WSU defensive backs and quarterback recruiting ranked poorly

A ranking of Pac-12 defensive back units, and another of quarterback recruiting in the conference both had WSU at, or near the bottom.

The ESPN Pac-12 blog continued their post-spring position group rankings Thursday, releasing their views on team's defensive backs. As what should come as little surprise, the Cougars were ranked last after allowing 8.3 yards per attempt last season while only intercepting three passes. New defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will hopefully improve the much maligned unit, but it can't help that former starting cornerback Daquawn Brown was kicked off the team and transferred to Fresno St.

Jamie Uyemaya over at Pacific Takes looked at what Pac-12 teams had recruited the most four and five star quarterback prospects since 2011. WSU, unlike Arizona, Colorado and Oregon St, has recruited a "blue chip" prospect in the last four years so it did not finish last in this set of rankings. That quarterback, Tyler Bruggman, obviously isn't with the program anymore and has attended more schools than thrown passes in college.

Amusingly, Washington is tied for first in the quarterback rankings, with five blue chip prospects coming to Seattle since 2011. Even with recruiting being so lucrative for the Huskies, their quarterback situation for 2015 looks to be at best, dicey. Even though the Cougars will rely on a walk-on and a pair of three star recruits for the near future would you rather have their quarterback situation or UW's? This season it would be easy to pick the Cougs, but in two or three years the pendulum could swing. I mean, is it reasonable to expect them to have five four star quarterback prospects fail to pan out? Only time will tell.

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Football

Pac-12 post-spring position unit rankings: Defensive backs - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks among teams who will have strong returning groups in secondary. The Cougs ... not so much.

Which Pac-12 school has recruited the best at quarterback? - Pacific Takes
A school with a lot of questions at quarterback is tied at the top of the list.

Bill Moos

Director of Athletics Bill Moos Podcast - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
As a busy weekend of Cougar Athletics approaches, Director of Athletics Bill Moos discusses a variety of topics during his latest podcast.

Baseball

Donnie Marbut Says Thank You to Cougar Fans - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Former WSU baseball coach Donnie Marbut says goodbye to Cougar fans in the form of a letter.

Track and Field

Four Advance to Quarterfinals at NCAA West Prelims - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
WSU's Liz Harper, Alissa Brooks-Johnson, Abby Regan, and Jesse Jorgenson qualified to compete in the NCAA track & field quarterfinals.

Rowing

Watson and Hare Earn CRCA All-Region Honors - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
A pair of WSU rowers were named to Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-Region teams.