Leach.

As we saw with Luke Falk though, anything is possible.

Cruz is the second commitment of the 2019 class, joining wide receiver Billy Pospisil as players who have given their verbals.