Ryan Leaf is now an ESPN analyst

ESPN college football broadcasts might have a little extra WSU flair this season. And it won’t just be from the Cougars playing every Saturday night on ESPN. Ryan Leaf joined ESPN as an analyst, including a role calling games.

“Ryan has experienced the highs and lows in the game of football, putting him in a position to relate to a wide range of situations players can find themselves in,’’ said Lee Fitting, via ESPN. “He will be able to rely on those experiences -- including an unbelievable college career where he was an All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist -- in his analysis, making him a tremendous asset for our team.’’

The role won’t be unfamiliar for Leaf. He served as an analyst for Pac-12 Network last season.

“Five years ago, sitting in a prison cell, I would have never imagined that I was going to be part of ESPN and the Disney Corporation,’’ Leaf said. “If you would have told me that, I would have said you are absolutely crazy. And I can’t believe it. I lay my head down every night with a ton of gratitude.’’

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Football:

Ex-Wazzu QB, No. 2 pick Leaf hired by ESPN
Ryan Leaf has been hired by ESPN to be a college football analyst, another step in the remarkable comeback of the former Washington State star who has battled drug addiction and served time in prison.

ESPN hiring former Cougars QB Ryan Leaf as college football analyst | The Seattle Times
He will be paired with play-by-play announcer Clay Matvick and will mostly call games on ESPN2 and ESPNU