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HCA: Lots of recruiting movement as Signing Day approaches

Less that a week to go to signing day. Let’s catch you up.

By Scott Cresswell Updated
Valero Alamo Bowl - Iowa State v Washington State Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Before early signing day in December, it looked like the Washington State Cougars might have close to their entire class locked up. Well, since then, expected signees Don Chapman (defensive back), Dontae Powell (offensive line), Dejon Benton (defensive line) and Hunter Hill (offensive line) have gone their separate ways.

While the losses of Benton (flipped to USC) and Powell (cut loose by the coaching staff) have been known for some time, the defections of Chapman and Hill sting a bit. Chapman, a big-hitting and rangy safety who was originally committed to the Colorado Buffaloes, recently settled on the North Carolina Tar Heels and new coach Mack Brown. Hill, meanwhile, has made no official comment, but he recently took an official visit to the Utah State Aggies and their new/old coach Gary Andersen and has also picked up an offer from USC. It’s assumed he’s not signing with WSU anymore.

That leaves a pretty gaping hole in the offensive line recruiting class, so here are the four current candidates at this point to fill out the five remaining spots in the class next week, in order of likelihood of signing.

1. Jimmy Price

The Tyler JC offensive tackle committed to WSU on his official visit over the weekend. He is so excited to come to Pullman that he cancelled his upcoming official visit to Arizona State, according to Cougfan.com ($). The 6-foot-5/295-pounder will be part of the race to replace probable NFL Draft first round pick Andre Dillard.

2. Gage Gubrud

The FBS All-American quarterback from Eastern Washington University is reportedly headed to Pullman, assuming he is granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Gubrud will hopefully repeat the success of grad transfer Gardner Minshew II in his final year.

3. Zion Sorani

This 6-foot/170-pound slot receiver hails from WSU pipeline school Cathedral Catholic. He visited Pullman this past weekend according to 247sports.com and is ranked as a low three-star prospect. WSU appears to be the main suitor for young Mr. Sorani. Here’s some video:

4. Sione Vaki

WSU and the Utah Utes are competing for the services of this touted safety out of Brentwood, Calif. Vaki visited Pullman this past weekend and is scheduled to head to Salt Lake City for his last visit. Mike Leach has made quite the impression for Vaki, as evidenced by this tweet; however, a half dozen Crystal Ball predictions at 247sports still have him slated to pick the Utes.

And some video:

One name that was going to be on this list was defensive lineman Marcus Harris, who hails from Alabama, but instead of visiting Pullman this weekend, he’s heading to the Kansas Jayhawks for his final visit instead.

All this movement has resulted in the WSU class dropping to 59th nationally and 10th in the Pac-12, even though the average player rating is still higher than it was last year. (It’s worth noting that the ranking doesn’t include the signings of grayshirts Rocky Katoanga and Gatlin Grisso and thus based off of 19 commitments rather than 21.) Here is how the class currently stands:

2019 WSU football recruiting commitments

Player Expected Pos. 247 Composite Composite Value NLI received? Enrolled Early? Measurables (via 247) Commit Date City State CougCenter Profile Comments
Player Expected Pos. 247 Composite Composite Value NLI received? Enrolled Early? Measurables (via 247) Commit Date City State CougCenter Profile Comments
Travion Brown LB ✯✯✯ 0.8748 YES NO 6-3/215 10/2/18 Temecula CA Link Rated four stars by 247sports evaluators
Jamir Thomas RB ✯✯✯ 0.8676 YES NO 6-1/215 11/27/18 Massillon OH Link Ranked as a LB, converted to RB as a senior
Gunner Cruz QB ✯✯✯ 0.8607 YES YES 6-4.5/215 5/31/18 Queen Creek AZ Link Threw for 5700 yards and 70 TDs as soph/jr
Bryce Beekman DB ✯✯✯ 0.8582 YES YES 6-2/190 11/20/18 Yuma AZ Link Teammate of OL commit Dontae Powell
Jouvensly Bazile RB ✯✯✯ 0.8540 YES NO 5-10/180 6/28/18 Naples FL Link Has reportedly clocked 10.98 in 100 meters
Patrick Utschinski OL ✯✯✯ 0.8537 YES NO 6-7/280 9/10/18 Walla Walla WA Link Rated four stars by 247sports evaluators
Konner Gomness OL ✯✯✯ 0.8532 YES NO 6-4/270 9/29/18 Fresno CA Link Reported offer from Louisville and lots of midmajors
Billy Pospisil WR ✯✯✯ 0.8463 YES YES 5-11/190 2/16/18 Arvada CO Attends same high school as 2018 signee Max Borghi
Armauni Archie DB ✯✯✯ 0.8456 YES NO 6-1/175 10/12/18 El Cerrito CA Link Chose WSU over an offer from Nebraska
Derrick Langford DB ✯✯✯ 0.8448 YES YES 6-2/185 11/15/18 San Francisco CA Link Juco who has four to play three
Tyler Garay-Harris DL ✯✯✯ 0.8444 YES NO 6-5/230 11/4/18 Oakland CA Link Offers from Utah and ASU
Donovan Ollie WR ✯✯✯ 0.8431 YES NO 6-3/205 10/15/18 Wylie TX Link Chose WSU over Iowa State and Utah
Peni Naulu LB ✯✯✯ 0.8423 YES NO 6-1/210 9/6/18 Kapolei HI Link Other offers: UW, Oregon, UCLA, Cal, Nebraska
Cosmas Kwete DL ✯✯✯ 0.8418 YES NO 6-3/220 11/5/18 Phoenix AZ Link Inexperienced player, specialized in Rugby
Daniel Isom DB ✯✯✯ 0.8407 YES YES 5-10/180 11/8/18 Council Bluffs IA Link Played as a true freshman for NIU before transfer
Rocky Katoanga LB ✯✯✯ 0.8366 YES YES 6-2/205 2/6/18 Oceanside CA Grayshirted
Jimmy Price OL ✯✯✯ 0.8306 YES NO 6-5/295 1/26/19 Houston TX Link Picked WSU over Arizona State
Shahman Moore DB ✯✯✯ 0.8267 YES YES 6-0/170 12/20/18 El Segundo CA Link Two years of eligibility remaining
Ma'ake Fifita OL ✯✯✯ 0.8154 YES NO 6-5/250 12/16/18 Snohomish WA Link Staff targeted him as a center
Gatlin Grisso DB ✯✯✯ 0.8072 YES YES 6-1/185 6/23/17 Aubrey TX Link Grayshirted
Nicholas Sheetz DL ✯✯✯ 0.8072 YES NO 6-3/253 2/3/19 Greenwood SC Link Lightly recruited; offered PWO by Georgia
Simon Samarzich LS ✯✯✯ 0.8043 YES NO 6-0/200 6/8/18 Upland CA Rated the top long snapper in the country
Gage Gubrud QB NA YES YES 6-2/205 1/26/19 Cheney WA Link Grad transfer from EWU

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