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WSU adds Rashad McKenzie Jr., Colton Theaker to 2022 recruiting class

The class is rounding into shape.

PULLMAN, WA - MARCH 26: Washington State Cougars football program takes to Rogers Field for spring practice
WSU football coach Jake Dickert.
Jack Ellis/CougCenter

When the Washington State Cougars signed less than a full recruiting class in February, it was assumed that new coach Jake Dickert would be filling it out a little bit at a time as opportunities came along. That’s proven to be true, as WSU added a pair of players to its 2022 class in the last few days: Defensive lineman Rashad McKenzie Jr. and kicker Colton Theaker.

McKenzie is a 6-foot-4/250-pound three-star defensive lineman from Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, California, who is an exciting prospect. Beyond the fact that WSU seems to be on a never-ending quest for defensive linemen, McKenzie’s 247sports composite rating slots him as the 6th overall player in WSU’s class, and 3rd-highest high school recruit. He reportedly held offers from Oregon, Arizona State, Nebraska, and others.

McKenzie would seem to profile as a defensive end in Dickert’s defense, but he also looks like he has the frame to add considerable weight if the Cougs wanted to develop him into a tackle.

Theaker, meanwhile, comes to WSU after spending a year at Allan Hancock College (a junior college in California) following a two-year stint at FCS Cal Poly. He has two years of eligibility remaining, and also reportedly held an offer from Mississippi State.

This signing is interesting because Theaker doesn’t have a track record of making a high percentage of kicks — just 18-of-34 in his career across the two schools — and the Cougs return Dean Janikowski, who picked up a number of awards last season and has three years of eligibility remaining. Perhaps the signing has something to do with leg strength: Theaker has hit a couple from beyond 50 in his career, while Janikowski’s long last season was 41 with zero attempts from beyond 50.

With these signings, the class now sits at 25, with room for more. Some intriguing players surely will hit the transfer portal as schools work through spring practices and position battles heading into the fall start to take shape.

2022 WSU Football Commits

Player Pos. 247 Composite Rating Measurables Commit Date City State Comments
Player Pos. 247 Composite Rating Measurables Commit Date City State Comments
Cameron Ward** QB ✯✯✯✯ 0.9300 6-3/220 1/20/22 West Columbia TX Transfer from UIW (4 to play 3), played under OC Eric Morris
Andre Dollar** TE ✯✯✯ 0.8817 6-6/230 12/14/21 Mustang OK Flipped from Oregon, 23rd overall TE nationally
Jordan Lee** DB ✯✯✯ 0.8800 5-11/205 1/5/22 Las Vegas NV Transfer from Nevada (1 to play 1)
Taariq Al-Uqdah* LB ✯✯✯ 0.8735 6-0/218 2/24/21 South Central LA CA Selected to All-American Bowl, USC tried hard to flip
Daiyan Henley** LB ✯✯✯ 0.8700 6-2/220 12/20/21 Los Angeles CA All-MWC grad transfer from Nevada (1 to play 1)
Rashad McKenzie Jr.* DL ✯✯✯ 0.8647 6-4/250 3/27/22 Mission Hills CA Offered by Oregon, Arizona State, Nebraska
Zeriah Beason* WR ✯✯✯ 0.8614 6-0/195 4/20/22 Duncanville TX Oregon State transfer (4 to play 3; HS rating listed)
Djouvensky Schlenbaker** RB ✯✯✯ 0.8607 6-0/220 6/28/21 Bellingham WA Offers from UW, Cal, Colorado, Virginia Tech, Air Force
Eric Wilder* OL ✯✯✯ 0.8527 6-5/280 6/29/21 Syracuse UT Offers from Cal, UCLA
Nusi Malani** DL ✯✯✯ 0.8500 6-6/275 12/29/21 San Bruno CA Transfer from Virginia (4 to play 3)
Javan Robinson* DB ✯✯✯ 0.8464 5-11/175 10/10/21 Apopka FL WSU only reporterd Power 5 offer
Hudson Cedarland** LB ✯✯✯ 0.8449 6-4/220 6/21/21 Gig Harbor WA 247Sports rates him as a borderline 4-star
Jakobus Seth* OL ✯✯✯ 0.8445 6-4/280 6/28/21 Lakewood WA Rated as a DL, also offered by OSU
Jaylen Jenkins* RB ✯✯✯ 0.8444 5-8/168 1/29/22 Allen TX Also offered by numerous G5 schools
Zack Miller* OL ✯✯✯ 0.8405 6-7/308 1/21/22 Orange CA Also offered by Colorado
Leyton Smithson* DB ✯✯✯ 0.8403 6-2/180 11/23/21 Bellingham WA Rated as a WR, headed for safety
Kendall Williams* OL ✯✯✯ 0.8396 6-3/291 1/23/21 San Diego CA Rated as a DL, headed for OL
Tony Carter* LB ✯✯✯ 0.8348 6-0/195 1/29/22 Jacksonville FL Also offered by Maryland
Bryce Grays* DB ✯✯✯ 0.8248 5-11/190 11/17/21 Richmond TX WSU only reporterd Power 5 offer
David Johnson* DB ✯✯✯ 0.8227 6-2/174 2/2/22 Hooks TX Rated as a WR, headed for DB; flipped from UTSA
John Mateer* QB ✯✯✯ 0.8225 6-1/215 1/24/22 Little Elm TX Previously committed to Central Arkansas
Sam Lockett III** DB ✯✯✯ 0.8171 6-1/205 12/15/21 Spokane WA Two seasons at Utah State before JUCO (2 to play 2)
Luke Roaten* OL ✯✯✯ 0.8167 6-5/265 1/25/22 Tomball TX Landon's twin, rated as DL, previously committed to Wyoming
Landon Roaten* OL ✯✯✯ 0.8148 6-5/285 1/25/22 Tomball TX Luke's twin, previously committed to Louisana Tech
Reece Sylvester* DB ✯✯✯ 0.7982 5-11/180 2/2/22 Houston TX Offered by Rice and many FCS programs
Colton Theaker* K N/A 0.0000 6-3/185 3/30/22 Arroyo Grande CA JUCO transfer, offered by Mississippi State (2 to play 2)
Grant Stephens OL N/A 0.0000 6-4/302 4/6/22 Missouri City TX Grad transfer from FCS N. Colo., offers: Cal, Purdue, Arizona
*Signed letter of intent / **Signed and enrolled in January

LINKS

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