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This news is a couple of days old and has been discussed a bit in the comments, but it's notable enough to discuss on its own. If you've been following the spring practice reports, you probably read that Texas A&M transfer Sebastian LaRue has been practicing at cornerback. On the surface, that's a little surprising since LaRue was so highly-touted as a wide receiver.
While there may be an initial wow factor, it's important to remember three things. First, it's spring football and this sort of thing happens all the time. Coaches will experiment with players at multiple spots. LaRue got some work in at wide receiver, now he's getting some run at cornerback. Second, LaRue is likely destined to sit out next season. That means he'll go through somewhere in the range of 150 practices before he plays in a real game. Experimenting with eight spring practices isn't going to mean much in the long run. Finally, just because he switched positions, doesn't mean he won't switch again. Jamal Morrow switched from running back to corner during last season, only to finish the year back at running back.
If the position switch does stick, it wouldn't be the first time this staff bolstered the secondary at the expense of the wide receivers. Rahmel Dockery, Alex Jackson and Charleston White all started at wide receiver before making the move to the defensive side of the ball. Dockery and Jackson didn't make much of an impact before leaving Pullman while White may start next season. The move with LaRue may be slightly different than the others, as he was apparently the one to put the change in motion.
"It was something I played in high school," LaRue said, via the Spokesman Review. "I initially wanted to play it coming into college and it was something I wanted to see if I could be successful at. Not taking anything away from receiver or anything like that - it's not like I was forcibly moved - I went to (the coaches) and asked them for the opportunity to try it out and they gave me the opportunity."
LaRue's athletic ability is going to get him on the field somewhere. WSU has had an easier time recruiting wide receivers than corners, so if he prefers to play corner, it would probably be easier to fill his shoes at receiver, which may mean the move is likely to stick. Regardless, it's spring football. I don't care where he plays as long as he -- and anyone else -- doesn't get hurt.
Football:
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What is your team's best quarter? Worst? And what does it mean? While it's probably a mistake to read too much into how a team does quarter by quarter -- the final score is what counts -- it might provide some tidbits of insight.
5. Washington State The Cougars get Oregon and Washington at home but have to travel to Stanford. They do avoid UCLA in the South, but also miss Colorado and have to play at Arizona State and Utah along with a non-conference showdown with Rutgers in Seattle.
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Men's basketball:
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How does he feel the talent base is for the Cougars, who finished 11th in the Pac-12 this season with a 3-15 record (10-21 overall)? "Our talent is pretty good, but the kids' confidence is really shot," Kent said. "We have to do a better job that way. We need some pieces. We'll be able to do that. We have a team that's been beat up mentally. The last two years have been pretty tough on those kids."
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It’s apparent that the important item for the Cougars this spring is trying to retain Garfield signee Tramaine Isabell. In last week’s live chat here at the Times, new coach Ernie Kent invoked the names of former Oregon stars Luke Ridnour and Aaron Brooks in reference to what Isabell could mean for the Cougars. Meanwhile, Kent has released a November JC signee, Jermaine Morgan, from his letter.